Ithaca Seeks Community Input for $10 Million Downtown Revitalization Initiative Application

The City of Ithaca is once again tossing its hat into the ring for a $10 million grant through the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), and is calling on the community to help shape its latest application.

Despite determined efforts over the past several years, Ithaca has yet to secure DRI funding. This year, however, city officials are hopeful for a different outcome.

The City and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) have applied unsuccessfully six times over the past eight years and chose not to apply last year because of leadership changes in the City and DIA. Now, after more than a year of preparing to submit another application and gathering extensive feedback from communities that have received DRI grants in the past, “The City of Ithaca is in a strong position to apply for and receive a DRI grant in 2024,” according to the Upstate New York Chapter of the American Planning Association.

If successful, the funds would support a range of transformative projects aimed at revitalizing downtown Ithaca. They would focus on West State/MLK Jr Street and Ithaca’s West End to strengthen connectivity between the waterfront, the Ithaca Commons, and other key areas.

In collaboration with consulting firm MRB Group, the city will use the vision and goals outlined in the draft Downtown Plan to develop a robust DRI application. This application process will kick off with an open call for projects, inviting organizations and businesses planning capital investments within the designated DRI boundary to submit proposals by Monday, August 5th, at 5 p.m. The project form and additional details are available on the application website.

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