NEW BERLIN — Commerce Chenango’s economic-development affiliate, Development Chenango Corporation, has been awarded $250,000 to establish a Main Street Grant Program in the village of New Berlin.
The funding, from the New York State Office of Community Renewal, will leverage an additional $84,000 from the owners of the downtown buildings to be renovated in the project. The $334,000 program will make improvements to at least six commercial spaces and six residences, as well as the downtown streetscape, according to Commerce Chenango.
“For the past year we have helped New Berlin assess its downtown revitalization needs,” Jennifer Tavares, Commerce Chenango’s economic-development director, said in a new release. “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.”
Fast growth at nearby yogurt maker Chobani has increased New Berlin’s visibility, according to Commerce Chenango President and CEO Steve Craig. “This Main Street funding will help the village make the best possible impression on first-time visitors,” he said.
The New Berlin Main Street grant was one of five Chenango County projects whose funding was announced recently in Albany during Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council awards ceremony.
The others include a $275,000 grant to Sunrise Family Farms, which will help fund a $3.4 million expansion of its facility in Greene, a $30,000 grant to the village of Greene to conduct a sewer-collection engineering study, and a $99,785 grant to DCMO BOCES to help retrain unemployed people for health-related careers. And, Golden Artist Colors, Inc., based in the town of Columbus, received a $2.3 million Recharge NY power allocation for an expansion project it’s pursuing.
“It is very exciting to see such valuable investments being made in Chenango County, and throughout the Southern Tier,” Craig said in the release.
Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com