ALBANY, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — Governor Kathy Hochul announced that 23 projects across four different local municipalities are going forward as a result of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward.

The Village of Clinton and the Town of Kirkland were winners of a $10 million award from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Cooperstown won a $4.5 million award from NY Forward, while the Village of Dolgeville received a $2.25 million award from the same program.

“The Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward programs are essential in supporting New York’s downtowns,” Governor Hochul said in a statement. “Funding for these projects will assist communities to carry out their visions to energize their communities and enhance quality of life for their residents and all those who visit.”

Clinton and Kirkland joined Utica, Rome, Oneonta, and Little Falls as local winners of Downtown Revitalization Initiative awards.

The DRI investments are part of Governor Hochul’s efforts to revitalize New York State’s economy and create more opportunities in the Mohawk Valley. Led by the Department of State, the initiative encourages inclusivity and accessibility by rebuilding public space, reabilitating historic buildings and provide accessible housing.

NY Forward is an initiative that was built by the DRI and helps recover the downtown areas of smaller and rural communities, such as Cooperstown and Dolgeville.

The 11 DRI projects for Clinton and Kirkland totaled $9.7 million dollars. They include the following:

  • Renovation of the Kirkland Arts Center into a community arts facility, which will include a pottery studio and children’s dance studio, as well as spaces for artistic programming and a culinary arts studio,
  • Improving the Village Green’s traffic flow with landscaping, and the addition of a public Wi-Fi network,
  • Construction of New Apartment Buildings on Lewis Road in the village of Clintion,
  • Construction of a new apartment community on a remediated Brownfield Site at Taylor Avenue and Utica Street,
  • Convert a vacant space into a new craft hard cider operation on College Street,
  • Expand the Clinton Cider Mill for year-round operation,
  • Expanding amenities at the Kirkland Town Library,
  • Build new housing on Kirkland Avenue,
  • Establish the Clinton-Kirkland Small Project Fund, for businesses to conduct building upgrades,
  • Implement complete streets improvements, and
  • Enhancing the visibility of the downtown area through branding and marketing.

“A grateful Village of Clinton is thrilled with the results of the DRI awards,” Clinton mayor Elizabeth Tantillo said in a statement. “We appreciate the great State of New York having confidence in Clinton and Kirkland to invest in our nonprofits, businesses, housing projects, and municipalities to make our area economically robust and a destination.”

The Village of Cooperstown has eight projects that will total $4.5 million. They include:

  • The development of 13 new residential units in the Willow Brook residential housing complex on Railroad Avenue,
  • the creation of a community art space on Pioneer Street,
  • Improvement of pedestrian conditions on Pioneer Alley and Hoffman Lane,
  • building sidewalks on Grove Street,
  • Improvement of pedestrian and vehicular circulations, including elevating the gateway to Doubleday Field from Chestnut Street,
  • Installing new wayfinding signage along Upper Main Street to attract pedestrians to points of interest between the trolley lot and Lower Main Street, and
  • the establishment of a Small Project fund for building improvements and business assistance.

“Our Village is incredibly excited to move forward with all these wonderful projects selected by Governor Hochul!” Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh said in a statement. “The mix of public, private, and arts oriented projects will be truly transformative to our small community which welcomes thousands of visitors each year. Funded public projects will enable significant improvements to streetscapes and pedestrian access in our downtown business area and to our historic Doubleday Field, all without burdening our local taxpayers. Private development of townhouse and apartment housing will benefit residents and local employers and support the Village’s efforts to be recognized as a Pro Housing Community.  In particular, renovation of historic 53 Pioneer and its development as an arts center will add important year round vibrancy to our downtown.  I am very appreciative of Governor Hochul and the Department of State staff who facilitated the NY Forward process and sincerely thank all the members of the Local Planning Committee and Village residents for their input and development of these community driven projects.”

The Village of Dolgeville will have four projects funded by the NY Forward initiative, totalling $2.25 million. Projects include:

  • Renovations to the park on Helmer Avenue. Improvements to the park include:
    • A partially enclosed pavilion with public restrooms, a kitchen and a three-season community event room,
    • the construction of a splash park located near the playground, and
    • the installation of a multi-use path at the western boundary of the park.
  • the creation of a women’s fitness center on South Main Street. A critical part of the project will replace the space heaters with a high-efficiency heat pump.
  • Renovation of the former Food Basket building on Baker Street. The village also intends to establish a deli and a small grocery store once renovations are complete.
  • The establishment of a Small Project Fund, to allow for commercial or residential unit rehabilitation, select business assistance activities or public art.

“I am thrilled and most grateful to hear the news from Governor Hochul’s office regarding the Village of Dolgeville’s $2.25 Million New York Forward project designations!” Dolgeville mayor Mary Puznowski said in a statement. “The projects chosen, including multiple improvements to the Center Park project; renovations to the former Food Basket site; creation of a fitness Center on South Main St; and the establishment of a small project fund of $228,000 will certainly be transformative to the Village of Dolgeville, its residents and the downtown area.   The future is getting brighter in the Village of Dolgeville!”

The DRI and NY Forward has had an investment of $1.2 billion in state funding since its inception. This has allowed both programs to serve 124 communities combined.