Syracuse’s Main Street programs offer funding

The City of Syracuse is seeking applications for two new Main Street façade-improvement programs with more than $3 million available for grants. (PHOTO CREDIT: ZOEYADVERTISING.COM)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — For-profit and nonprofit organizations can apply for funding to make building improvements through the City of Syracuse’s two new Main Street façade-improvement programs.  The programs support the redevelopment and improvement of mixed use, commercial, and historic properties in Syracuse’s South Salina Street, West Onondaga Street, and South Avenue business corridors.  The city’s […]

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — For-profit and nonprofit organizations can apply for funding to make building improvements through the City of Syracuse’s two new Main Street façade-improvement programs. 

The programs support the redevelopment and improvement of mixed use, commercial, and historic properties in Syracuse’s South Salina Street, West Onondaga Street, and South Avenue business corridors. 

The city’s neighborhood and business-development programs will provide grants to restore building façades, beautify and repair exteriors, and assist with other improvements, the office of Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced.

Syracuse will use funding allocated from New York State and the Onondaga County Department of Community Development. 

“Spurring investment in our neighborhood business corridors is critical to the city’s ongoing economic growth,” Walsh said in the news release. “With passionate community engagement and a concentration of local, state and federal support already committed to these areas, the new Main Street programs build off the momentum to reactivate storefronts and foster growth in our neighborhood business corridors.”

The South Salina Main Street Façade Improvement program has $1.25 million available to those who own or are under contract to purchase an existing property located on the South Salina Corridor, with a target area spanning from East Adams Street and Seneca Turnpike. The funds are limited to façade work and exterior improvements of mixed-use buildings and commercial properties.

The deadline for submissions will be 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024.

The Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Main Street Façade Improvement program has $1.8 million available to property and business owners located within the City’s Southwest gateway area, with a maximum amount of $250,000 to be awarded per project. 

Funds can be used on activities including but not limited to building stabilization, structural repairs, façade work, and exterior/interior improvements. Applications for the DRI Southwest Gateway program will be accepted on a rolling basis until all funds have been committed.

The Southwest Gateway downtown revitalization is anchored by the West Onondaga Street and South Avenue business corridors, per Walsh’s office. The Southwest Gateway shares three city blocks with the central business district. 

A recent increase in investment has led to the redevelopment of many of these properties, Walsh’s office noted.

“The Onondaga County Main Street Program has been a tremendous success,” Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said in the city’s news release. “Partnering with commercial property owners we’ve leveraged over $29 million dollars on nearly 240 projects to breathe new life into critical business districts. We are pleased to be expanding this program into the City of Syracuse and know that this partnership will yield the same positive results we have seen throughout Onondaga County.” 

Details on the programs and the application process can be found at syr.gov/departments/nbd.

Applicants can be for-profit and nonprofit 501(c)(3) or 501 (c)(4) organizations. Applications can be submitted electronically to business@syrgov.net or sent to: City of Syracuse Department of Neighborhood & Business Development, 300 South State St., Suite 700, Syracuse, NY 13202.

Eric Reinhardt: