CAPE VINCENT — Entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders with ideas for enhancing downtown, particularly their own facilities, grabbed forms to pitch them for a collective $10 million grant application on Monday.
In order to gather project proposals and meet requirements for a state Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant, the village and town hosted a meeting to discuss the application process and attract potential participants. About 60 people attended, and several left with project submission forms.
Jay Grasso, a consultant the town and village hired for their DRI application, said anyone wishing to submit project proposal forms must send them by Friday in order to meet the March 31 deadline. Participants pursuing grant funds must demonstrate commitment, both in time and finances, to their projects, he said, adding that the grant allocations will not foot the whole bill.
Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact Mr. Grasso, president of G&G Municipal Consulting & Grant Writing, at 585-703-0920 or Jay@ggprocess.com.
“Dream big. Now’s the time,” he said. “I look at this and I see a huge opportunity. You have a beautiful community.”
The initiative, which provides grants to one municipality in each of the state’s 10 regions, has entered its fourth year. Previous north country winners include Plattsburgh, Watertown and Saranac Lake.
Financing a new home for the Cape Vincent Arts Council, renovating Chamber of Commerce building so it can operate year-round, new facilities for East End Park, betterments for Horne’s Ferry, street improvements, more park space and dockage and facade renovations were among the initial pitches for grant financing should Cape Vincent secure it.
Laurie E. Hanna and Roland A. Sherman purchased the former Aubrey’s Inn to relocate their Cape Vincent Brewing Co., which will open in the new space Thursday. Ms. Hanna said the DRI could help with facade work, new signage and improved parking.
Chamber Treasurer Frank Dolan said in addition to renovating the office, the group would like to connect it to the Cape Vincent Historical Museum and Horne’s Ferry to create a welcome center for the village. The Cape Vincent Improvement League also has several project ideas, including restoring the Community House, adding a marina and fish cleaning station to East End Park, replacing cracked sidewalks and improving the ferry entrance.
“This grant, in particular, is a comprehensive approach to the revitalization effort,” said league member Christine Stark.
The village faces many challengers, including the villages of Canton, Potsdam and Massena that attempted to secure the grant before.
“The fact is we get our foot in the door now, and even if we don’t get accepted, we’ll modify it and try again next year,” said Mayor Jerry D. Golden.