Economic development roundtable discussion scheduled for Thursday

City officials will host a roundtable event with business leaders this coming week as part of Kingston’s effort to develop a coordinated, data-driven and community-based economic development plan.

That plan will shape the future of the Stockade business district, as well as all of the city’s commercial centers, according to provided information. At the roundtable, to be held Thursday, the city will present recent market trends as well as the results of a business survey.

Officials also will hear ideas for modifying the city’s current economic development policies to best reflect the evolving needs of residents, businesses and visitors.

The roundtable will begin at 6 p.m. in City Hall, 420 Broadway. To RSVP by Monday, go to www. surveymonkey.com/r/ BJ7GQ FC.

The survey for Kingston business owners is available online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZYHLNJH.

In September 2017, the city was awarded a $10 million New York state Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant for improvements in the Stockade business district in Uptown Kingston. Kingston’s Local Planning Committee is working to finalize its goals and strategies for using the funding.

Kingston was one of 10 communities statewide to be awarded the revitalization grant. An application for the funding the year before had been turned down.

Possible uses of the money that were listed in the grant application include a privately owned commercial and residential development, with a parking structure, on North Front Street; and improvements to Dietz Stadium. The application also cited implementation of the city’s Uptown/Stockade Transportation Plan, as well as helping to pay for the Frog Alley Historic Preservation and Park project and investing in the planned Kingston Food Exchange project on Wall Street.