Ritchie Applauds $10 Million Investment in Downtown Watertown

State Senator Patty Ritchie is applauding the announcement of a $10 million investment that will help revitalize Downtown Watertown, create jobs and boost the area’s overall economy. 

The special announcement was made Wednesday by Governor Andrew Cuomo at the City of Watertown’s historic Masonic Temple, where he and Senator Ritchie were joined by state and local leaders, downtown business owners and community members.

Funding and investments awarded are part of the state’s second round of the $100 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative, which aims to award cities that create the best strategic plan—with needed improvement projects—that could revitalize their downtown community to attract businesses, visitors and future development.

“Economic Development is the lifeline of any community and Downtown Watertown is one of the beating hearts of our region. In this day and age, you don’t have to reinvent, but you do need to revitalize,” Senator Ritchie said. “Recently, the City of Watertown has done a tremendous job of bringing businesses back downtown, while maintaining its sense of history. This investment from New York State will help ensure Watertown can continue down that path and draw even more businesses and people downtown. I would like to thank Governor Cuomo for recognizing the potential Watertown has to grow.”

(Attn. photo editors: Senator Ritchie and Governor Cuomo are pictured with (from left to right) – North Country Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chair Tony Collins, Jefferson County Board of Legislators Chair Scott Gray, Empire State Development CEO Howard Zemsky, Watertown Mayor Joe Butler and NYS Assemblywoman Addie Jenne)