Peekskill Receives $788,000 in Federal Funds to Revitalize Downtown
Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) paid a visit to Peekskill last week to announce $788,000 the city had received for downtown revitalization improvements.
The federal funds will be used for the estimated $985,000 construction costs associated with the second phase of Peekskill’s streetscape plan that will include new sidewalks, lighting improvements and tree planting along Brown, South Division and South streets near the Paramount Hudson Valley theater. The work is expected to be completed by 2016.
“The infrastructure upgrades made possible by this federal grant not only improve safety, they help incentivize the location of businesses and housing in Peekskill, which is a great economic benefit,” said Lowey, who is the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.
Peekskill was one of 63 recipients of funding throughout New York State out of 169 applicants vying for assistance from the Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation Enhancement Program.
“We are very excited about this grant and how it will change the face of downtown Peekskill,” said Mayor Frank Catalina. “Much of Peekskill’s infrastructure is traversed by statewide traffic, not only Peekskill residents, and this award recognizes the financial strain placed on our taxpayers to provide this maintenance and upkeep which deserves federal assistance.”
Also taking part in the event outside Arthur Weeks Jewelry were Deb Milone, executive director of the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce, Jason Angell, executive director of the Peekskill Improvement District, and County Legislator John Testa (R/Peekskill).
“People want to feel the life and energy of downtown Peekskill,” Angell said. “Investing in public infrastructure like safer roads and improved streets is an essential element in downtown Peekskill’s revitalization, helping to attract new small businesses that see clear evidence that government is a vital partner to shared growth.”
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
