“Our Downtown Revitalization Initiative is helping communities across New York reinvigorate their downtowns, jumpstart their economies, and attract the businesses and jobs that allow residents to thrive,” Gov. Hochul said. “With this award, the City of Port Jervis will begin a new chapter toward revitalizing its downtown and growing its local economy as a scenic destination for community members and visitors alike.”

Port Jervis, located on the banks of the Delaware and Neversink rivers at the juncture of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, has seen recent local private investments over the past several years that are helping to create momentum for downtown revitalization. Port Jervis’s vision for revitalization is to combine its historic charm with modern technologies and methods that support climate sustainability, business opportunities and residents, while promoting its outdoor activities along the wild, scenic Delaware River and mountainsides. The village seeks to realize its vision by enhancing downtown attractions, adding housing in new and existing buildings, creating safer streets, enhancing multi-modal transportation options and connectivity and improving energy efficiency throughout the community, state officials noted.

Sleepy Hollow has recently experienced reinvestment from major institutions and businesses, including from regional health centers and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals as well as substantial private investment to create residential units for nearly 3,000 new residents. To successfully seize the opportunity offered by these investments, state officials related that Sleepy Hollow is seeking to create more attractive and safer streets with unique placemaking components, redevelop vacant and underutilized lots and add housing at multiple price points.

Cornwall has recently seen an influx of visitors in recent years partially due to these nearby assets. The town and village have been planning for and investing in revitalization that would make these downtowns into a unique destination in an area full of attractions while continuing to improve the quality of life for residents of this community. To further this progress, the Town of Cornwall and the Village of Cornwall-on Hudson seek to connect their two downtowns, enhance placemaking and public spaces and revitalize underutilized buildings and sites throughout the neighborhood.

The governor also announced the creation of a $150-million Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund, which is targeted at financing mixed-use housing and infrastructure projects throughout the Mid-Hudson Region.

Private companies, not-for-profits, municipalities, and public benefit corporations including IDAs and LDCs are eligible to apply and the funding will be broken up equally into mixed-use housing projects and essential infrastructure projects with awards ranging from $2 million to $10 million. A 50% match will be required for all projects. Detailed information will be available on the ESD website and interested parties may sign up to be notified when the fund is open and accepting applications at: ESD.ny.gov/momentum. 

She later highlighted a number of specific sectors that will receive funding from her proposed budget, including

• $3.6 billion in School Aid for the Mid-Hudson Valley Region

• A $250 million housing infrastructure fund and $20 million for planning assistance

$240 million in DOT capital projects, including: $51 million for bridge repair/replacement; $45 million for the Wurts Street Bridge project in Kingston; $30 million for new Route 17 interchange ramps; $60 million for improvements at Bear Mountain State Park; $14.8 million for improvements at Bellayre Mountain and $1.5 million for Neighborhood and Rural Preservation housing funding.

The governor also stated that a host of community colleges will receive state funding for their respective capital project: Ulster County CC, $5.1 million; Dutchess County CC, $2.3 million; Orange County, CC, $1 million; Sullivan County CC, $625,000; and Westchester CC, $2.9 million.