The Office of Community Renewal administers the New York Main Street program. New York Main Street provides financial resources and technical assistance to communities to strengthen the economic vitality of the State's traditional Main Streets and neighborhoods. The NY Main Street grant program provides funds from the New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC) to units of local government, business improvement districts, and other not-for-profit organizations that are committed to revitalizing historic downtowns, mixed-use neighborhood commercial districts, and village centers.
New York's Main Streets are in transition. While many downtown and neighborhood retail districts have seen new life, with significant investment in the development of civic, commercial and residential projects, others have not yet experienced this trend. Many of these communities can once again thrive with proper management and strategic investment of public and private resources.
Main Street grants are revitalizing our downtowns through targeted commercial/residential improvements such as façade renovations, interior commercial and residential building upgrades, and streetscape enhancements. Funds are not available for new construction.
Eligible applicants for the NYMS Program are Units of Local Government or organizations incorporated under the NYS Not-for-Profit Corporation Law, which includes community-based organizations, business improvement districts, and other similar entities that have been providing relevant service to the community for at least one year prior to application.
Applicants are encouraged to identify well-defined Main Street areas to maximize the impact that the local program will have on the community. There is a preference for funding proposals where contiguous buildings will be assisted, maximizing the impact of the investment. The proposed activities must be carried out in a program target area of generally no more than three contiguous blocks which has experienced sustained physical deterioration, decay, neglect, or disinvestment, and has a number of substandard buildings or vacant residential or commercial units.
The Project(s) must be located in an eligible target area. An eligible target area shall mean an area: (i) that has experienced sustained physical deterioration, decay, neglect, or disinvestment; (ii) has a number of substandard buildings or vacant residential or commercial units; and (iii) in which more than fifty percent of the residents are persons of low income, or which is designated by a state or federal agency to be eligible for a community or economic development program.
Applicants may request between $50,000 and $250,000 for two eligible activities:
Building Renovation: Matching grants to building owners for renovation of mixed-use buildings. Recipients of NYMS funds may award up to $50,000 in grant funds to building owners. Building renovation grant funds are used to renovate facades, storefronts and commercial interiors, with an additional $10,000 per residential unit up to a per building maximum of $100,000 not to exceed 75% of the total project cost.
Streetscape Enhancement: $15,000 in grant funds for streetscape enhancement activities, such as: planting trees, installing street furniture and trash cans; providing appropriate signs in accordance with a local signage plan; and performing other supportive activities to enhance the NYMS target area. A streetscape enhancement grant will only be awarded as an activity ancillary to a building renovation project and cannot be applied for on its own.
Capital District & New York City Region
Crystal Loffler, Program Director
Erin Kinne, Community Developer
Hampton Plaza
38-40 State Street, 6th Floor
Albany, New York 12207
(518) 474-2057
Counties Served: Albany, Bronx, Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Kings, Montgomery, Nassau, New York, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, Washington, and Westchester.
Syracuse Region
Patricia O'Reilly, Community Developer
620 Erie Blvd. West, Suite 312
Syracuse, New York 13204
(315) 478-7179
Counties Served: Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Franklin, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Tioga, and Tompkins.
Buffalo Region
Maureen Wheeler, Community Developer
535 Washington Street, Suite 105
Buffalo, New York 14203
(716) 847-3394
Counties Served: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates.
Last updated on 05/29/12