NORWICH – City officials are seeking the input of residents regarding its application for grant funding for the collection of information needed to create a marketing strategy for various commercial properties on the city’s east side and downtown area.
City residents will have a chance to voice their opinions about the grant application at tonight’s Common Council meeting, 7 p.m. in the City Court facility on Hubbard Ave.
The grant money would come by way of the NYS Department of State’s Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) program – a three-phase program designed to help municipalities study the potential use of currently unproductive, underutilized or potentially contaminated properties. Currently, the city is in phase two of the program, which will provide the city funding to obtain in-depth information and data needed to conduct a marketing strategy of such properties, including vacant downtown storefronts.
Information will be gathered through site visits, collaboration with local public and non-profit organizations, focus groups and workshops, the U.S. census, Chenango County government, NYS Department of Labor, the Assessor’s Office, and existing strategic and comprehensive plans.
Based on the results of gathered information, the city can then proceed in marketing selected parcels within city limits in a way that best suits the demands of the community.
According to Mayor Joseph Maiurano, this grant is an opportunity not only to attract businesses to the area, but to market properties and storefronts to target businesses based on the community’s wants and needs, giving a chance for productive businesses to thrive in various locations throughout city.
“We want to look at the needs of the community and target specific retailers,” Maiurano explained, adding that collected research will hopefully entice entrepreneurs to fill vacant storefronts on North and South Broad Streets as well.
“When a prospective investor comes to us, we will have the necessary information to give them an incentive to invest in the downtown area,” added the mayor.
In order to obtain grant money through the BOA program, the city must vest a 10 percent match which can be done by using in-kind services such as labor and volunteer work, explained Planning and Community Development Specialist Todd Dreyer. Though the actual amount isn’t known, said Dreyer, the city could potentially acquire $10,000-$13,000 in grant money.
Phase one of the BOA program was completed in February, 2009. City officials worked with the Queensbury-based company Shelter Planning to gather information about commercial sites, develop a revitalization strategy for target areas and create recommendations for each of the targeted properties.
Depending on what comes of phase two, city officials will decide whether or not to proceed to phase three further down the road, Dreyer said.