County Executive Vince Horrigan discussing projects that were selected to be submitted to the state to be funded by the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

There will be 12 downtown projects that will be submitted to the state to possibly receive a portion of $10 million through Jamestown Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

On Thursday, the DRI Local Planning Committee for Jamestown finalized the final projects list, which will be submitted to the state late this month. Altogether, 12 projects were selected totaling $13,820,000. Michael Metzger, Local Planning Committee co-chairman, said during an evening public meeting announcing the DRI project list that the Local Planning Committee started the selection process with more than 100 projects. He said that list was then narrowed down to about 87 projects, then to 36 and now to the final 12. He added the committee feels these projects best fit the DRI process.

”This is the culmination of the DRI initiative for Jamestown,” he said.

Bret Nolan Collazzi, HR&A Advisors, said other projects that didn’t make the final list for funding will still be included as priority projects for Jamestown in the Strategic Investment Plan report that will be submitted to the state. The state will determine how much each project will get funded. Funding amounts are associated with each of the final projects, but doesn’t mean the project will receive that amount once the state makes their final determination.

Collazzi said the committee was encouraged to select projects to total more than $10 million in case changes occur after finalizing the list. For example, if a project on the list would unfortunately fall through, there would be additional projects that could receive funding.

The final list of projects and projected funding amounts include the redevelopment of the former Key Bank Building for $1 million; downtown programming and activities for $600,000; excursion train infrastructure and depot for $670,000; Hilton Double Tree Hotel refurbishment for $3,450,000; Greater Jamestown Riverwalk enhancements for $325,000; streetscape and pedestrian improvements for $610,000; revitalization of the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts for $1.5 million; Jamestown Brewing Company development for $1 million; Little Theater upgrades for $265,000; Furniture Mart Building redevelopment for $1.5 million; Jackson Center upgrades for $1.5 million; and acquire riverfront development property to facilitate riverfront development for $1.4 million.

Last year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the DRI to invest $100 million into 10 communities – one municipality from each of the Regional Economic Development Councils. The initiative is to assist communities with transformative housing, economic development, transportation and community projects to attract and retain residents, visitors and businesses.

For more information on Jamestown’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, visit ny.gov/downtown-revitalization-initiative/western-new-york-jamestown.