Deadline for downtown Amityville facade grants extended

A grant program aimed at improving business exteriors in Amityville’s downtown has proved so popular that the village has extended the deadline for applications by a month to March 1.

The facade improvement program is Amityville’s first project in a $10 million downtown renewal effort that's now two years in the making.

“We’ve had a lot of people interested and so we wanted to extend the deadline so that everyone who wants to can get into it,” said Amityville Mayor Dennis Siry. 

In January 2022 the state awarded the $10 million grant before last year approving 11 projects for the funding, including $600,000 for the facade program.

The plan is for face-lifts for eight to 12 businesses, with successful applicants reimbursed for 80% of project costs, according to village officials.

The grants will range from $5,000 to $25,000 for smaller projects to $25,000 to $100,000 for larger projects, with $100,000 set aside for outdoor murals.

The budget includes $40,000 for architectural fees and $60,000 for Northport-based Vision Long Island, which is overseeing the program.

Tawaun Whitty, Vision Long Island's operations director, called the more than two dozen submissions so far one of the most robust responses she’s ever seen for a state grant. Applicants have included barber shops, stores, restaurants and entertainment venues.

 “It’s been an overwhelming response and the village and our team is beyond ecstatic about it, and the state is as well,” she said. 

A local committee will select the final applications, which will be submitted to the state for approval, Whitty said.

Siry said he hopes some of the improvements are completed by summer's end.

By Denise M. Bonilla

denise.bonilla@newsday.comdenisebonilla

Denise Bonilla has worked at Newsday since 2003 and covers the Town of Babylon, including the villages of Lindenhurst and Amityville.