Downtown Revitalization

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program – New York State

The Office of Community Renewal administers the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program on behalf of the State of New York.

The NYS CDBG Program provides federal funding to eligible:

Cities, towns, and villages with populations under 50,000

Counties with area populations under 200,000

The program’s goal is to help communities become viable, healthy, and inclusive by supporting:

Decent, affordable housing

Safe and suitable living environments

Expanded economic opportunities, especially for low- and moderate-income residents

What CDBG Funds Can Be Used For

CDBG assistance can support a wide variety of community needs, including:

Home repair programs

Drinking water and sewer infrastructure
Senior and community center upgrades

New York Main Street (NYMS) Program

The New York Main Street (NYMS) program provides grants and technical assistance to local governments and nonprofits to revitalize historic downtowns, mixed-use districts, and village centers across the state.

What the Program Supports

NYMS funds support commercial and residential building improvements, such as:

Façade renovations

Interior upgrades to commercial and residential spaces

Streetscape enhancements (e.g., trees, benches, trash cans — only alongside a building renovation)

Note: NYMS does not fund new construction or demolition.

Eligible Areas

Projects must be in a defined Main Street target area (usually 3 contiguous blocks) that:

Shows signs of neglect or disinvestment

Has multiple substandard or vacant buildings
Is home to low-income residents or designated for economic/community development

For assistance with the online application, please call our office at 518-585-6366. We are also happy to mail you a paper copy.

If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact our office.