$500,000 Grant Will Help Restore Downtown New Rochelle Business Facades

A $500,000 state grant will fund the New Rochelle Business Improvement District's work with downtown business owners to restore historically significant buildings.

The BID held a press conference at Baby's Outlet Tuesday with city and state officials to discuss the funds.

BID Chairman Marc Jerome said this was the third grant the city has received from the state Main Street Grant program over the past few years.

Two previous grants were $200,000 each, the maximum amount that could be received at the time.

"This is a big deal," said Mayor Noam Bramson.

He said the two previous grants had a significant impact on the downtown area.

Bramson said he thought this larger grant would have an even greater impact.

"Think about how significant this one will be for our downtown economy," he said.

The grant was secured through the help of Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, D-Scarsdale.

She said the grants would have a positive impact on jobs and the economy.

"I'm pleased for the business community and the people who live here," Paulin said.

BID Executive Director Ralph DiBart said he worked with Baby Outlet owner Chung Su Cho who was attracted to the building after it was restored—a result of one of the previous grants.

DiBart said the real heroes in New Rochelle are the business and property owners who have invested in the city.

"It is because of their hard work that, despite the severe current recession, we continue to see new businesses and restaurants opening and private investment continuing to increase in downtown New Rochelle," he said.

DiBart said the matching grant covers 50 percent of the total cost of construction.

He said the $400,000 of previous received funds resulted in millions of dollars in private investment.

The BID works with business and property owners all along the way, helping to come up with designs, providing guidance through the bid process and working with architects.

So far, the Main Street Grants have facilitated facade restorations of more than 75 storefronts and helped to create more than 40 artist work studios.

DiBart said at least 50 storefronts would benefit from the latest grant.

He said the city is fortunate to have received the funding.

When he originally applied for the grant, he was told, given the downturn in the economy, the amount of grant money available had decreased.