Ellenville wins $4.5 million state downtown revitalization award; planning process to follow

Ellenville officials confirmed the village has been selected for a $4,500,000 state downtown revitalization award and described a yearlong planning and selection process ahead.

"Ellenville has long been a place of quiet resilience," read a letter presented to the board signed "Johnny," on behalf of a local coalition, congratulating the village on the award and urging residents and local organizations to stay engaged through planning and implementation. Speaker 1 (chair) told the board the grant is a major win for local businesses and residents, but cautioned the public that the state will decide which specific projects receive funding and that the implementation phase will require consultations with state-appointed planners.

The board said a local planning committee will work with state consultants to develop an application and project list. Speaker 1 said the planning phase could take about a year and that the village will not immediately receive detailed project lists until the state and consultants complete preliminary work. "This is a long process," the chair said, noting the state does not want to allocate funds without feasible projects in place.

Community organizers who provided the letter emphasized resident organizing and nonprofit participation as essential to shaping outcomes. The board said it expects more detailed information by the next regular meeting when initial meetings with state consultants are expected to begin.

Next steps: the village will form or participate in a local planning committee, work with state consultants and provide periodic updates to the public as specific project proposals are developed and reviewed by state officials.