State awards downtown revitalization grants to Port Jervis, Sleepy Hollow, Cornwall
Governor Kathy Hochul announced three communities in the Hudson Valley as winners of state funds for downtown revitalization on Tuesday.
Port Jervis in Orange County will receive $10 million as the Mid-Hudson Region winner in the sixth round of the state's Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
The village of Sleepy Hollow in Westchester County and the town of Cornwall and village of Cornwall-on-Hudson in Orange County were announced as the two Mid-Hudson Region winners in the first round of New York Forward, which supports New York's smaller and more rural communities in the same way as the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
Sleepy Hollow will receive $4.5 million, and Cornwall and Cornwall-on-Hudson will receive the same amount, apparently to be divided equally between the town and village.
The DRI award which Port Jervis received was one of 10 awarded around the state, in each of its 10 economic development regions. The award is intended to boost economies by transforming downtowns into vibrant neighborhoods, Hochul said.
"With this award, the city of Port Jervis will begin a new chapter toward revitalizing its downtown and growing its local economy as a scenic destination for community members and visitors alike," Hochul said in a statement.
The city joins the ranks of Middletown, Kingston, New Rochelle, Peekskill, Haverstraw and Ossining, who were winners in the first five rounds of DRI.
Mayor Kelly Decker issued a statement in which he said the award "will certainly change, for the better, this old canal and railroad city into a place that will draw visitors and increase tourism." He called it "the icing on the cake" for years of efforts to improve the city.
"Once struggling for its survival, our little city on the banks of the Delaware (River) has made leaps and bounds of improvements," Decker's statement continued.
He thanked Hochul and her staff and the Mid-Hudson Regional Development Council, for their support.
He also thanked "my tremendous staff of dedicated employees, from our on-the-ground workers to the department heads, who have really worked hard to turn our city around."
Decker did not indicate what type of project or projects the money might be spent on.
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As for New York Forward, it is following the same strategy in New York's smaller and rural communities. Two to three awards will be made in each of the state's 10 economic development regions each year.
Hochul said the awards will develop the winners' downtowns, improve the quality of life for residents and visitors, and create new jobs and attract new businesses
Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson Mayor James Gagliano said nothing is set in stone, and they have a year to come up with a plan for what will be done with the money. But he said the town and village are looking to link their business districts: Main Street in the town and Hudson Street, which is the main street in the village.
They also want to take advantage of the walkability between the town and village, all the way down to the Hudson River, Gagliano said.
In a statement, Sleepy Hollow Mayor Kenneth Wray said, "This grant enables us to revitalize our downtown to become a regional attraction for visitors far and wide, thus building a foundation for our many small businesses that are near and dear to all our residents."
Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record, Poughkeepsie Journal and The Journal News/lohud. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com or on Twitter @mikerandall845
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Hochul announces downtown revitalization awards for the region
