Herkimer grants update: $3,000,000 reported; BOA designation pending, Illian BOA denied

A meeting participant identified as Speaker 2 told the group they expect $3,000,000 in incoming grant funds and that a request for a Board of Adjustment (BOA) designation for Herkimer has been submitted but has not yet been acted on.

"We know we have 3,000,000 coming in," Speaker 2 said, adding that the Department Review Initiative (DRI) and Restore grants are "just taking a long time this time around." Speaker 2 also reported that a separate BOA application for Illian was denied: "We applied for a BOA for ILLIAN. That was denied." These comments were made during routine project updates; no formal vote or deadline for the BOA designation was recorded in the transcript.

The update covered multiple funding streams and applications. Speaker 2 characterized the DRI and Restore grant processes as slow but did not provide application timelines or a breakdown of how the reported funds would be allocated. The transcript does not specify the currency for the "3,000,000" figure or whether it represents an award, an allocation, or a pending award. The meeting record also does not indicate which office or agency would administer the funds if awarded.

Why this matters: BOA designations and grants can change project timelines and local approval requirements. Participants noted interest from developers in local properties (including a site referenced as "Bill's school") and that outreach had occurred with a Masonic group, suggesting multiple projects could be affected if funding is secured.

Next steps: The transcript records no formal action tied to the BOA designation or the grant funds. Staff and meeting participants will need to follow up for formal notices or award letters and to confirm fund source, amount, and conditions.

Provenance: The article summarizes remarks beginning with discussion of development interest and grant status and ending with the Illian BOA denial.