Corning, NY - February 23, 2011 - Corning's Gaffer District is pleased to announce its application for New York Main Street Grant funding to support building renovation projects on Bridge Street as part of the District's Northside Revitalization program.

With more than a dozen approved projects over the last five years, Corning has been a model community for the New York Main Street Program.  Since 2006, downtown Corning property owners have received more than $700,000 in grants for upgrades consistent with the NYMS Program - to provide financial resources to help New York communities with their main street/downtown revitalization efforts, to preserve significant historic buildings and provide an environment that attracts new business investment.  The program is intended to stimulate reinvestment in "main street" buildings in order to address issues of code compliance, energy conservation, accessibility, and to provide affordable housing and job opportunities. 

Although an amount of funding has not yet been determined, officials at Corning's Gaffer District are working with Northside property owners to develop a scope of work.  New York Main Street projects are given priority based on several criteria, including: historic value, visual prominence, impact on the greater community, and influence on local economy, creation of upper-story housing and preservation of historic architecture.

 "Our success with these awards has been driven by strong applications combined with dedicated developers and business owners, who must make considerable investment of their own to qualify," according to Kristen Stewart, director of preservation and design for Corning's Gaffer District. "As they say, there's no such thing as free money," said Stewart. "We work hard to administer this program, meet the state's requirements and keep it all from overwhelming our property owners."

While all previous grants have focused on Market Street renovations, the application for this round of funding is focused on Northside properties - a theme that has been embraced by Gaffer District officials in a variety of other ways.  Executive Director Coleen Fabrizi notes, "Beginning in 2009 our Board of Directors identified the Northside Revitalization effort as a priority.  The response from the Northside business and property owners has resulted in a record number of building improvement projects.  We are very excited to focus our application for this round of New York Main Street funding on continuing the successful development of the Northside of our business district."

Previous New York Main Street projects in Corning's Gaffer District include:

• 47 East Market Street - Round 1 Façade Grant - 100% complete
• 31 East Market Street - Round 1 Façade Grant - 100% complete
• 39-41 East Market Street - Round 1 Building and Façade Grant - 100% complete
• 15 -21 West Market Street - Round 1 Anchor Grant - 100% complete
• 15 East Market Street - Round 1 Façade Renovation - 100% complete
• 15 East Market Street - Round 2 Building Renovation - 100% complete
• 13 East Market Street - Round 1 Façade - 100% complete
• 22 East Market Street - Round 3 Façade - 100% complete
• 76 East Market Street - Round 3 Building Renovation - 100% complete
• 15 East Market Street - Round 3 Building Renovation - 100% complete
• 34-36 East Market Street - Round 4 Building Renovation - 100% complete
• 35 East Market Street - Round 4 Building Renovation - 100% complete
• 91-99 East Market Street - Round 4 Building Renovation - 100% complete
• 66-68 West Market Street - Anchor Grant - 100% complete
• 20 East Market Street - Building Grant - 10% complete
• 54-58 East Market Street - Building Grant/Upper Story Housing - 75% complete

Upon successful receipt of program funds, additional information will be shared with property owners regarding the next steps on applying for participation.

Please direct questions to Kristen Stewart at (607) 937-6292 or email kristen@gafferdistrict.com.