July 19, 2016 (ONEONTA, NY) – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today that the City of Oneonta has been chosen as the Mohawk Valley Region’s winner of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative competition. Oneonta will be one of ten communities statewide that each receive $10 million; these funds are designed to catalyze growth and redevelopment, and to ensure a vibrant downtown and a thriving economy. Oneonta’s success today comes as a result of many diverse partners working collaboratively. The resulting vital groundwork and investment has now made the City ready to capitalize on its transformational plans to truly change the direction of a revitalized and expanded downtown, impacting both the local and regional economy.

Senator James L. Seward remarked, “Oneonta has so much to offer, and a number of steps have been taken in recent years to develop and enhance the Main Street/downtown area – growing jobs, expanding housing, and encouraging true community appeal. I have been pleased to partner with Mayor Herzig, the city council, Otsego Now [the economic development organization of Otsego County], and other business groups to make significant improvements while also preparing for future growth. Winning the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) funding is a testament to that cooperative effort and an acknowledgement that Oneonta’s downtown is on the cusp of a ground-breaking transformation.”

Per Governor Cuomo’s DRI announcement, the ten selected communities will establish local planning committees, who will be supported by both private-sector and State experts, to build Strategic Investment Plans for their downtowns: Plans will include the identification of economic development, transportation, housing and community projects that track with the community’s plan, and that can effectively leverage the State’s $10 million investment. These DRI “blueprints” are expected to be complete in early 2017. Additional detail concerning DRI implementation may be found at https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/DowntownRevitalizationInitiativeProgramInformationCriteria.pdf.

“Oneonta being selected as the winner of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative in the Mohawk Valley Region is a great accomplishment,” Assemblyman Magee expressed. “This award will really help put this City on the map as a great place to live and work, and I look forward to seeing the progression Oneonta will make in the near future.”

The vision of the winning application, “Authentically Oneonta,” was the result of many individuals and organizations working towards a common goal. The committee, shepherded by Rich Cunningham of Thoma Development, included Senator Seward, County Board Chair Kathleen Clark, Mayor Gary Herzig, Representative Craig Gelbsman, acting City Manager Meg Hungerford, Hartwick College, SUNY Oneonta, the City Council, the Otsego County Chamber, and Otsego Now’s CEO, Alexander “Sandy” Mathes, Jr., and COO Elizabeth Horvath. (See www.oneonta.ny.us/city/government/authentically-oneonta to view the full application)

“The importance of this award to the City of Oneonta cannot be overstated,” exclaimed Mayor Herzig. “This comes just at the right time as the City, in partnership with Otsego Now, is moving ahead with a real vision to expand, transform, and revitalize Oneonta’s downtown and overall economy. Oneonta and Otsego Now’s recent development work has brought this city to the tipping point. Through this competition, Governor Cuomo is creating a way for small cities to ignite growth and to attract private investment and high-quality jobs.”

Mayor Herzig continued by thanking the Otsego Now Board of Directors and staff, “for their vision and confidence in Oneonta’s future.” Oneonta’s DRI application highlighted many of the projects in which the City and Otsego Now have partnered for growth, and have already laid the foundation for the next steps in downtown development, new public/private investment and enhanced housing opportunities and job creation. Two principal initiatives include the Market Street Food & Craft Beverage Innovation Area, which will include a Food & Beverage Hub, Ag related business support, an Entrepreneurial Center, workforce development, and food and beverage themes boutique hotel, development of mixed-use housing, the redevelopment of a parking structure into a transit-oriented mixed-use building, and a defined craft beverage innovation area; and the redevelopment of the Oneonta Rail Yards, to provide shovel-ready, multi-modal sites for development, as well as proposed workforce housing and green areas, envisioned to attract food processing, advanced manufacturing and select transportation driven opportunities.

Otsego Now highlighted Governor Cuomo’s, Senator Seward’s and Assemblyman Magee’s overall leadership in upstate economic development and in providing this exciting funding opportunity. In addition, the critical importance of the valued support that New York State, through Empire State Development and the Office of Community Renewal, has provided to Oneonta, must be highlighted. This financial help has provided the incentive to develop a new vision for Oneonta and has laid the foundation for this growth. Important planning and seed capital was provided in previous CFA funding rounds to develop the vision for a food and beverage Hub and Rail Yards redevelopment, and funds for SEQR and real property remediation. These transformational projects will only be enhanced by the DRI funds.

Oneonta, as the center of culture and commerce for the southern Mohawk Valley and the northern foothills of the Catskill Mountains, is primed to share its prosperity across the greater region. As Mayor Herzig noted, “As the southern gateway to the Mohawk Valley, Oneonta’s historic downtown is poised to become a center of innovation for the growing local craft food and beverage industry and a pedestrian friendly destination for arts, entertainment, and recreation.”

Otsego Now Board Chair Devin Morgan commented, “We have been very supportive of Mayor Herzig and the Oneonta community’s efforts and investment in downtown. We see Oneonta’s downtown revitalization as a key part of attracting and retaining jobs in Otsego County, and complementary with Otsego Now’s economic development efforts regarding all of Market Street, the Oneonta Rail Yards and the Oneonta Business Park.”

Much appreciation and expression of thanks are put forward to the Mohawk Valley Regional Council leadership, its participating members, and Empire State Development Regional staff for their strong support and balanced process. Also, a sincere acknowledgement to all other cities who submitted quality applications for their outstanding work, and best wishes to them in implementing their visions for the future. While the City has much work to do and momentum to maintain, the prospects of implementing an exciting vision for Oneonta has energized and inspired its citizens.