West Hudson Valley News

City of Kingston Launches DRI Stockade District Business Façade Improvement Grants Program 

Mayor Steven T. Noble, in partnership with Ulster County Office of Economic Development, is pleased to announce the launch of the Business Façade Improvement Grant Program, the second of the DRI Stockade Business District Small Grants programs.

The Business Façade Improvement Program will provide grants of up to $20,000 each to property or business owners seeking to make improvements to the façade of a commercial property building in Kingston’s Uptown Stockade Business District. A program boundary map can be found here.

The Business Façade Improvements Program funds are available for the correction of blighting conditions such as peeling paint, boarded up windows or windows in poor condition; signage; replacement of missing historic elements; and modification or removal of inappropriate alterations. Projects and expenses are determined on an individual basis to ensure that they meet the goals of Business Façade Improvement Program and Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Program.

“We are so pleased to open the application for the Stockade District Business Façade Improvement Grant,” said Mayor Noble. “One of our goals in applying for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative funding was to help preserve what makes Uptown Kingston so special and that includes our beautiful architecture. We hope this funding will help restore some of the unique historic character that may have faded or been altered over time.” 

“Uptown Kingston is an unusual and unusually charming shopping and business district. It is also burdened by ongoing issues relative to facade maintenance. These small grants will help give this very special part of our great city the sparkle it deserves. I encourage all qualifying property and business owners to apply for these grants,” said Alderman Carl Frankel, Ward 2. 

Don Tallerman, Vice President of the Kingston Uptown Business Association said, “KUBA applauds the City’s efforts to help make Uptown shine. This grant gives building owners the opportunity to enhance the beauty of our historic business district, while making Uptown more vibrant both for residents and visitors to our great city.”

The Business Façade Improvement Grant Program application opens Friday, February 24, 2023 and will close on Friday, March 24, 2023. Awardees will be announced on Friday, May 12, 2023.

Commercial property owners, small business owners, and non-profits within the Stockade District boundary are welcome to apply. Religious institutions, private membership-based organizations and municipalities are not eligible for this grant opportunity.

The City of Kingston was awarded the Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant in 2017. Funds for the Stockade Business District Small Grants Program come from the NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative, headed by NYS Department of State and administered by NYS Homes & Community Renewal.

More information about the program, guidelines and application can be found at: www.engagekingston.com/dri-business-facade-improvement-grant-program.

 

 

Original source can be found here.