Hudson will get $10 million in downtown revitalization contest

Hudson will receive $10 million to transform its downtown after winning a redevelopment contest launched by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The Democratic governor announced the city’s win Tuesday in a historic opera house in the city along the Hudson River, about 45 minutes south of Albany.

Hudson is the first of 10 communities around the state that will receive $10 million first prizes through Cuomo’s downtown revitalization initiative. More than 100 cities and towns entered the competition. The other winners are expected to be announced in coming weeks.

Hudson Mayor Tiffany Martin Hamilton says the money will support efforts to make her city more attractive to businesses and visitors while enhancing resident access to education, recreation and employment.

“Hudson, we’ve been given a great gift today,” she told the audience, who cheered when Cuomo announced the win. “This is a golden opportunity.”

The mayor says the state funding is a “golden opportunity” and a “great gift” for her city.

This is the second year for the contest, which Cuomo created to reinvigorate aging downtowns. This year, lesser prize amounts will be awarded to second-, third- and fourth-place winners, who Cuomo joked will also receive a set of steak knives.

Even if they don’t win money, losing cities and towns will at least have a plan for improving their downtowns, Cuomo said.

“Build on your assets,” Cuomo advised. “What do you have that makes you unique?”