Building owners in Schuyler County have a new opportunity to enhance their properties with the reopening of the Schuyler County Façade Improvement Program. The county has allocated over $200,000 in matching grants for improvements to commercial and mixed-use buildings across the region, officials announced on Tuesday.
The revitalized program expands on the success of its predecessor, which began in 2021 with $350,000 in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. In its first five rounds, the initiative awarded grants of $10,000 to $25,000 to 22 buildings, generating over $2 million in private investment and rejuvenating the downtowns of villages like Watkins Glen, Burdett, Odessa, and Montour Falls.
“This program has proven successful in rejuvenating storefronts in all of our villages,” said Carl Blowers, Chairman of the Schuyler County Legislature. “The County Legislature looks forward to the investment this program will stimulate.”
The current round of funding is open to all commercial and mixed-use buildings in the county, with priority given to projects highly visible from main roads. Applications will be scored based on criteria aimed at enhancing the pedestrian environment and encouraging further investment in the county.
The Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development (SCOPED) will oversee the program, working with applicants throughout the process. Interested property owners must submit their application packets by 5 p.m. on February 28. Award announcements are expected in April.
To learn more, review past awards, or download the application, visit the SCFIP website at flxgateway.com/scfip. For questions, contact Kerri Green, Senior Economic & Community Development Specialist, at [email protected] or (607) 210-6362.
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