Central Islip Receives $10M In State Funding For Revitalization

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY - Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday that the Central Islip community will receive $10 million in funding as the Long Island winner of the third round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

"This investment will deliver a significant boost not only to Central Islip's growing downtown community, but to the entire Long Island economy," Cuomo said. "I commend the community's leaders for developing projects that envision a stronger, more sustainable economy that will drive further economic development in and around Islip's downtown for generations to come."

As in the first two rounds of the initiative, one municipality from each of the state's 10 regional economic development regions is selected as a $10 million winner, marking another overall state goal to target $100 million in funding and investments to help communities boost their economies by transforming downtowns into vibrant neighborhoods where the next generation of New Yorkers will want to live, work and raise a family.

"I am grateful for the governor's confidence and investment in this community, and for recognizing all the great things Central Islip has to offer. By working together with local stakeholders, we will develop a plan that will affect the kind of positive change of which we can all be proud," Town of Islip Supervisor Angie M. Carpenter said. "Even through unthinkable adversity, the residents of Central Islip have proven themselves to be strong, resilient, and willing to work for the betterment of their community against all challenges. I look forward to implementing the $10 million award and moving projects forward to enhance our downtown for generations of families to enjoy."

Central Islip is a diverse economic and residential community with more than one-third of its population represented by ethnic minorities.

As a result of this varied economy and increasing residential population, downtown Central Islip is on the verge of becoming a transit-oriented epicenter for the entire Islip community.

"With this $10 million award, Central Islip will get the boost it needs to bring its housing, economic development, and revitalization goals to life," New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said. "The Governor's innovative DRI initiative will help make this diverse, eclectic community an even more vibrant and attractive place to live and work."

The money from the state will be used to help fund the LIRR Third Track and Double Track projects by promoting transit development and downtown revitalization adjacent to the Central Islip rail station.

With complete streets and traffic calming, this downtown will become a more inviting and enjoyable area.

"This investment is a win-win for Islip and all of Long Island. By focusing on attracting and retaining millennials and growing this region's workforce, Central Islip has secured a $10 million award through the Governor's Downtown Revitalization Initiative that will benefit the entire region," Long Island REDC Co-Chair Kevin Law said. "I thank Governor Cuomo for making this community's resurgence possible and look forward to more visitors in Central Islip's downtown for decades to come."

There are many sites along the downtown Carleton Avenue corridor that are ripe for redevelopment with the advent of sewers, including a potential public/private partnership that would be ideal for needed mixed-use development.

"This Downtown Revitalization Initiative award will capitalize on the growth potential of Central Islip while spurring economic opportunity for local businesses and attracting entrepreneurs to our great region," Assembly Member Phil Ramos said.

The Long Island Regional Economic Development Council went through a competitive review process of proposals from communities throughout the region and considered all eight criteria below before recommending Central Islip as its nominee for winner:

• The downtown should be compact, with well-defined boundaries
• The municipality, or the downtown's catchment area, should be of sufficient size to support a vibrant, year-round downtown
• The downtown is able to capitalize on prior or catalyze future private and public investment in the neighborhood and its surrounding areas
• There should be recent or impending job growth within, or in close proximity to the downtown that can attract workers to the downtown, support redevelopment and make growth sustainable
• The downtown must be an attractive and livable community for diverse populations of all ages, including existing residents, millennials and skilled workers
• The municipality should already embrace or have the ability to create and implement policies that increase livability and quality of life, including the use of local land banks, modern zoning codes and parking standards, complete streets plans, energy efficient projects, green jobs, and transit-oriented development
• The municipality should have conducted an open and robust community engagement process resulting in a vision for downtown revitalization and a preliminary list of projects and initiatives that may be included in a DRI strategic investment plan; and
• The municipality has identified transformative projects that will be ready for implementation with an infusion of DRI funds within the first one to two years.

In addition to Central Islip, Westbury and Hicksville, were the Long Island region's winners in the first and second DRI rounds to receive funding from the state.

"An investment in this community is exactly what we need and will have long term economic effects that will impact every citizen," Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said. "Creating a walkable downtown district with upgraded infrastructure and new developments for both residential and commercial buildings will create a vibrant, safe atmosphere for residents and visitors to enjoy."

"This much-deserved investment is exactly the kind of support Central Islip needs to raise the bar and develop the area's downtown for the next generation of New Yorkers," Suffolk County Legislator Monica Martinez said. "Under the Governor's leadership, Suffolk County is flourishing and Long Island is welcoming more visitors than ever before. With this investment, I look forward to a stronger, more viable Islip economy for years to come.”

Photos: Town of Islip