Oneida Times

Utica Mayor Robert M. Palmieri was joined by downtown business owners to announce the recipients of Utica’s Business Assistance Fund.  

In total, Utica will invest $535,000 in a total of 21 local businesses.

The Small Business Assistance Fund is part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative that was awarded to the City of Utica in 2019. 

The program was announced in 2022 and the city held a number of public forums and meetings to advertise the program and explain its criteria. 

Many of the winners will use the money to significantly upgrade commercial and residential spaces in the heart of the city’s downtown corridor.

Mayor Palmieri made the announcement at 238 Genesee Street, where an iconic city building is being restored to facilitate a new commercial tenant. 

The projects throughout the city will increase commercial and residential options in downtown as a whole.  

Recipients include:

Amount	Project Description	Recipient
$56,709	165 Genesee St. (enhance commercial space and ass residential)	Enessa Carbone
$50,855	104 Genesee St. (commercial renovations and building upgrades)	Christopher Salatino
$26,700	238 Genesee St. (complete rehabilitation)	Travis McNeil
$56,709	310 Broad St. (renovate last two commercial spaces)	Gary Thurston
$48,059	64-73 Genesee St. (building renovation)	Joe Gehm
$12,602	131 Genesee St. (creation of common corridor to link residential units)	Anthony Onernesser
$48,059	600 State St. (assist completion of renovation)	Joe Gehm
$31,924	108-116 Bleecker St. (upgrades for residential units)	Dominic Steppello
$27,632	266 Genesee St. (renovate basement into office space)	Preston MacDiarmid
$26,700	315-317 Court St. (replace window glass)	Michael Pezzolanella
$23,362	200 Genesee St. (upgrade signage and revamp interior)	Frank Vita
$26,700	13 Hopper Street (turn second floor into usable commercial space)	Dave Giglio
$26,700	15-17 Hopper St. (add vinyl siding, replace windows and add signage)	Neighborhood Center
$12,816	216 Genesee St. (front door restoration with custom gate)	Isobel Bliss
$6,000	98 Genesee St. (add HEPA filter system)	Vincent Ficci
$15,000	106 Genesee St. (variety of upgrades incl. expanded outdoor seating)	Sharen Sofer
$15,000	94 Genesee St. (new four-season awning and other upgrades)	Christian Talgo
$10,000	106 Genesee St. (new awning, repair brick exterior)	Christian Talgo
$15,000	108 First St. (masonry restoration)	Michael Claire
$14,000	201 Bleecker St. (upgrade to agency computers	Jennifer Van Wagner
$15,000	1301-1305 Oneida Street (gym equipment, paint and HVAC)	Alice & Bob Donnelly

Utica Mayor Robert M. Palmieri said: “The transformation that is taking place in Utica is largely due to the hard-work and creativity of our small business owners. It’s an honor to be able to help them continue to grow and display their great businesses. We’re a great city because we have great people, great buildings and great businesses. The Business Assistance Fund will help all of those things flourish. I’d like to thank our partners in state government and the business owners who continue to invest in Utica.

State Sen. Joseph A. Griffo said: "Small businesses are the backbone of our communities and play an integral role in ongoing efforts to revitalize the region. As a former mayor, I understand the importance of ensuring that these enterprises have the resources that they need to be successful. This funding will enhance small businesses in downtown Utica and help them to grow and flourish."

Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon said: Thank you to the Mayor and city government for establishing the Utica’s Business Assistance Fund to distribute the much needed DRI funding to our local business owners. Congratulation and all the best to the recipients and I look forward to the upgrades that will make the city continue to shine!”

Original source can be found here.