By CRAIG FREILICH

POTSDAM -- The village could see fresh, decorative planters downtown this spring if a grant request is accepted.

The Potsdam Chamber of Commerce has asked the village to be the sponsor of the grant request, which will be submitted through the St. Lawrence Arts Council, according to Mayor Ron Tischler.

“It is to help beautify downtown,” the mayor said.

“The chamber’s intent is to put out about eight flower stands, have local artists decorate them, and find businesses to sponsor them by putting plants in them and maintaining them,” Tischler said.

He said the chamber couldn’t apply for the grant themselves, so they asked village government to act as fiscal sponsor, “and we were happy to do it,” with a 4-0 vote Monday afternoon.

Chamber Executive Director Marylee Ballou said the application is for a Community Arts Grant, with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Program administered locally by the St. Lawrence County Arts Council.

The application deadline is Oct. 1. If the village’s award is announced in December, “we would begin workshops this winter to decorate the planters so they can be out on the street next summer,” Ballou said.

“Anything to help beautify downtown would be great, especially with zero cost to the taxpayer,” Tischler said.