Frequently Asked Questions

  • The City of Ithaca was awarded $10 million through New York State's Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). Funding will be allocated to projects selected by New York State following completion of the Strategic Investment Plan.

  • The Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) is the final plan that results from the DRI planning process. It will describe the unique challenges and opportunities for the revitalization of the DRI Area; present the community's vision for the future of the area; recommend transformative projects that may be realized with an investment of DRI funds; and suggest additional activities for communities to help them realize their vision for downtown.

  • After evaluating project proposals received through the Open Call, the Local Planning Committee (LPC) will make recommendations for proposals to be included in the SIP. Final decisions on the slate of projects that will be funded through the DRI will be made by New York State.

  • Community members can participate by:

    • Attending public workshops and LPC meetings

    • Submitting comments and ideas at events and through the contact form

    • Participating in surveys and engagement activities

    • Following project updates on this website

    • Contacting the project team through the contact form

    If you have a potential project, see the “For Project Sponsors” FAQ section (link if possible)

  • After the SIP is submitted to the State, the Governor’s Office reviews the LPC’s recommendations and announces projects selected for funding. This is typically a several-month process, with award announcements made in the spring.

  • Projects awarded funding through the DRI process will go through a contracting process with relevant State agencies shortly following the award announcements. Projects are expected to start within two years of the contract being signed.

General Queries

  • Project sponsors must be public, private or not-for-profit entities and not individuals. Project sponsors must demonstrate capacity and legal authority to undertake the project. Eligible applicants may include:

    • Property owners

    • Business owners

    • Nonprofit organizations

    • Educational institutions

    • Developers

    • Public agencies

    • Community organizations

  • Please see the Submit a Project page for information on project eligibility criteria as set by the State and the Ithaca LPC.

  • The DRI grant is a reimbursable grant. This means that project sponsors must demonstrate the capacity to invest in their projects and await funding reimbursement by the relevant State agency after completion, according to the terms of their grant agreement.

  • The Intent to Submit helps the project team understand potential projects and provide technical assistance early in the process. The Project Application (Open Call Project Form or Small Project Fund Interest form) asks sponsors for detailed information needed to evaluate projects for inclusion in the Strategic Investment Plan.

  • Project sponsors will have access to:

    • Information sessions and webinars

    • Office hours with the project team

    • Technical assistance during project development

    • Guidance on eligibility and application requirements

  • Yes. Applicants may submit multiple projects, provided each project is submitted separately and meets program requirements.

For Project Sponsors