ONEONTA – The City of Oneonta is getting $10 million in state funds to bolster its local economy, thanks to a successful play in the New York Downtown Revitalization Initiative competition.
On Tuesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Oneonta as the Mohawk Valley region’s winner of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
The city will be one of ten communities statewide to receive $10 million to grow its downtown. Funds will primarily be used to leverage economic development, transportation, housing and community projects.
In a statement made Tuesday, 51st District Senator James Seward (R-Oneonta) said the award is evidence of cooperative efforts to make the city a thriving area.
“Oneonta has so much to offer, and a number of steps have been taken in recent years to develop and enhance the Main Street/downtown area – growing jobs, expanding housing, and encouraging true community appeal,” said Seward. “I have been pleased to partner with Mayor Herzig, the city council, Otsego Now [the economic development organization of Otsego County], and other business groups to make significant improvements while also preparing for future growth. Winning this (DRI) funding is a testament to that cooperative effort and an acknowledgment that Oneonta’s downtown is on the cusp of a ground-breaking transformation.”
The award will include up to $300,000 in planning funds for people in the private sector to work with a local planning committee to draft a strategic investment plan that will identify specific uses for the award.
“The importance of this award to the City of Oneonta cannot be overstated,” said Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig. “This comes just at the right time as the city, in partnership with Otsego Now, is moving ahead with a real vision to expand, transform, and revitalize Oneonta’s downtown and overall economy.”
“New York’s downtown neighborhoods are the epicenters of culture and commerce, and with the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, we are unlocking their full economic potential,” Cuomo said in a statement Tuesday. “As an urban center, situated along the beautiful Susquehanna River, Oneonta’s unique assets position it to become an economic anchor for the Mohawk Valley. This investment will transform Oneonta’s downtown area, bolster its academic and business opportunities, and ensure it remains a cornerstone of the region’s growth for years to come.”