Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI)
Program Overview
The three villages (Cayuga, Union Springs, and Aurora) submitted a joint application for the seventh round of New York State's Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). The three villages were awarded $10 million to be shared among the three villages for revitalization projects!
Villages of Cayuga, Union Springs, & Aurora Joint DRI 2023 Application
The Villages of Cayuga, Union Springs, and Aurora submitted their joint application for Round 7 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Program on September 29, 2023 with a total of $22,973,000 for 44 proposed projects.
Vision Statement:
“The Village of Cayuga will be a community that provides the best quality of life for its residents and a unique visitor experience by capitalizing on the beauty and history of its location on Cayuga Lake. Cayuga will leverage its quaint, historical, waterfront-village charm to support its residential diversity and attract neighborhood-scale commercial activity. In cooperation with the private enterprises and public agencies, Cayuga will offer boaters, fishers, eco-tourists, and the general public a unique, memorable, and joyful experience on both its land and water.”
Success Story: City of Auburn
The city of Auburn was a winner of the third round of the program. New York State provided the city with grant awards for thirteen projects. These projects are now in the planning or construction process, or have been completed.
Links to Auburn's DRI Application and Strategic Investment Plan:
Examples of projects that received funding through Auburn's DRI program:
State Street Plaza transformed a vacant building into public space for gathering and events in downtown (photo credit: The Citizen).
Budget: $1.6 million
DRI Award: $1 million
Vacant Plaza of the Arts building renovated to house Cayuga Community College's new Culinary Arts Program (photo credit: CCC).
Budget: $1.46 million
DRI Award: $800,000
Rendering of 22 East Main St Renovation. This project received funding to convert the vacant building into a mixed use retail and apartments (rendering credit: Ramsgard Architectural Design).
Budget: $3.3 million
DRI Award: $625,000
The picture above shows the Auburn DRI project boundary, within which all projects are located. Another project funded by the state was the Small Business Fund which is not tied to a specific site, but is a grant program in itself established to help fund business and housing projects meeting the goals of the Auburn DRI program.
Budget: $772,800+
DRI Award: $600,000