DELMAR – Town of Bethlehem officials took several individuals representing three New York State agencies on a tour on October 11 of Delaware Avenue’s commercial corridor as the next step in the Town’s effort to win a New York Forward grant. The Town seeks an award of $4.5 million of State money to fund capital improvements.
Bethlehem’s Director of Planning Rob Leslie reported that the evaluators wanted to see every site listed in the Town’s application. Accompanied by representatives from Bethlehem’s business community, the group took the opportunity to describe what is sought to be accomplished at each site that was visited.
Leslie remains hopeful that Bethlehem will be an awardee this year. He said he understands the State needs to be persuaded how the proposed projects would be “transformative” and “revitalize the project area.” Leslie said he hoped the first hand visit did just that.
“We further emphasized that the grant is necessary to get the projects off the ground and to move along and we also emphasized that in the application this year,” Leslie said. “Now, we wait until December or January for the grant decision.”