$500K Available In Suffolk Downtown Revitalization Grants

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A pool of $500,000 is available for the 2023 Round of the Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Grant Program, Executive Steve Bellone announced Wednesday.

The money will partially fund capital projects in or next to downtown areas on municipally-owned property, according to the county. Award recipients will be selected by the Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Citizens Advisory Panel after applications are made.

This year marks the 21st round of the Downtown Revitalization Grant Program, which has provided funding to 300 projects supporting revitalization efforts in communities across Suffolk County since 1997. In all, more than $12.5 million in funds have been granted to downtown revitalization projects.

Applications for the 2023 program are due by 4 p.m. May 17.

"Over the years, the Downtown Revitalization Program has paved the way for transformational change in our region’s downtowns," Bellone stated. "As it enters its third decade, the Downtown Revitalization continues to be a central program of our Connect Long Island plan by supporting placemaking, walkability and beautification of our central business districts."

Projects eligible for grants include public parking facilities, curb and sidewalk construction, pedestrian walkways, street lighting, public restrooms, disabled accessibility, renovations to existing structures, and cultural facilities.

Grant applicants must be organizations that represent a downtown area and who partner with their local municipality. Organizations that represent downtown areas include business improvement districts, chambers of commerce, civic associations, historical societies, beautification societies, and local development corporations.

Towns or villages that partner with a community organization are required to pass resolutions supporting the project. Projects must be capital in nature and boost economic activity, according to the county.

The criteria for projects include that it must be a capital improvement project; the funding request must be at least $10,000; the organization must partner with a municipality and be on or near municipally-owned property; and the project life-span must be at least 15 years.

In 2022, Suffolk County awarded $500,000 in funding to 15 organizations for projects that included streetscape improvements, pedestrian enhancements, way-finding signage, downtown lighting and a historic clock. A pool of $500,000 was made available to partially fund qualified capital projects.

The Downtown Revitalization Citizens Advisory Panel uses a point system to evaluate each application to ensure projects that receive funding will make "the greatest contribution to the long-term improvement of local downtowns and have a positive economic impact on Suffolk County as a whole," according to the county.

The application and guidelines can be found on the Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization website.