Three DRI Small Projects Fund projects completed in Ti

TICONDEROGA | As was the hope, Downtown Ticonderoga is transforming before everyone's eyes. With extensive exterior and interior renovations to three downtown anchor businesses completed, Montcalm Street has truly begun its highly anticipated metamorphosis thanks to the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant's Small Project Fund. On Friday, March 6, NRDC hosted a triple ribbon cutting at Sunshine Laundry, Adirondack Trading Post, and the former Rathbun's building, now known as Small Town Boutique's new home. The ground was wet, the sidewalks spilled forth with slush, and roofs were dripping with melt. But that mattered not to the group of residents and officials that made their way from business to business, the promise of spring- and of something greater- clearly felt in the late winter air. "These small projects are making a big impact by helping strengthen our downtown, support local businesses, and create welcoming spaces for residents and visitors alike," expressed Dr. Katie Long, NRDC Deputy Director. "We want to thank the building and business owners who chose to invest in their properties and in the future of downtown Ticonderoga. Your commitment to this community is what brings these spaces to life." The Small Project Fund is a $600,000 pot of DRI money allotted to assist local businesses with small-scale building and site improvements. Grant funding was sub-granted directly to North Country Rural Development Coalition (NRDC), which is working in partnership with New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) through the New York Main Street (NYMS) program to oversee the project. The property owners applied last spring through an independent panel review process. NRDC and its coalition partners guided each project through environmental reviews, procurement, state approvals, and contractor selection. That lengthy process ensured every project met both state and federal standards before construction began. Sunshine Laundry at 88 Montcalm St. was awarded $28,162.50 with a private match of $9,387.50. Work, performed by Robert Goetsch and Heath Geiser, included the upgrading of interior lighting and fans, replacing flooring and plumbing, and the addition of a water softener. Adirondack Trading Post at 102 Montcalm St. was awarded $47,625 with a private match of $15,875. New front stairs, porch repairs, siding replacement, and a full exterior painting and roof replacement courtesy of Ed Scheuer, BST Construction. 110 Montcalm St. was awarded $90,412.50 with a private match of $30,137.50. The newly painted white building with the Henry Knox mural saw façade and roof repairs, painting, lighting installation, and an HVAC system, thanks to Peak Roofing. According to former Town Supervisor Mark Wright, who ardently pursued economic development and revitalization during his two terms in office, tourism is the number one economic driver in Essex County (Essex is the only county out of all 62 New York State counties for which this can be said). "The DRI award was a blessing for Ticonderoga," Wright said. "It signaled an understanding and acknowledgment by New York State that Ticonderoga was coming back, was in the early stages of a successful recovery, and therefore worthy of an award that would help spur this recovery." Current Town Supervisor, Jim O'Bryan, acknowledged that downtown Ti may never be the hustling and bustling mini metropolitan of the 50s, 60s, and 70s, but that will in no means thwart his quest to attract investment in the community to create a thriving downtown in its own modern, 21st-century incarnation. "We have to grow, Ticonderoga is getting ready to grow, we have seen that in a number of areas," he said. "We want to bring back things that will attract people to come to this downtown area. Nobody else I know of has the history we have in this town, yet we have not maybe in the past taken advantage of that correctly to be able to promote that in a way to get people to want to come here. And when they are here, they can come downtown to our businesses and see what we have to offer." Wright credited micro grants and state housing and other grants as the tools of today that revitalize communities, noting that recipients of those grants and their resulting projects encourage other entrepreneurs to take risks in the hopes of riding the wave of revitalization. "They enable local businesses to not only survive but thrive and even expand," he remarked. "Those small businesses, in turn, help Ticonderoga thrive, which inspires others to invest in Ticonderoga. These projects positively affect our entire region and become the building blocks for a stronger economic foundation." Four Small Project Fund recipients still remain- Blee's Salon & Spa, Burleigh's Luncheonette, Montcalm Liquors, and Punky Noodles/Champ Cafe. "Downtown revitalization is an ongoing effort, and we're excited about the momentum these projects are building and the opportunities still ahead for Ticonderoga," said Long.

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Three DRI Small Projects Fund projects completed in Ti

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