NYS Office of Community Renewal awards $250,000 to Development Chenango

According to Commerce Chenango, its economic development affiliate, Development Chenango Corp., (DCC) has been awarded $250,000 to establish a Main Street Grant Program in the village. The funding, from the New York State Office of Community Renewal, will leverage an additional $84,000 from the owners of the downtown buildings that will be renovated. The $334,000 program will make improvements to at least six commercial spaces and six residences, as well as the downtown streetscape itself. "For the past year we have helped New Berlin assess its downtown revitalization needs," said Commerce Chenango economic development director Jennifer Tavares. "We are very excited to receive this funding and look forward to working with the Village and property owners to enhance the charm and vitality of their historic downtown." "With the rapid growth of Chobani in nearby Columbus, New Berlin has become an important gateway to Chenango County," said Commerce Chenango president and CEO Steve Craig. "This Main Street funding will help the village make the best possible impression on first-time visitors." Mayor Terry Potter thanked Development Chenango and the property owners who helped with the application. "We are excited about moving forward with the projects and the vision that everyone shares for revitalizing our village," he said. The New Berlin Main Street grant was one of five Chenango County projects whose funding was revealed recently during Governor Cuomo's Regional Economic Development Council awards ceremony. The others are a $275,000 grant to Sunrise Family Farms, which will help fund a $3.4 million expansion of their facility in Greene; a $30,000 grant to the Village of Greene to conduct a sewer collection engineering study; a $99,785 grant to DCMO BOCES to assist with retraining unemployed individuals for health related careers; and a $2.3 million Recharge NY power allocation for an expansion project being undertaken by Golden Artist Colors, Inc., based in Columbus. Craig, who represents Chenango County on the Southern Tier Regional Council, applauded the council's leadership and Empire State Development's regional staff for offering compelling proof-of-performance during 2012, and proposing truly transformative projects for 2013. The Region's plan was judged among the best in the state, and qualified for awards totaling more than $90 million in economic development funding. "It is very exciting to see such valuable investments being made in Chenango County, and throughout the Southern Tier," Craig said. "The Regional Council is working hard to translate those investments into long-term job growth and prosperity." Another noteworthy project expected to benefit Chenango County is the expansion of the Challenge Industries Finger Lakes Food Hub which will increase region-wide demand for fresh produce.