Department of Planning and Development

Main Street New York Grant Program

The Main Street New York (MSNY) Downtown Development Initiative Program, administered by Empire State Development (ESD) in cooperation with the Governor's Office for Small Cities, will provide financial assistance to projects involving the development of capital facility or infrastructure to help retain jobs and business activity.

In 2005 Governor Pataki announced that the City of Newburgh will receive $200,000 under the New York State Main Street Program funding round. Around 60 municipalities will share in nearly $11 million in awards to help stimulate downtown revitalization.

"New York's downtown business districts represent the lifeblood of its cities, towns and villages," Governor Pataki said. "These awards will provide additional resources to reinvigorate our Main Streets and generate pride, progress, and prosperity in communities all across our great State. The response to this program has been overwhelming, and I would like to congratulate the recipients for their vision and determination to bring our Main Streets back."

Mayor Nick Valentine commented, "When we first applied for this grant, I thought we had a good shot at it, and I am ecstatic we were selected. We plan to use it for a combination of façade and streetscape improvements, such as plantings, lights, and sidewalks along a portion of the Liberty Street corridor. This piggybacks well with current and planned upgrades to the Broadway corridor."

City Manager Jean-Ann McGrane noted, "This grant will also leverage investment from private property owners participating in the program, and will be supplemented by Community Development Block Grant Funds, resulting in approximately $450,000 in funding. Investment in the historic district will be enhanced and encouraged, and the aesthetics of lower Broadway and the Liberty Street area will be improved."