Sorensen heads new state program

Ex-county planner takes ‘Main Street’ to Albany

By DAVID HULSE

ALBANY, NY — Former Sullivan County Planning Commissioner Alan Sorensen has taken the Main Street Redevelopment plan that he initiated here to Albany.

Earlier this month, Governor George E. Pataki announced the creation of a new $20 million “New York Main Street Program” at the New York Conference of Mayors’ Annual Meeting in Saratoga Springs.

According to Pataki’s statement, the program “will stimulate downtown revitalization in communities across the state by providing funding for building renovations, streetscape enhancements, and downtown business or cultural anchors.”

Spokesman Dan Irrazary of the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal, said Sorensen is spearheading the new program, which is administered by the Housing Trust Fund Corporation and the Division of Housing and Community Renewal.

The new program will provide matching grants for façade and interior building renovations. In addition, streetscape enhancement matching grants will be available to improve lighting, landscaping, signage and to install street furniture. “Downtown Anchor” matching grants will also be available for communities to establish a business or cultural anchor in their downtown.

The program will also create a community resource center to coordinate efforts between the various state agencies that administer main street revitalization resources and provide communities with needed technical assistance.

Sorensen has been working with the department since February as an assistant commissioner in the Department of Policy and Intergovernmental Relations.

For more information about the New York Main Street program, contact the State Division of Housing and Community Renewal at 518/474-9553.