LEWIS COUNTY — Naturally Lewis, in partnership with Lewis County, created the Vacant Property Revitalization (VPR) Program to target vacant and potentially unsafe or blighted properties within downtown and surrounding areas to turn them into usable spaces for business development opportunities. The Lewis County Development Corporation (LCDC), through its round 1 application process, approved nine projects, granting a total of $690,965 in Vacant Property Revitalization Program funds.
The following projects were awarded:
• The Case Building Remodel, 1147 State Route 26, West Leyden, was awarded $50,000 to construct new commercial space on the first floor, and an apartment on the second floor.
• Port Leyden Portal (Phase 2), 3336 Lincoln Street, Port Leyden, was awarded $100,000 toward Phase 2 of their project, which includes renovation of the second story of the former Port Leyden school building (river facing) into short- and long-term apartments and lodging units.
• McRez Packing International, 3823 Marmon Road, Lyonsdale, was awarded $100,000 to renovate a vacant former storage building into a USDA certified meat processing facility, which would create 13-15 new jobs.
• Snow Ridge Ski Resort, 4173 West Road, Turin, was awarded $20,000 toward the renovation of an underutilized second floor space into a short-term lodging unit.
• The crumbs. Bake Shop building, 5421 Shady Ave, Lowville, was awarded $71,730 to turn the vacant second and third floors into living space.
• The Lowville Apartments (Dollar General) Building, 7619-23 N. State Street, Lowville, was awarded $100,000 to turn the second and third floors into rental units.
• Double Play Com-munity Center, 6912 Bardo Road, Lowville, was awarded $100,000 to help turn a vacant former restaurant building into their new consolidated community center, including fitness center, dance and yoga studios, and senior and teen community space.
• The Kellogg Block Building, 5406-5424 Shady Ave., Lowville, was awarded $100,000 to renovate the second floor into apartments.
• Grand Slam Safety, 9801 Bridge Street, Croghan, was awarded $49,235 to renovate a vacant former bus garage on their property into additional manufacturing space, which will create 5 new jobs.
The Vacant Property Revitalization Program will have immediate effects on our downtowns and surrounding areas, enhancing communities, driving business development, and attracting new residents and tourists. By focusing on bringing these buildings back to life, the community will see an increase in the property tax base, the creation of local construction jobs, future employment within businesses, and an enhanced quality of life.
“We are excited to empower our property and business owners through funding and staff support to help turn vacant, blighted and underutilized buildings into usable spaces that will lead to great economic and community impacts. Once all projects are complete, this program will have led to $7.7 million in total project investment across Lewis County,” stated Tim Petersen, chairman of the Lewis County Development Corporation Board of Directors.
The Vacant Property Revitalization Program was created with $1,000,000 of funding made available to the Lewis County Development Corporation through the American Rescue Plan Act and Lewis County. Awarded projects through the Vacant Property Revitalization Program were eligible to receive 50 percent of total project costs, up to $100,000 per project, and will be in the form of a reimbursement grant. Funding will be reimbursed to the property owner once agreed upon milestones are met and the project is complete. Applications were reviewed by the Community Economic Development Program Committee, a committee through the LCDC, with final approval of the LCDC Board of Directors.
For more information, visit ties/vpr.