DHCR Announces Nearly $3.9 Million in Community Revitalization Grants for the Finger Lakes Region

ALBANY, NY (08/06/2008)(readMedia)-- The New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) today announced more than $3.9 million in grants to revitalize Finger Lakes communities and rehabilitate 76 units of affordable housing, 20 commercial units, and create 115 jobs.

The awards, funded through the NYS Community Development Block Grant (NYS CDBG) and NY Main Street programs, are part of a statewide package of awards totaling more than $42 million that will be used to create and retain more than 400 jobs, and renovate nearly 1,000 units of affordable housing.

Awards include a $750,000 NYS CDBG grant to assist in the development of a new manufacturing facility for DeMet's Candy Company. The new plant will be located in the town of Big Flats and will bring 100 new full-time jobs with health care benefits, and 30 new part-time jobs to the area.

Also included is a NY Main Street grant of $200,000 for the Downtown Hornell Renewal Program. Funding will renovate buildings and facades and improve streetscapes in Downtown Hornell.

The entire list of awards can be found at the DHCR website: www.nysdhcr.gov.

Governor Paterson said, "These grants will create jobs and revitalize urban business districts, and they will help rural communities make critical infrastructure repairs and upgrades. These awards bring us closer to our goal of making New York the best possible place to live, work and raise a family."

DHCR Commissioner Deborah VanAmerongen said "the grants awarded today will help local communities and not-for-profit agencies rehabilitate more than 950 units of affordable housing across the state and revitalize communities in every part of the state.

Locally, grants from the NYS CDBG and NY Main Street programs will help:

• Community Revitalization - $800,000 in NY Main Street awards will be targeted to the Finger Lakes Region and used to renovate building facades, beautify streetscapes with trees and other enhancements, and rehabilitate 20 commercial units. Statewide, NYS CDBG grants will help communities make critical infrastructure improvements, directly benefiting more than 85,000 low and moderate income New Yorkers.
• Affordable Housing - More than 76 units of affordable housing in the Finger Lakes will be renovated thanks to the grants. NYS CDBG awards will rehabilitate 66 units of affordable housing in the Finger Lakes, and the NY Main Street awards will renovate 10 units.
• Business Growth and Job Creation - The NYS CDBG grants will help businesses in the Finger Lakes Region create or retain 115 jobs and will provide funds to support small business enterprises, helping them to grow and prosper.

The NY Main Street program provides financial resources and technical assistance to communities to strengthen the state's traditional Main Streets and neighborhoods. Grants are provided to business improvement districts and other not-for-profit organizations for building renovations, façade and streetscape improvements and, in limited cases, capital funding for projects intended to anchor downtown districts. The program also provides technical assistance and other resources to support community revitalization efforts.

The NYS CDBG program is federally funded but administered by DHCR through its Office of Community Renewal. The NYS CDBG Program provides grants to smaller communities in order to: ensure decent, affordable housing; provide services to the most vulnerable in our communities; create jobs and expand business opportunities for implementing a variety of community and economic and to provide improved community facilities and services.

Grants from the NYS CDBG and NY Main Street programs are approved by the state's Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC), which is chaired by DHCR Commissioner VanAmerongen and administered by DHCR staff.

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