Massena Awarded $10 Million in Downtown Revitalization Initiative

Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Friday, December 10th that Massena will receive $10 million in funding as one of the North Country region winners of the fifth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). As part of DRI Round 5, each of the state’s 10 regional economic development regions are being awarded $20 million, to make for a total state commitment of $200 million in funding and investments to help communities boost their post COVID-19 economies by transforming downtowns into vibrant neighborhoods.

Led by the Department of State, the DRI serves as a cornerstone of the State’s economic development policy by transforming downtown neighborhoods into vibrant centers of activity that offer a high quality of life and attract redevelopment, businesses, jobs, and economic and housing diversity. In this round, Governor Hochul doubled funding from $100 million to $200 million and allowed each Regional Economic Development Council to decide whether to nominate two $10 million awardees or one $20 million awardee for transformative and catalytic downtown redevelopment projects. Like past DRI rounds, each selected community will develop a strategic plan through a bottom-up, community-based planning process that articulates a vision for the revitalization of its downtown and identifies a list of signature projects that have the potential to transform the downtown and leverage further private and public investments. DRI funds will then be awarded for selected projects that have the greatest potential to jumpstart revitalization and realize the community’s vision for the downtown. Through the DRI, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will provide technical support to the awardees to assist them with including carbon neutral principles in support of the state’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050.

The village has the goal of revitalizing their historically intact, compact, dense downtown to make it more walkable, utilized, and functional, so that it can serve as a true community center for the village and the region. With a 19.6% poverty rate, Massena has worked hard in their revitalization efforts, bringing in approximately $20 million in public and private investments in the downtown area in the past 10 years. To further their goal, the village aims to create arts and culture spaces, increase mixed-use space, support workforce and new business development, and better utilize space along the waterfront.

Massena now joins Plattsburgh, Watertown, Saranac Lake and Potsdam, which were the North Country Region’s winners in the first four DRI rounds, respectively.

Massena will begin the process of developing a Strategic Investment Plan to revitalize its downtown with up to $300,000 in planning funds from the $10 million DRI grant. A Local Planning Committee made up of municipal representatives, community leaders, and other stakeholders will lead the effort, supported by a team of private sector experts and state planners. The Strategic Investment Plan will examine local assets and opportunities and identify economic development, transportation, housing, and community projects that align with the community’s vision for downtown revitalization and that are poised for implementation. The Strategic Investment Plan will guide the investment of DRI grant funds in revitalization projects that will advance the community’s vision for its downtown and that can leverage and expand upon the state’s $10 million investment. Plans for the DRI’s fifth round will be complete in 2022.

Massena Mayor Greg Paquin said, “We are so excited that Massena has been selected as a winner of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. With this $10 million investment, we will be able to transform our quaint downtown into a more vibrant, walkable community that will benefit our residents and visitors. We are grateful to Governor Hochul for this award, and I look forward to working with the many stakeholders in our village to develop a list of projects to revitalize Massena.”

Paquin told NNY 360 “Mr. Bill Fiacco has already invested a lot in our downtown community and I’m very thankful to him, along with Mr. Hamelin as well. Rick Hamelin has done great things for this village, the continued investment, and it’s something that we look forward to continue working with them”.

Hamelin is owner of Speedway Plaza located in Akwesasne.

Six projects were submitted as part of the village’s DRI application, among them is the restoration of the Massena Schine Theater. The theater estimates the total cost to be $1.9 million and requested $1 million in DRI funding. Another project included is the Central Building, formerly the JJ Newberry Building, on the corner of Main and Andrews streets. GoCo Ventures is proposing a full modernization of the property, with immediate work including asbestos removal, replacement of a leaking roof and addition of a rooftop deck, and replacement of the decaying 1970 facade. The total cost is estimated at $2.95 million, with $1.48 million requested in the DRI application.

The application also requested $545,000 of the projected $1.09 million to create a creamery and value-added store on the corner of Glenn and Water streets - renovating a 5,100-square-foot abandoned building to implement light manufacturing and regionally distribute value-added dairy products, including ice cream, yogurt, and cheeses, and notes that the project also includes adding a second floor to the existing building to allow for three moderate-income apartments.

Other proposals include a downtown Riverwalk at a total cost of $1.6 million, with a $1.4 million DRI request; an outdoor event center and recreation space on Water Street, at a total cost of $1.8 million, with a $1.5 million DRI request; and renovation of a “round brick” building on West Orvis Street, at a total cost of $1.3 million, with a $650,000 DRI request.

The village of Potsdam won the $10 million fourth-round award for the north country region in 2019. Earlier north country winners were Plattsburgh, Watertown and Saranac Lake in the first three rounds.

Other north country applicants this year include Canton and Ogdensburg in St. Lawrence County; Clayton and Cape Vincent in Jefferson County; and Lowville in Lewis County.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that Tupper Lake will receive $10 million in funding as one of the North Country region winners of the fifth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). As part of DRI Round 5, each of the state’s 10 regional economic development regions are being awarded $20 million, to make for a total state commitment of $200 million in funding and investments to help communities boost their post COVID-19 economies by transforming downtowns into vibrant neighborhoods.