Submitted Photo The Dunkirk Development Department invited the public to comment on the city’s efforts to land a $10 million grant.

The Development Department for the City of Dunkirk conducted a pop-up public input opportunity to comment on potential projects in anticipation for a submission to Empire State Development for round six of the $10 million that will be awarded to 10 cities for the recently announced $100 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Grant program across ten Regional Economic Development regions. The public’s input and participation in the process is critical and welcomed element for the community planning and application process with a larger than usual crowd enjoying the Music on the Pier series.

The City of Dunkirk is partnering and collaborating with Chautauqua County Planning Department as well as the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, and the Harrison Studio to identify both private investment development projects as well as public investment into a compact area of Downtown Dunkirk that also extends along Central Avenue from Brooks Memorial Hospital to the lake front and harbor, according to Vince DeJoy, Director of Planning and Development.

“We wanted to gage public support and input before we begin the writing process for the grant application that has the potential to be transformative and catalytic and to seize the incredible opportunities to reimagine Downtown Dunkirk into a vibrant and sustainable economic development strategy,” DeJoy further commented.

The pop-up public input event featured six presentation poster panels with approximately 10 projects ranging from redevelopment of two key properties on Central Avenue at the corner of Fourth Street to upgrades to the Clarion Hotel, to public improvements to the marina, harbor, streetscape improvement projects, and Memorial Park.

E.J. Hayes, City of Dunkirk Deputy Director of Planning and Development, stated “On behalf of the City’s Development Team we would like to thank all of our city residents who took the time to visit our Downtown Revitalization Initiative Community Engagement Table at this past week’s Music on the Pier event. Community input is so important as we continue to build on the momentum, we have with redeveloping our city’s downtown and harborfront and as we work to bring in new major development projects.”.

The public had the opportunity to vote on priorities by placing stickers on the poster panels, and the information will be compiled for the DRI application.