The Village of Clinton and the Town of Kirkland received a $600,000 grant as a component of a 2022 NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) award. Funding is being provided by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) with sponsorship overseen by the Clinton Kirkland Improvement Corporation (CKIC) to create a Small Project Fund (SPF) to finance building renovation, signage and awnings improvements, and small business assistance in the designated DRI zone.

For Immediate Release: September 11, 2025

Clinton Kirkland Improvement Corporation Announces Small Project Fund Awards

The Clinton Kirkland Improvement Corporation (CKIC) has approved initial awards through its Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Small Project Fund. This program is funded by the NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative, headed by NYS Department of State and administered by NYS Homes & Community Renewal. The grants support building improvements and small business investments in the designated DRI zone around the Village Green.

Awarded project addresses and brief descriptions:

  • 9 East Park Row (O’Brien Law Firm) — Exterior siding replacement and a new entryway.
  • 17 College Street (The Cremeria) — Equipment and interior upgrades to expand menu (crêpes) and improve service.
  • 1 Fountain Street (Clinton Historical Society) — Exterior painting, cornice/sign restoration, entrance rebuild, and new exterior lighting.
  • 28 Elm Street (Cider Mill/TRand) — Public art murals on north and east facades of Clinton Cider Mill.
  • 43 College Street (rear building) (Proposed Cidery/TRand)— Public art mural on east façade.
  • North Park Row (Clinton Fire Department Inc) — Safety upgrades at the Fire Department, including apparatus bay sealing.
  • 4 Taylor Ave (Nails to Tails) — Siding replacement, insulation, window replacements, and roof/foundation repairs.
  • 39 College St (Real Estate Office, et al) — Re-siding with fiber-cement, window/door replacements, and new rear stair/porch.
  • 2 Kirkland Ave (Vacant Structure) — Rear structural repair and reconstruction to stabilize and rebuild failed section.
  • 43 College Street (Proposed Cidery) — Interior tasting room fit-out to support local hard cider operations.
  • 36 College Street (The Rok) — Historically appropriate window replacements, signage, and façade improvements.
  • 5 South Park Row (Park Row of Old, currently Thriftish and Clinton Florist) — New entrance façade, door and awning; window replacements.
  • 3 Fountain Street (Tom’s Natural Food Cooperative) — New merchandising cooler and fixtures to expand local foods and beverage offerings.

In addition to these commitments, CKIC will carry forward a small amount of SPF funding into the next phases of the program. These funds will either serve as contingencies for cost increases or for proposals that were not initially awarded.

“These awards demonstrate the commitment of our community to investing in our historic buildings and small businesses,” said Steve Grimm, the CKIC board member who chairs the committee that manages the Small Project Fund. “These projects will create visible, lasting improvements while positioning Clinton and Kirkland for long-term economic vitality and community appeal.”

Awarded projects now move into environmental and historic review, final design/approvals, and competitive bidding. Most exterior construction activity is expected to be active in spring 2026, with some interior scopes potentially advancing sooner.

About the Small Project Fund

The Small Project Fund is funded by the NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative, headed by the NYS Department of State and administered by NYS Homes & Community Renewal. It is administered by CKIC to strengthen downtown Clinton-Kirkland through code-compliant renovations, façade improvements, upper-floor residential upgrades, and business investments aligned with the community’s Strategic Investment Plan.


About the Downtown Revitalization Initiative

The Downtown Revitalization Initiative was created in 2016 to accelerate and expand the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all ten regions of the state to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for investment. Led by the Department of State with assistance from Empire State Development, Homes & Community Renewal and NYSERDA, the DRI represents an unprecedented and innovative “plan-then-act” strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation and results in compact, walkable downtowns that are a key ingredient to helping New York State strengthen its economy, as well as to achieving the State’s bold climate goals by promoting the use of public transit and reducing dependence on private vehicles. Through nine rounds, the DRI has awarded a total of $900 million to 91 communities across every region of the State.

Questions? CKIC has contracted with LaBella Associates to oversee the management of the Small Project Fund that was established by the DRI. Contact Devin Bulger, Program Administrator, LaBella Associates, dbulger@labellapc.com, 518-824-1942.