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Village of Lowville Announced as North Country’s
Recipient of $10 Million Award in 7th Round of State’s Downtown
Revitalization Initiative
Published: January 23, 2024 at 12:10 p.m.
By: Nick Altmire
 Lake Placid, NY- A delegation of
officials from Lewis County was on hand in Lake Placid this morning as
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the Village of Lowville as the North
Country region’s recipient of the seventh round of awards for the State’s
Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) at the end an 11:30 a.m. news
conference focusing on New York State investments in the North
Country.
For Round 7 of
the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, each of the State's 10 economic
development regions are being awarded $10 million, to make for a total
State commitment of $100 million in funding and investments to help
communities boost their economies by transforming downtowns into vibrant
neighborhoods, according to a previous press release on the program.
This was the
Village of Lowville’s fourth time putting forward an application for the
program, with technical assistance and support from Lewis County, securing
the $10 million for the region in this round. North Country region winners
of the previous six rounds of funding (with links to their project sites)
include:
Round 1 | City of Plattsburgh
Round 2 | City of Watertown
Round 3 | Village of Saranac Lake
Round 4 | Village of Potsdam
Round 5 | Village of Tupper Lake | Village of Massena
Round 6 | Town of Ticonderoga
Round 7 | Village of Lowville
The Village of Lowville’s Round 7 DRI application (including
detailed project information) can be viewed here.
This is a
developing story, and we will have much more on this in the coming days and
weeks ahead- including reactions from local officials on the announcement
and a closer look at some of the included projects.
UPDATE (01:30
p.m.): A press release from Governor Hochul’s office can be viewed here. Information on
the Lowville DRI award from the press release is as follows:
$10 Million Downtown Revitalization
Initiative Award for Lowville
Lowville’s Downtown Revitalization
Initiative application — titled “RESTORE REDISCOVER CONNECT” — demonstrated
the Village’s readiness and capacity to transform its downtown into a more
vibrant neighborhood through private and public sector project
opportunities that will achieve its vision for the downtown. As the “urban
heart” of Lewis County, the Village seeks to preserve and enhance its
small-town, rural charm, while diversifying and expanding its economic base
in ways consistent with its unique character.
Lowville’s proposed investments will
build on its past and ongoing efforts to make the downtown a regional
center for business and culture, drawing on its position as the
“intersection corridor of the Thousand Islands, the Tug Hill Plateau and
the Adirondack Mountains.” Project priorities include redeveloping blighted
buildings, improving public spaces and growing business opportunities, all
of which will leverage outside investment, foster new partnerships
and strengthen the core of Lewis County.
Lowville will begin the process of
developing a Strategic Investment Plan to revitalize its downtown with up
to $300,000 in planning funds from the $10 million DRI grant. A Local
Planning Committee made up of municipal representatives, community leaders and
other stakeholders will lead the effort, supported by a team of
private sector experts and State planners. The Strategic Investment Plan
will examine local assets and opportunities to identify economic
development, transportation, housing, and community projects that align
with each community's vision for downtown revitalization and that are
poised for implementation. The Strategic Investment Plan will guide the
investment of DRI grant funds in revitalization projects that will advance
the community's vision for its downtown and that can leverage and expand
upon the State's $10 million investment. Plans for the DRI's seventh round
will be complete in 2024.
UPDATE (03:00
p.m.): VIDEO of the Governor’s
news conference with the announcement is available on YouTube here.
PHOTO: Project map
included in the Village of Lowville’s Round 7 DRI application
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