To the Editor:

Dear Ogdensburg Businesses:

I am reaching out to you today to ask for your assistance.  

The City of Ogdensburg is applying for Round 8 of the 2024 New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant and we need your help to win the $10 million prize that comes with it.

This grant will help transform our downtown Marina District into a vibrant waterfront destination, improving quality of life for city residents and attracting the next generation to live, work, and raise families in Ogdensburg. Winning the DRI is a must for our economic development plan, so I am hopeful you will assist us by writing a letter of support for our application.

We've included a draft vision statement and a map highlighting the target area and projects so you know what the city plans for the Marina District, and we've prepared sample letters of support (resident, business owner, organization) that you can tailor to reflect your specific perspective. Having and demonstrating the support of the community and various stakeholders is essential for a strong application, so a letter from you will go a long way in showing state decision makers that Ogdensburg owns its future and wants to take the next steps to grow its economy.

If you have any questions about our DRI application or want to learn more about how to show your support, please contact Andrea Smith, Director of Planning and Development at asmith@ogdensburg.org. Please submit all letters of support to Andrea on or before Wednesday, October 9.

Thank you for your consideration.

Fonda Chronis
Ogdensburg City Manager