City Seeking Community Input for a Round 8 Downtown Revitalization Initiative Application

The City of Ithaca Seeking Community Input for a Round 8 Downtown Revitalization Initiative Application

The City of Ithaca is preparing a new application to the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). If awarded, $10 Million in funding would be allocated to support catalytic projects in downtown Ithaca intended to spur revitalization and community vibrancy. With support from the consulting firm MRB Group, the City will leverage the vision and goals of the draft Downtown Plan to develop a new DRI application that reflects the needs and future vision for downtown Ithaca. The City's DRI application will focus on the West State /MLK Jr Street and Ithaca's West End to strengthen connectivity between the waterfront, the Ithaca Commons, and other areas throughout the downtown.

To kick off the application process, the City has launched an open call for projects. Organizations, businesses, and entities planning capital investments within the designated DRI boundary are encouraged to submit an Ithaca DRI Project Form by Monday, August 5th at 5 pm. This form, along with helpful background information, is available at the application website: https://tinyurl.com/IthacaDRI2024. Submitted projects will be reviewed by the application steering committee and the community will have an opportunity to provide feedback on eligible projects. The steering committee will then select a set of projects to include within the DRI application.

Those interested in learning more about the DRI, application process, or open call for projects are encouraged to participate in an informational webinar on Tuesday, July 19th at 9:00 am. The Zoom link to participate is on the application website, and the webinar will be recorded and posted for those unable to attend live.

The City will also hold an in-person public meeting Ion August 19 at 5:30pm at the Tompkins County Public Library. At this meeting, the City and consulting team will present the direction of the application and the eligible projects submitted during the open call for projects. Those in attendance will then have an opportunity to provide input and feedback to guide the finalization of the application and the projects to be included.

Finally, all are welcome to provide comments and input on the application website throughout the process. Several polls and surveys will be launched through the site, and comments can be submitted at any time.

Public input and a strong list of diverse projects are critical to developing a competitive DRI application. The City cannot accomplish this on its own and encourages all members of the community to participate in this potentially transformative effort. To learn more about the City of Ithaca DRI Application effort and future engagement opportunities, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/IthacaDRI2024.

Contact: Tracy Verrier, MRB Group, [email protected], 315-362-1088