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Downtown Coordinator calls county revitalization effort a "dream come true" after 20 years of grants and projects
Summary
Louise Wadsworth told the Livingston County Board the Downtown Partnership’s grant and technical‑assistance programs have led to dozens of building restorations, 125 assisted residential units, and hundreds of business supports over two decades.
Louise Wadsworth, Livingston County’s Downtown Coordinator, told the Board of Supervisors on June 10 that two decades of county-led downtown revitalization have produced measurable gains in housing, commercial rehabilitation and small‑business supports.
Wadsworth reviewed the Downtown Partnership’s work dating to the 2000s and credited staff, local leaders and state grant programs—citing 21 NY Main Street grants, four RESTORE NY awards and a $4.5 million NY Forward award that staff helped secure. She said roughly 125 residential units have been assisted through Main Street projects and about 160 commercial spaces have been improved, and described an ongoing First Impressions/50–50 matching grant program that she said helps individual storefronts and signage.
Wadsworth emphasized business supports facilitated from her office: a Brew in Livingston campaign that helped establish craft beverage businesses, Co.Starters entrepreneurship classes, and microenterprise competitions that used CDBG funds. She said about 72 businesses were assisted using CDBG funds (approximately $2 million) and an additional roughly 60 businesses received COVID‑recovery assistance (about $2 million), with a success rate above national averages for post-grant survival.
“Every improved storefront, updated sign, or refreshed façade helps set the stage for a stronger local economy,” Wadsworth said, and later described the work as intensely collaborative: “This has been a Dream come True for me! It has not been a job, it has truly been a passion.”
Wadsworth credited staff colleagues and partners by name for implementation and compliance support and noted the role of the Livingston County Development Corporation (LCDC) and the county’s revolving loan fund. She also stressed that downtown revitalization is ongoing and incremental—projects require the right property owners and continued public‑private commitment.
The presentation was delivered during the meeting’s “Privileges of the Floor” section; no board votes were required. The Board subsequently approved a slate of resolutions and contract awards during the same session.
