O’Mara Announces Nearly $1 million in Local Revitalization Grants

            Assemblyman Tom O’Mara (R,I,C-Big Flats) is pleased to announce that the State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) is awarding a $450,000 grant to Elmira Downtown Development, Inc. and a $465,000 grant to the Village of Montour Falls to help revitalize traditional downtown business districts.      

Assemblyman O’Mara noted that the grants are part of the New York Main Street program and that the funding will help to rejuvenate the region’s downtown business districts, create jobs, provide affordable housing and stimulate the local economy.

The DHCR today announced a total of 16 New York Main Street grant awards totaling $7 million.  The grants will help renovate 217 units of affordable housing units, 96 commercial units and 122 building facades.  Awards will also be used to make streetscape enhancements in 13 municipalities around the state.  In addition to the initial funding, the awards are expected to help leverage more than $17 million in additional investments from other sources. 

“This funding will go a long way toward helping to revitalize the City of Elmira and the Village of Montour Falls business districts,” said O’Mara.  “By investing in these areas, the state is helping to create a more desirable destination for companies.”

“In these tough economic times, state government must continue to make economic development investments a top priority,” concluded O’Mara.