State officials tout new economic development program

Syracuse.com reported that Deborah Van Amerongen, commissioner of the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal, came to Syracuse today to promote New York's "Main Street" grant program, which Gov. David Paterson recently signed into law.

The program provides money to municipalities and non-profit organizations to improve streets, renovate facades and rehabilitate buildings in downtown areas.

A pilot version of the program previously existed, but the bill Paterson signed makes the program permanent and expands its scope. Local governments, for instance, will now be able to apply for awards of up to $500,000, up from the previous limit of $200,000.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. David Valesky, D-Oneida.

Since the pilot began in 2004, the state has issued 265 grants, worth $61.3 million, in 175 communities. Syracuse and Central New York has received millions of that money.