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Scott Murphy
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Schumer, Murphy announce Glens Falls to Receive $200,000 to Develop Downtown, Promote Growth
Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Funding Will Enable Glens Falls to Conduct Planning Initiative For Economic Development

Washington, Oct 20 -

Glens Falls, NY – Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Scott Murphy (NY-20) announced that the City of Glens Falls has received a joint Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Department of Transportation (DOT) Community Challenge grant for $200,000. With this funding, Glens Falls will conduct a planning initiative to promote a more equitable, sustainable, and economically viable community. Specifically, this funding will enable Glens Falls to evaluate the feasibility of developing its downtown shopping and housing areas, and increase transportation options.  



“Renewing the Upstate New York economy begins with revitalizing downtowns and Main Streets just like Glens Falls,” said Murphy. “In the past few years, downtown Glens Falls has begun to develop and flourish, and this funding will enable the city to explore even more avenues for economic development. We need to continue to work together to bring new jobs and businesses Upstate. This funding will help us do just that.”



“This support will lay the groundwork for small businesses to grow in downtown Glens Falls,” Schumer said. “Glens Falls has done much to revitalize its downtown and this investment will help them go the next mile.”



The initiative will evaluate the feasibility of developing a downtown parking facility, which would also function as a bus/taxi transfer station, public market, and festival/farmers market site. In addition, the study will look to improve connections to an existing pedestrian/bike path, amend the zoning ordinance to increase and promote energy efficiency, and develop a strategy to provide affordable workforce housing downtown. With this funding, the city will also be able to develop strategies to encourage renovation or creation of third-floor housing in mixed-use buildings and enhance economic opportunities in the downtown area by identifying parcels for infill development.



“For HUD and Transportation, sustainability means tying the quality and location of housing and transportation to broader opportunities, like good jobs, quality schools, and safe streets,” said HUD Regional Administrator Adolfo Carrión. “This Challenge Grant will allow the City of Glens Falls to develop a plan that ties those elements together in a comprehensive way, in order to build a more sustainable and economically viable city. We are investing as a partner in Glens Falls’ future and look forward to working with the city and its leadership.”



Mayor John “Jack” Diamond, in acknowledging receipt of the $200,000 HUD Community Challenge Planning Grant, noted that the city is only one of three communities in New York State to receive this grant (others being New York City and Auburn) and only one of 62 communities in the country.



The Mayor thanked Congressman Scott Murphy and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer for their great interest, advocacy and assistance on behalf of the City. Mayor Diamond noted that in recognition of this grant, the Regional Director of HUD for New York and New Jersey, Adolfo Carrion, will be coming to Glens Falls Thursday afternoon at Noon at the Empire Theater (11 South Street) to discuss the grant and a present a symbolic check to the City.



The FY2010 Omnibus Appropriations Act authorized $40 million from HUD and $35 million from DOT for the Community Challenge Planning Grant program. Over 600 projects applied for funding for this grant program.