Open Call for Projects
The Open Call is an opportunity for organizations, businesses, institutions, property owners, and community partners to submit projects for consideration in the Ithaca DRI Strategic Investment Plan. Proposed projects seeking DRI funding should catalyze future downtown revitalization, further the community's vision and goals, and benefit a growing downtown.
Have a project idea for Downtown Ithaca?
The Intent to Submit Form is now live! If you are considering submitting a project for DRI funding, complete the Intent to Submit Form to let us know about your proposal.
Submit a Project
What is a transformative project?
A transformative project:
Has visible and functional impacts on the DRI Area
Benefits current residents and future generations
Catalyzes secondary private and public investment in the DRI Area, bringing in more people and activity
Provides employment opportunities, housing choices and/or services to the community
Please ensure that you scroll through and complete the form in its entirety.
This form cannot be saved as a draft and will need to be completed and submitted in one sitting.
Eligible Project Types
Note: If your project does not meet all of the criteria described in this section, we still want to hear your project idea!
New Development and/or Rehabilitation of Existing Downtown Buildings | Projects in this category may include the development or redevelopment of real property for mixed-use, commercial, residential, not-for-profit, or public uses. All projects should be capital investments or should lead to capital investments. They should have a visible and functional impact on the downtown, serving as catalytic or transformative projects that will provide employment opportunities, housing choices, and/or services for the community. Standalone parking facilities are ineligible for DRI funds.
Public Improvement Projects | These may include streetscape and transportation improvements, recreational trails, wayfinding signage, new and upgraded parks, plazas, public art, green infrastructure, and other public realm projects that will contribute to the revitalization of the downtown.
Branding and Marketing | Downtown branding and marketing projects may target residents, investors, developers, tourists, and/or visitors. The costs eligible under this category must be one-time expenses, such as developing a network of downtown signs or a major public art display. Ongoing operational costs, such as funding a downtown manager or maintaining a website, are not eligible for DRI funding. This project type is intended for the overall branding and marketing of a downtown, not to provide branding and marketing services to individual downtown businesses or other entities.
Small Project Fund | One Small Project Fund may be proposed per DRI community to undertake a range of smaller downtown projects such as facade enhancements, building renovations or public art. Small Projects typically have a budget of $75,000 or less, but may reach a maximum request of $150,000, or $200,000 if a small project produces or improves at least two units of housing. Funds are capped at $600,000 for DRI communities. Each project undertaken under the Small Project Fund must individually meet financial matching requirements.
Ineligible Project Types
DRI funds must be capital in nature, implemented quickly, and as a whole, have a transformational impact on the downtown. Several activities are ineligible for DRI funds and should not be included in projects proposed for DRI funding. These include:
Standalone Planning Activities | DRI funds cannot be used for plans or studies, unless directly associated with a capital project (e.g. architectural plans for a new building).
Operations and Maintenance | DRI funds cannot be used for ongoing or routine expenses, such as staff salaries and wages, rent, utilities, and property upkeep.
Pre-Award Costs | Reimbursement for costs incurred before the announcement of funding awards is not permitted. Funding announcements typically occur three to six months following submission of the SIP.
Property Acquisition | The cost of property acquisition can be included in the overall project budget, but the acquisition must be funded by another funding source.
Training and Other Program Expenses | The DRI and NYF programs are a one-time infusion of funds and cannot be used to cover continuous costs, such as training costs and expensed related to existing programs.