17 Jan Downtown Elmira Development

Elmira will receive $10 million to revitalize downtown as part of an upstate economic development program, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday afternoon at the Clemens Center.

“Where can we go with the addition of $10 million?” Hochul said. “I tell you right now, I can’t wait to see the future of Elmira.”

Hochul announced the award for the project, named Elmira Refresh, in front of a standing-room-only crowd on the stage of Powers Theatre.

“Elmira’s downtown is the heart of our community,” Elmira Mayor Dan Mandell said. “We have put in place the building blocks for an active, desirable and diverse downtown. We are on the verge of a breakthrough where millennials, retirees and innovative companies will be drawn into our historic building and cultural hub.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced similar awards in Plattsburgh, Middletown and Geneva on Wednesday. The three localities were the first winners announced in the contest created by Cuomo to spur downtown redevelopment in communities around New York.

A total of 10 cities and towns, one for each economic region, will be selected statewide for the program. The money will go to help local officials attract new businesses, housing or community services to downtown areas.

Hochul said that Elmira’s “thoughtful proposal” was attractive.

The upcoming expansion to Elmira by the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, in order to open a medical school on the campus of Elmira College was one selling point for application reviewers.