Ideas sought to win grant
Residents asked why they love Troy
TROY, N.Y. » All kinds of people came out Wednesday to the Troy Innovation Garage to help with the city’s application for a $10 million grant to boost quality of life in the city.
Residents who’ve lived here for decades, those who moved here last week — some from Boston, the Bronx, and Indonesia — all came to speak on what they love about Troy and how it could be better.
The $10 million would come from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative which funds projects that are intended to improve economies and lives in New York municipalities. To get the grant, Troy must have its application submitted by June 1, said Margaret Irwin, owner of River Street Planning and Development, the group putting the application together on behalf of the city.
The city is also partnering with Rensselaer County and the Rensselaer Industrial Development Agency which Troy Deputy Mayor Monica Kurzejeski said helps the city’s chances.
“This is the third round of funding from the governor’s office,” she said. “We’re hoping the third time is the charm.”
Troy lovers are invited to one of three focus groups on May 23 at the City Hall main conference room, suit 5001, 433 River St. The sessions are from 3 to 4:30 p.m., 5 to 6:30 p.m., and 7 to 8:30 p.m. People can also submit ideas and ask questions by email, economic.development@troyny.gov and can check out its progress on Facebook facebook.com/Troy518.
The city is extremely important to the county, said Bob Pasinella, executive director of the Rensselaer County IDA.
“If you look at the County Executive’s budget, Troy’s population is roughly one third of the county’s population, yet two thirds of the county’s budget comes back to the city of Troy, so you can see how important the health of Troy’s economy is to the economy of the county,” he said.
Irwin, who’s written successful DRI grants before, said winners tend to focus on projects that make their areas great places to “live, work, and play.” Good applications have defined borders ( This one will look to the city’s established business improvement district), and focus on “walkability.”
She said it’s best to submit a list of projects that together would cost over $10 million, as some are likely to be left out.
Projects, she said, should be near ready-to-go, but not so ready they wouldn’t need the grant.
There were many good things said about the city, and many suggestions for ways to improve it. Several people said the Troy Farmers Market is one of the city’s finest assets and that it should be further supported, as the places to get fresh food in the downtown are far and few between.
Suggestions included an innovation bank, run by the city to spur entrepreneurs, a dog park, more green space, more shared services like community gardens and bike shares, a children’s playground, docking space for tourists on boats, and perhaps a city department devoted to creating standardized contracts for things such as leases.
Those in attendance felt downtown Troy has been on an upswing recently, and this grant, if awarded, would keep that forward momentum going.
Geri de Seve, a Troy resident born and raised, said times used to be tougher in the city, and that it didn’t have the best reputation, “.... and now I’m seeing this energy back, and it’s so exciting.”
People are collaborating more and taking the initiative, “.... it’s a wonderful feeling, to see it’s really happening,” she said.