Village of Massena making use of grant funding opportunities

May 24—MASSENA — Grant funding has been the name of the game for the village of Massena.

Village Administrator Monique N. Chatland told trustees that they currently have 14 active grants working their way through the system.

Among them is a Restore New York Municipal grant for the restoration of the historic Schine Theater in downtown Massena. Trustees had approved applying for up to $2 million in grant funding, and they hope to hear the status of the grant by approximately June 30.

The funding is being made available through the eighth round of the Restore New York Municipal Grant program, which covers projects to "demolish/deconstruct and/or rehabilitate/reconstruct vacant, abandoned, surplus and/or condemned residential, commercial and/or mixed-use buildings."

Villages with populations less than 40,000 can apply for up to $2 million in grant funding.

"The Restore New York grant for the restoration of the Schine Theater was submitted last Tuesday," Chatland said. "The total project cost is $3.2 million. We submitted an application for $2 million. They're seeking additional funds from various sources."

Members of the Massena Arts and Theater Association have launched a capital campaign to also assist with the cost of restoration. Sponsorship levels include Visionary Advocate ($1,000 to $2,499), Cornerstone Sponsor ($2,500 to $9,999), Heritage Partner ($10,000 to $24,999), Legacy Patron ($25,000 to $50,000), and Founding Benefactor (more than $50,000).

They are also seeking a $640,000 New York Power Authority Northern New York Power Proceeds grant.

"Hopefully with this Restore New York grant, it should take care of the restoration of the whole theater," Chatland said.

She said they've also launched the third and final round of Core of the Community funding. That was one of eight projects approved as part of the $10 million in Downtown Revitalization Initiative funding the village received from the state.

"The guidelines have been revised so they decrease the match to 25% business owner contribution and they increase the maximum award to $100,000," she said.

Grant funding from $5,000 to $100,000 is available in the third round, which can cover up to 75% of the total project cost. The application deadline is July 15.

"In the first two rounds, we committed approximately $187,000 for projects thus far," Chatland said.

She said they're also continuing work on the former Massena School of Business, another one of the eight approved DRI projects. It will be transformed into hardscape courtyard/transitional space with a mezzanine that connects the downtown corridor with riverwalk areas, while preserving the historic School of Business facade. The St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency and Development Authority of the North Country are working together to demolish the building, but leave the facade.

Chatland said a meeting has been scheduled with the IDA and consultants to review construction submissions for that project.

Another DRI project is the modernization and repair of the J.J. Newberry building at Main and Andrews streets to add apartments, retail and office space, as well as a rooftop deck, and replacement of the existing facade. Chatland said environmental testing has been completed and they've received bids for asbestos abatement for that project.

In addition, the contract for downtown streetscape and a riverwalk that were also part of the DRI was submitted to the state on April 19.

"We're waiting for the fully executed copy to come back from New York state," Chatland said.