Commerce Chenango preparing application for DRI funds
South Broad Street, part of Norwich's downtown district, will have the opportunity for improvement and revitalization should Norwich be awarded the $10 million in funding from the District Revitalization Initiative. (Submitted photo)
NORWICH — Commerce Chenango in Norwich is in the process of preparing an application for funding through the District Revitalization Initiative (DRI). The purpose of the funding is to provide renovations to "downtown districts," according to Commerce Chenango CEO Kerri Green.
"So it's a competitive competition where one application in each region would win $10 million for what they consider downtown," said Green. "Basically to redo your entire downtown district."
According to Green, New York State is broken up into regions, and each town within those regions can apply. Norwich is considered the Southern Tier, and is competing for the funding with every other applying town in that region.
If Norwich's application wins, the city would be given $10 million to improve the downtown area, which according to Green, spans from Rexford Street, down Broad Street, to the SUNY Morrisville Norwich extension.
Green said a steering committee focusing on the application has been looking into what could be improved in that area.
"If we just had $10 million, what could we do? And so the committee has been working to identify what some of those areas are," she said. "Where should we focus our energy to make our community more attractive, because ultimately that's what this is all for, right? To make our downtown attractive, to bring people here, to add jobs to add workers into the workforce."
On July 27, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that, because no funds were allocated in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, double the standard amount will be awarded this year. This means two districts could win $10 million, improving the chance that Norwich could be alotted funds.
"Because they didn’t do it last year they’ve actually allocated $200 million, which means each region is getting $20 million, and it’s up to each region how to use that money," said Green. "They can award two $10 million awards, or give one area $20 million."
Cuomo said of the program, ”The DRI is a cornerstone of New York's comprehensive economic development strategy to drive investment and job creation in downtowns across the state. Our investments will support new and existing businesses, drive new mixed-use developments and bolster the arts and cultural venues to help attract residents and visitors for years to come.”
Green said Norwich had applied for DRI funding in 2019, but ultimately wasn't awarded the money. However, this is beneficial now, as she said the steering committee is looking at what may have hindered the past application.
"I feel like we’ve identified the issues with the last application and that we are going to be able to present it in a way that will be more successful. So I feel really positive about it," said Green.
The steering committee is also drafting ideas for how to use the money, Green said, as the application asks for a rough outline of what projects awarded towns have in mind.
"What they want to see is that we have not shovel-ready but ready to go projects," Green explained. "Your application has to be broad enough that it gives you some flexibility, but specific enough that the state can see you have some projects ready to go."
"They want to see that we’re creating, you know, a mix of dining and shopping and entertainment, tourism, arts, culture. You can use the funds to enhance public spaces so we could do sculptures, murals, walkways," she added.
If Norwich is granted the money, local businesses and organizations within the revitalization zone can apply for portions of the funding to revamp their buildings and businesses.
"People will actually have to write in grants and write in applications to get that money," said Green. "So, just an example, the museum district, just because they're in that zone doesn’t mean the Friends of the Museum District is automatically going to get that money. They would have to actually submit an application to a council that's appointed that will actually manage that $10 million."
The application is due by September 15, and it is unclear at this time when the recipient of funding will be selected.
Going forward, Green said she wants to focus on being transparent with the community, and is open to public feedback.
"We hope that people will be supportive of the projects and priorities that we put out there. We’ll try to be as transparent as possible as we make our way through the application process, and we will have opportunity for people to give feedback," said Green.
"We really want community feedback and especially from the businesses and people who are within the area that would receive the funding, because that’s really important that they understand what we’re doing and that everyone feels like they had a way to give us some input," she added.
"So it's a competitive competition where one application in each region would win $10 million for what they consider downtown," said Green. "Basically to redo your entire downtown district."
According to Green, New York State is broken up into regions, and each town within those regions can apply. Norwich is considered the Southern Tier, and is competing for the funding with every other applying town in that region.
If Norwich's application wins, the city would be given $10 million to improve the downtown area, which according to Green, spans from Rexford Street, down Broad Street, to the SUNY Morrisville Norwich extension.
Green said a steering committee focusing on the application has been looking into what could be improved in that area.
"If we just had $10 million, what could we do? And so the committee has been working to identify what some of those areas are," she said. "Where should we focus our energy to make our community more attractive, because ultimately that's what this is all for, right? To make our downtown attractive, to bring people here, to add jobs to add workers into the workforce."
On July 27, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that, because no funds were allocated in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, double the standard amount will be awarded this year. This means two districts could win $10 million, improving the chance that Norwich could be alotted funds.
"Because they didn’t do it last year they’ve actually allocated $200 million, which means each region is getting $20 million, and it’s up to each region how to use that money," said Green. "They can award two $10 million awards, or give one area $20 million."
Cuomo said of the program, ”The DRI is a cornerstone of New York's comprehensive economic development strategy to drive investment and job creation in downtowns across the state. Our investments will support new and existing businesses, drive new mixed-use developments and bolster the arts and cultural venues to help attract residents and visitors for years to come.”
Green said Norwich had applied for DRI funding in 2019, but ultimately wasn't awarded the money. However, this is beneficial now, as she said the steering committee is looking at what may have hindered the past application.
"I feel like we’ve identified the issues with the last application and that we are going to be able to present it in a way that will be more successful. So I feel really positive about it," said Green.
The steering committee is also drafting ideas for how to use the money, Green said, as the application asks for a rough outline of what projects awarded towns have in mind.
"What they want to see is that we have not shovel-ready but ready to go projects," Green explained. "Your application has to be broad enough that it gives you some flexibility, but specific enough that the state can see you have some projects ready to go."
"They want to see that we’re creating, you know, a mix of dining and shopping and entertainment, tourism, arts, culture. You can use the funds to enhance public spaces so we could do sculptures, murals, walkways," she added.
If Norwich is granted the money, local businesses and organizations within the revitalization zone can apply for portions of the funding to revamp their buildings and businesses.
"People will actually have to write in grants and write in applications to get that money," said Green. "So, just an example, the museum district, just because they're in that zone doesn’t mean the Friends of the Museum District is automatically going to get that money. They would have to actually submit an application to a council that's appointed that will actually manage that $10 million."
The application is due by September 15, and it is unclear at this time when the recipient of funding will be selected.
Going forward, Green said she wants to focus on being transparent with the community, and is open to public feedback.
"We hope that people will be supportive of the projects and priorities that we put out there. We’ll try to be as transparent as possible as we make our way through the application process, and we will have opportunity for people to give feedback," said Green.
"We really want community feedback and especially from the businesses and people who are within the area that would receive the funding, because that’s really important that they understand what we’re doing and that everyone feels like they had a way to give us some input," she added.
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