Lewis County Invests $100K to Revitalize Village Downtowns

LOWVILLE, NY – Lewis County is continuing its commitment to vibrant, welcoming communities with the latest round of its Façade and Streetscape Improvement
Program, awarding $100,000 to local businesses for transformative downtown upgrades. This year’s program drew strong interest, with applications totaling nearly $615,000 in requested funds. After a competitive review, two standout projects were selected to receive funding for significant façade improvements:

• The Opera House Cantina (Village of Port Leyden) – $60,000
• TopView Apartments Lewis, LLC (Village of Lyons Falls) – $40,000

“These revitalization projects will breathe new life into our communities while preserving their historic charm,” said Tim Hunt, Lewis County Manager. “Coupled with
our placemaking efforts, these investments will have a lasting impact on the County.”

This round continued the County’s innovative pre-application process, developed in partnership with In-Site Architecture, which provided visual renderings and detailed scopes of work to ensure alignment with the Lewis County Downtown Design Guide. The approach paid off for half of the funded projects that participated in this proactive phase. Additionally, unfunded participants who engaged in this process have positioned themselves favorably for future funding opportunities through programs such as the New York Main Street Program under the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA).

The Façade and Streetscape Improvement Program offers up to a 75/25 matching funding opportunity for eligible façade, building, and streetscape improvements to
mixed-use and commercial properties in villages and hamlets across Lewis County. These investments aim to:

• Support small business growth and retention
• Reduce blight and abandoned properties
• Strengthening community pride
• Boost tourism and local spending

Lewis County’s downtowns serve as the centers of community life, bringing people together through events, local commerce, and shared history. This program has
helped to ensure our downtowns remain vibrant, welcoming destinations for residents and visitors alike.