$10 million Awarded for DRI
Mayor Rosas is proud to announce that the City of Dunkirk’ Downtown Revitalization Initiative application was chosen to be awarded $10 million towards energizing the downtown area. Governor Kathy Hochul presented checks yesterday at the Clarion Hotel while surrounded by over 250 people of which included local city officials, business owners, school children, media and residents. Additionally, Mayor Shayler of Wellsville and Mayor Ruda of Lancaster were also there to receive awards for NYS Forward.
Mayor Rosas is confident that with this DRI award, the City of Dunkirk is on its way to becoming a destination area “…we are ready now, we are ready to take that giant step to become a destination here in Western New York. We believe that this plan we proposed will help us to bring in folks from the western part of the state, which I’m talking about the state of Pennsylvania, the state of Ohio.. this will become a destination.”
The New York State's DRI is serves as a component of the State's economic development policy by transforming downtown neighborhoods into vibrant centers of activity that offer a high quality of life and attract businesses, jobs and economic and housing diversity. The next year will be comprised of outlining plans for implementing these funds to various specified projects, followed by the execution of these projects. The state will not just give the City of Dunkirk $10 million dollars, but rather look at proposed application projects and approve funding for those planned projects after plans for execution have been solidified. The process for these proposed projects is a long one, but hopefully successful in bringing new life and development with the promotion of new business in the city to benefit local residents.
The City of Dunkirk seeks to harness its connection to Lake Erie to attract new investment, activate its waterfront and serve as a conduit for redevelopment of its historic business district. Various projects being focused on are a possible waterfront amphitheater and marina improvements, Clarion Hotel renovations with possible indoor water park and a Jamestown Community College downtown campus to name a few. The City of Dunkirk hopes to re-energize the area and bring in new development rich opportunities for the future to benefit our residents.