POTSDAM -- The Village of Potsdam will hold a pre-application workshop to gather input from residents and members of the business community on its proposed 2019 NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative nomination proposal.

The workshop will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 7 in the Civic Center Board Room, 2 Park St.

This will be the first of three public events to be held over the next four weeks.

To demonstrate support for the application, the village will also hold a rally in Ives Park at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22.

The Downtown Revitalization Initiative can provide communities with a $10 million grant that may be used for a wide range of downtown revitalization activities such as assistance for the start-up and expansion of small businesses, the renovation of older buildings, streetscape improvements and the development of arts and cultural spaces. People attending the meeting are encouraged to think about the types of projects that they believe will help improve and build on downtown Potsdam's assets.

Fred Hanss, director of the Village of Potsdam Planning and Development Office, is encouraging those people unable to attend the meeting to submit written comments or suggestions to fbanss@vi.potsdam.ny.us or P.O. Box 5168, Civic Center, Potsdam, NY.

For more information contact Hanss at the email address above or by telephone at (315) 265-1670.