Bonacic: $200,000 To Help Middletown's Downtown
State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/I/C - Mount Hope) announced today that $200,000 in new State funds under the State's Main Streets program will be invested in downtown Middletown. Those funds, combined with other public and private funds, will yield a total of more than $2.3 million in downtown investment in a three block area of the City.
"This is an investment in our downtown area. When private and public funds can be used to improve the community, that is a win for all of us," Senator Bonacic said.
According to John Degnan, Executive Director of Middletown’s Business Improvement District (BID), "Downtown Middletown is experiencing a resurgence of business and residential activity. In the heart of downtown Middletown, the Business Improvement District, there are many new business which have opened their doors."
This latest project will renovate and beautify 18 commercial facades in the downtown commercial corridor along North Street. Additionally, according to Degnan, 31 vacant housing units will be rehabilitated for residential use, leveraging significant private sector investments.
Other organizations joining in BID's revitalization efforts are: NYSERDA, the City of Middletown's office of Community and Economic Development, the Community Preservation Corporation, and the State Senate.
The Main Streets program is a program run by the State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR). Senator Bonacic introduced Degnan to officials from DHCR two years ago to help develop a closer relationship between the City and DHCR. "Developing good relationships is key to bringing home the State funding our region deserves. I will continue to work closely with the BID, City officials, and State leaders to support our region," concluded Senator Bonacic.
