BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — The Ogdensburg Downtown Revitalization Initiative Local Planning Committee will hold its third meeting Sept. 16 as work continues on a plan for downtown investment.

The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Dobisky Center, 100 Riverside Ave. It is open to the public.

All meetings are open to the public and include an opportunity for public comment, but are scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon on weekdays making them largely inaccessible to members of the public who work day shifts.

The committee’s first meeting was held July 29. 

A public workshop followed, giving residents an opportunity to meet with DRI consultants, learn about the program and discuss ideas for downtown Ogdensburg.

The deadline for businesses, property owners, developers, nonprofits and other organizations to submit projects for consideration has  technically closed as applications were due Sept. 8 at noon.

Taking point on the initiative is Katie Sovie, the city’s new economic development program manager.

The Local Planning Committee serves as the steering group for the DRI process. 

The 11-member committee includes city and regional officials, business owners, community leaders and representatives of local organizations. Mayor Michael Tooley and Anthony Adamczyk of the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority serve as co-chairs.

The committee is supported by City Manager Fonda Chronis, Department of Public Works Director Shane Brown, City Clerk Cathy Jock and Sovie.

The committee will begin reviewing the submitted projects as it works toward developing a Strategic Investment Plan for the city. The plan will be submitted to New York state, which will make the final decisions on funding.

The DRI process is intended to identify projects that can help revitalize downtown, strengthen the local economy, improve quality of life and build on existing assets.

Projects could include housing, business development, building improvements, public spaces and waterfront improvements.

The Local Planning Committee is expected to hold six meetings during the planning process. Additional meetings are planned for October and November.

Public outreach and project review will continue through the fall as the committee works to identify projects for inclusion in the final plan.

Mayor Michael Tooley previously encouraged residents to stay involved in the process and share ideas through the city’s DRI resources.

More information about the Ogdensburg DRI is available at OgdensburgDRI.com.