By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media
The villages of Catskill and Athens were awarded a combined $14.5 million from New York state to revitalize their downtown areas and encourage economic development.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced March 12 that Catskill would receive $10 million from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, or DRI, and Athens was awarded $4.5 million in NY Forward funding.
The village of Greenwich, in Washington County, was also designated for a $4.5 million NY Forward grant.
Catskill was selected for funding as the winner of the eighth round of DRI awards, and Athens and Greenwich were the winners of the third round of the NY Forward program. Municipalities in each of the state’s 10 economic development programs are awarded funding in each round, with Catskill, Athens and Greenwich selected from the Capital Region to help transform their downtowns.
“Investing in the revitalization of our downtowns is important and through these investments we are making them more vibrant destinations for families and visitors, while helping businesses thrive and succeed,” Hochul said. “Communities across the Capital Region will benefit from these investments while also creating a reimagined landscape that includes more housing and opportunities for everyone thanks to our Pro-Housing initiative.”
To be eligible for funding, municipalities must be certified under the state’s Pro-Housing Communities Program, which was created to recognize and reward municipalities that are actively working to maximize their housing potential, according to the governor. So far, 287 communities around the state have been certified as Pro-Housing Communities.
CATSKILL
The $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant was awarded to Catskill to continue its expansion of downtown offerings and create a more active community with a mix of public and private projects.
Infrastructure improvements, new housing and renovation of historic sites are among the projects outlined in Catskill’s application for the grant.
ATHENS
Athens was awarded a $4.5 million NY Forward grant.
At the heart of the plans for the funding is an upgrade of Second Street, which is in the heart of the village’s downtown, by improving compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), increasing foot traffic to local businesses, and supporting arts and culture.
On the shore of the Hudson River, the village also plans to increase access to the river, as well as make more accessible and affordable housing available.
GREENWICH
The village of Greenwich, in Washington County, will focus its $4.5 million in funding on enhancing connectivity along the Main Street corridor and encouraging development that strengthens the local economy and expands housing diversity to accommodate people of all ages and incomes.
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
The aim of the funding is to provide communities with the opportunity for sustainable growth that will support local businesses and economic development, while also enhancing quality of life for area residents.
“This recognition not only validates our ongoing efforts to revitalize Catskill but also underscores our commitment to fostering sustainable growth and enhancing our community’s quality of life,” Catskill Village President Joseph Kozloski said. “With the DRI funding, we are excited to further transform our downtown into a vibrant hub that attracts visitors, supports local businesses, and creates new opportunities for our residents. We are grateful for the state’s support and look forward to working together.”
Athens Mayor Amy Serrago said the funding will be a “game changer” for the village.
“We’re incredible grateful to Gov. Hochul and the Capital Region Economic Development Council for seeing the potential in our wonderful, historic Hudson River village,” Serrago said. “NY Forward brings with it the opportunity for a revitalized downtown with a robust cultural community, a climate resilient riverfront park and economic growth through the creation of more affordable homes and better jobs closer to those homes. I’m excited to get to work on making our plans a reality!”
State Sen. Michelle Hinchy, D-41, said the infusion of funds will help enhance rural areas of the state.
“Catskill and Athens are outstanding examples of what rural economic development can do for small upstate communities — drive support into some of the most deserving small businesses around, improve quality of life for local families, strengthen connections to the arts and outdoor recreation, and attract the kind of smart investment that builds lasting opportunity,” Hinchey said. “Receiving the DRI and NY Forward awards is a huge deal for rural areas like ours, and I want to congratulate Catskill and Athens on such an exciting achievement. Greene County has so much to be proud of, and I thank Gov. Hochul for recognizing the incredible potential in revitalizing these vibrant communities.”
Next, each of the three communities will begin the process of developing a Strategic Investment Plan to revitalize their downtowns, and will create a Local Planning Committee to lead the effort.
The Downtown Revitalization Initiative was created in 2016 and through eight rounds has issued a total of $900 million to 89 communities across New York state. The NY Forward program was announced in 2022 to revitalize smaller, more rural downtown areas.
