Governor Hochul Announces Transformational Projects for Oneida as Part of $10 Million Downtown Revitalization Initiative
December 21, 2022
Eight Downtown Revitalization Projects Increase the City's Walkability and Bikeability, Expand Business and Housing Opportunities and Improve Public Spaces and Amenities
Project Renderings Available Here
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced eight transformational projects in the City of Oneida as part of the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative Award. The Awards will leverage the community's rich historic resources to create more housing and business opportunities.
"Our Downtown Revitalization Initiative provides critical funding that ensures our New York businesses thrive within our local communities," Governor Hochul said. "This much needed economic development funding provides the City of Oneida with a unique opportunity to revitalize the downtown and draw new economic investments to the area. I look forward to following the City's progress and the impact our local economic development efforts will continue to have on job creation and community transformation across the state."
The City of Oneida developed and grew around the expansion of the New York State Canal System in the 1830s and continues to highlight its Canal legacy as a catalyst for growth, tourism and quality of life. The City's dense, walkable downtown contains significant architectural and historical assets on which to build its resurgence. Oneida's revitalization is focused on improving its parks, public amenities and streetscape infrastructure and creating new mixed-use spaces.
The investments are part of the Governor's ongoing efforts to revitalize the upstate economy and create more opportunities within the Central New York Region. The DRI is led by the Department of State, which provides technical assistance as each participating community develops a Strategic Investment Plan identifying specific projects with a unique vision for the revitalization of the downtown area.
The specific projects to be funded through the DRI support several goals and strategies contained in the community's Strategic Investment Plan, such as — increasing the City's walkability and bikeability; expanding business and housing opportunities by redeveloping and repurposing existing buildings; and improving public spaces and amenities. The $9.7 million State investments in these projects through the DRI will leverage additional public and private sector investments as the revitalization process proceeds and builds momentum.