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Funding to Revive and Revamp Downtowns
Will be Provided to Qualified Communities
Hauppauge, NY– County Executive Steve Levy announced today that Suffolk’s Downtown Revitalization Citizens Advisory Panel is seeking applicants for projects that will enhance the viability of downtowns and business districts. A total of up to $1 million in grants will be dispersed to revitalize communities that meet program criteria, according to Levy.
Chambers of commerce, civic groups and community organizations are encouraged to identify projects for their areas which must be a capital improvement, located on municipally owned property and have the support of the local town or village through adopted resolution. The towns and villages would work in conjunction with these community groups to complete the county’s grant application.
Projects submitted to Suffolk County for consideration are ranked by the Citizens Advisory Panel, a group of volunteer small business and community leaders, based on a merit system that includes point categories for the proposal’s economic benefit, how well it meets smart growth standards, and how well the funds are leveraged to achieve the stated objectives. If the grant request is approved, the municipality would then receive the funds and be responsible for implementing the project.
According to County Executive Levy, “Our approach in structuring this grant program is to enable our residents to have a role in revitalizing their communities. We believe that a participatory effort during the application process will lead to thoughtful and highly desired initiatives.”
Past projects approved under the grant program include street lighting in Huntington Station and Cold Spring Harbor , sidewalks in Smithtown and Montauk, and public restrooms in the downtowns of Greenport, Riverhead and Southampton . These projects were proposed initially by local chambers, business groups and beautification committees.
Community groups interested in receiving an application can call the Department of Economic Development and Workforce Housing at 853-4800 or can request the application by e-mail to carolyn.fahey@suffolkcountyny.gov . All applications must be turned in to the county no later than 3:30 p.m. on June 9, 2008.
“Strengthening our downtowns continues to be a major priority because thriving downtowns are so important to our residents and to our local economy,” said Levy.
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