$2.3M Available

Monday In Funds

To Fix Downtown

3 Briefings For Property Owners,

Businesspeople Planned At Foothills

ONEONTA – Beginning Monday, businesses and property owners can seek grants from a $2.3 million pool to renovate, repair and improve their downtown properties.

Three information sessions are planned Monday – at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Foothills – to brief prospective candidates.  A video will be posted on the city’s website later in the week.

The money may be used “to update building facades and signage, and to develop new upper-floor, high-quality housing,” said Mayor Gary Herzig in announcing the money is available.

The hope is applicants will “think big” and come up with “transformative” project, the mayor said.

The city was awarded $10 million in 2016 for a Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), and this money is part of that.

Former mayor Kim Muller, who is chairing the DRI’s Project Selection Committee, said the hope is this money will spur “innovative development in the heart of our community.”

Completed applications are due by Aug. 31 and “early bird” applications, for signage only, will be considered if received by July 31.

To download an application and/or informational materials, visit http://www.oneonta.ny.us/departments/community-development/authentically-oneonta, on or after July 2nd.