Government Grant

HAVE ALLOWED HIS OFFICE TO MAKE ONE OF THE LARGEST DISTRIBUTIONS IN HISTORY. OFFICIALS IN THE TOWN OF PLATTSBURGH HAVE THEIR SIGHTS ON TEN MILLION DOLLARS. IN A GRANT FROM NEW YORK STATE. BUT THEY NEED A FIRM PLAN..ON HOW TO USE THE MONEY… TO GET THE MONEY. NBC5’S BENNY NEZAJ HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THIS. HE JOINS US LIVE FROM OUR PLATTSBURGH STUDIO WITH THE DETAILS. BRIAN – AFTER MEETING WITH PLANNERS AND GETTING INPUT FROM NEIGHBORS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS, OFFICIALS HAVE BIG PLANS ON HOW THEY WANT TO REVITALIZE THE TOWN CENTER. (SOT) MICHAEL CASHMAN 09;56;09;15 – 09;56;16;05 “We’ve been engaging with the public and the private sectors to build out the best application possible.” (VO) AFTER MONTH’S OF PLANNING, IT’S NOW FULL FORCE AHEAD FOR PLATTSBURGH’S TOWN CENTER TO POSSIBLY HAVE A NEW LOOK. PROPOSALS INCLUDE A SPORTS COMPLEX, DAYCARE FACILITY AND DEVELOPMENTS AT THE CHAMPLAIN CENTRE MALL, THAT WOULD INCLUDE A POSSIBLE HOTEL AND RECREATIONAL CENTER OFFICIALS ARE ALSO LOOKING TO MAKE THE TOWN CENTER MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY WITH REVAMPING THE SIDEWALKS AND POSSIBLY ADDING BIKE LANES. TOWN SUPERVISOR MICHAEL CASHMAN SAYS THESE PLANNED PROJECTS WOULD MAKE ONLY BE BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYONE. (SOT) MICHAEL CASHMAN/ TOWN SUPERVISOR, PLATTSBURGH 09;59;02;01 – 09;59;17;10 “It is our town center; it is our downtown. And what we’re looking to do is to revitalize that in relationship to the partnerships with the Mall and other locations. That will be a benefit to the residents here, but also visitors coming into the region.” (VO) JENN HANNA- ROGERS OWN’S HER OWN RESTAURANT RIGHT IN THE TOWN CENTER ON SMITHFIELD BOULEVARD. SHE SAYS THESE PROPOSALS WILL BRING A BIG ECONOMIC BOOST FOR HER AND THE NEARBY BUSINESSES. (SOT) JENN HANNA- ROGERS/ OWNER, JENN’S SMOKIN HOT BBQ 09;54;06;06 – 09;54;13;05 “I think that would be actually fantastic for us business owners in this end of town. It would be great to get more foot traffic up here, you know, when you’re going out to dinner.” (VO WITH STILL) OFFICIALS FROM THE CHAMPLAIN CENTRE MALL SENT NBC5 A STATEMENT SAYING IN PART THAT THEY ARE THRILLED TO BE PART OF THE D-R- I APPLICATION PROCESS AND THAT EVERY STEP OF THIS PROPOSAL WAS THOUGHTFULLY CRAFTED WITH THE COMMUNITY IN MIND. (VO) AND WITH THE TOWN ASKING FOR 10 MILLION DOLLARS, LEADERS ARE REMAINING HOPEFUL A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION. (SOT) MICHAEL CASHMAN TOWN SUPERVISOR, PLATTSBURGH 10;00;30;09 – 10;00;41;14 “We’re cautiously optimistic about our application. We’re in the final weeks of of putting the final package together. But we really do believe that this application will be quite competitive.” OFFICALS HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER 18TH TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION TO THE STATE and expect an update o