Fulton’s DRI Committee Meets to Review Year’s Accomplishments

FULTON – The City of Fulton’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative Committee met on Nov. 21 at CNY Community Arts Center. The meeting was held prior to the first official DRI ribbon cutting at the center.

Officers of the committee shared an overview of what has been accomplished  this year with the city and various stakeholders on DRI projects.

Since February, the committee has met 10 times and heard updates from various private developers and municipal projects. A chart with a table showing meeting dates and a list of projects discussed to date can be viewed on the city’s website https://fultonny.org/dri-advisory-committee/ Press releases, minute meetings and renderings can also be seen on the website.

In 2019, Fulton won a New York State (NYS) $10 million grant to revitalize the City’s downtown area with the goals of attracting new business, creating a desirable downtown, enhancing public spaces for arts and cultural events for residents and visitors, attracting a diverse population through diverse housing and employment opportunities, growing the local property tax base, and providing amenities that support and enhance downtown living and quality of life.

In 2020, 16 DRI projects were finalized by NYS and awarded grant money that allowed the projects to begin. Completion of some of the DRI projects is not expected until 2026.

The Committee focused their efforts this year on reviewing all 16 DRI projects starting with the projects that were behind schedule including updating the City’s zoning code, Redevelopment of Building 30 into a mixed-used development, and developing a new small manufacturing start-up facility on the former Nestle site.

Throughout the year, the Committee reviewed and discussed most of the DRI projects. Next year, the committee plans to host more meetings to update the public and will help to host ribbon cuttings to celebrate project completions.

The first Downtown Revitalization Initiative project ribbon cutting at CNY Community Arts Center Nov. 21 marked the completion of a $600,000 project that raised a section of its theater stage and made other building improvements.  The center was awarded $352,000 through the DRI and $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding through Oswego County.

For more on that project, please visit https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/fulton/city-of-fulton-celebrates-opening-of-cny-community-arts-center/

DRI Committee Members

In February 2024, Mayor Jim Rice created a DRI Committee made up of local and regional leaders, stakeholders, and community representatives appointed by the Common Council in an effort to advance projects awarded grants through the DRI that had stalled due to covid and other factors. The members serve as ambassadors for the DRI, ensuring effective communication and engagement within their networks and the public during the DRI process.

Marie Mankiewicz serves as chair; Brittney Jerred as Vice-Chair; and Caroline Shue as Secretary/Administrative Assistant. Committee members include Superintendent of Fulton City Schools Brian Pulvino, Fire and Police Commissioner and resident David Miner, 5th Ward Councilor and resident Audrey Avery, County Legislator and resident Frank Castiglia, resident John McGraw, 3rd Ward Councilor and resident Don Patrick, Code Enforcement Officer Matt Smith, resident and Fulton City School district representative Sean Broderick, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Oswego County Dave Turner, resident Cathy Trowbridge, Mayor Jim Rice, City Clerk Jodi Corsoniti, Director of Public works and resident C J Smith, Director of Parks and rec and resident Chris Waldron, resident David Phares, Fulton Savings Bank Vice President Tina Stephens. To view past minute meetings, visit: https://fultonny.org/dri-advisory-committee/

To provide feedback to the committee, please send email to [email protected]. Questions, concerns and feedback will be provided to the committee for consideration or response.

Next meeting

The next City of Fulton DRI Committee meeting will be held Thursday, Jan. 23 at the Municipal Building, 141 S. First St. The meetings are open to the public.

Print this entry