BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

Story updated for clarity Oct. 24 at 12:52 p.m.

MASSENA — Applications are closed for businesses hoping to receive a chunk of the $540,000 Core of the Community Grant, a new program established from the village’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant.

Massena received $10 million from the DRI in 2021, a move by state officials to help bring new businesses to the downtown, while enhancing existing businesses.

According to Village Administrator Monique Chatland, over half a dozen businesses applied in the first round of the Core of the Community grant program.

In some cases, businesses are looking to expand, while others are hoping to purchase new equipment.

“We have both new and established businesses applying in this round, it’s very exciting,” Chatland said.

Meetings will be held in the near future, including one with grant writing firm LaBella Associates.

Chatland said she will meet with them on Monday, Oct. 23 to make the final decision for which projects will get funded, followed by a meeting with the state after to receive final approval.

If all goes according to plan, Chatland said that successful applicants will hopefully be notified prior to Thanksgiving.

On the same front, Chatland said progress is being made on a number of DRI approved projects, despite a process that has numerous steps.

Chatland told trustees that paperwork had been filed with the state Department of State for the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program grant, at which time they will review the plans and submit questions to the village.

Once that process plays out, the village will then address whatever concerns the state may have before resubmitting with the Department of State.

Following that phase, the village board will sign off, allowing for environmental, architectural and engineering services to be put out to bid.

A meeting will also be held between the village and St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency to discuss the former Massena Business School project.

That project, which will preserve the facade of the former school, will be the first step in creating a walkway to a planned riverwalk.

“As far as the DRI awards, the relevant funding agency oversees the private projects. Those contracts are between the property owner and appropriate New York State entity. The village oversees the public projects (downtown streetscape enhancements, riverwalk, and core of the community). While the former School of Business building project is technically a ‘private project’ with the St. Lawrence County IDA being the project sponsor, we are working alongside the IDA and will be heavily involved in that project,” Chatland said.

According to Mayor Greg Paquin, projects associated with the DRI are not simply sitting stagnant, with work already in motion for some projects as they prepare for the next phase.

“I know these projects are moving slowly but surely. Like I said and I keep saying, it’s a process. This is a five-year process,” Paquin said.