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Syracuse seeks project proposals to revitalize business corridors using federal funds

arpa biz mayor
Scott Willis
/
WAER
Mayor Ben Walsh outlines the business corridor improvement fund at 701-703 N. Salina St. Behind him are, left to right, Deputy Director of Business Development Eric Ennis, Councilors Amir Gethers, Jennifer Schultz, Pat Hogan, Joe Driscoll, Michael Greene, and building owner Jamie Stevens.

Syracuse has opened the application window for a new program aimed at revitalizing the city’s neighborhood business corridors using federal pandemic relief funds. Officials made the announcement on North Salina Street in Little Italy. Deputy Commissioner of business development Eric Ennis said the funds can provide a much-needed spark for the corridors.

They’ve seen tremendous economic hardship throughout the last two years with COVID-19.  Some have seen decades of disinvestment.  The goal of this program is to target and create a grant opportunity fund to help support property owners as well as tenants that may be looking to move into or expand commercial storefront space, activate potentially putting apartments upstairs, creating more life and vibrancy.”

The launch of the Commercial Corridor Improvement fund comes on the heels of the closing of the application window for $10 million in state funding for the Southwest Gateway project. Mayor Ben Walsh said the alignment of federal, state and local funding is an unprecedented, once in a generation opportunity.

“In order to see true, comprehensive, holistic neighborhood revitalization, we need to invest in our business corridors.  We need to invest in our main streets.  While certainly we’ve seen a lot of investment downtown, we want to make sure that’s extending outside of downtown, along our business corridors, ultimately helping to lift our neighborhoods.”  

Businesses, non-profits and community organizations are eligible to apply for the corridor improvement funds. Projects can range from $10,000 to $10 million. The deadline is June 15.

Jamie Stevens is renovating this building at 701-03 N. Salina St. in the city’s Little Italy neighborhood.
Scott Willis
/
WAER
Jamie Stevens is renovating this building at 701-03 N. Salina St. in the city’s Little Italy neighborhood.

The Commercial Corridor Fund has five project categories:

· Level 1 projects are those estimated to cost between $10,000 - $100,000 and include exterior enhancements and/or façade improvements.

· Level 2 projects are those which are estimated to cost between $100,001 - $1,000,000 and include interior buildout to expand existing business or welcome a new tenant.

· Level 3 projects are those which are estimated to cost between $1,000,001 - $2,000,000 and include new construction or development, and significant interior and exterior improvements.

· Quality of Life Corridor Improvements are those estimated to cost up to $2,000,000 and include new lighting, shared parking solutions, shared energy efficiency upgrades and pedestrian safety improvements.

· Neighborhood Catalyst projects are estimated to cost between $2,000,000 - $10,000,000. These larger projects will include job creation requirements and must involve new construction or adaptive reuse of a longtime vacant structure.

Applicants can be for-profit and nonprofit/501c3 or c4 organizations. All proposed project sites must be located within a qualified ARPA census tract (see map here).