Dunkirk planning officials offered information about a Small Business Fund getting established through the city’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

EJ Hayes, Dunkirk’s deputy planning and development director, said the fund will offer approximately $475,000 for things such as building facade renovations and non-movable equipment. He said of the money, “It sounds like a lot, but it’ll go quick.”

Applicants will have to partially pay for the work they want to do – at least 25%. Hayes says the process works “almost like a grant.”

The DRI is a state-funded project and Hayes said the Small Business Fund “is the one piece the city can kind of control.”

It will assist smaller businesses that might have liked to join the DRI but were put off by the time and expense involved in applying, Hayes added.

Applicants must have the projects done within the DRI zone.

Vince DeJoy, planning and development director, said the city cannot take applications for the project until a state contract is signed.

He said that projects included in the city’s original application to the state government for the DRI were just “examples.” Those projects will have to re-apply.

“The project scope could have changed since we did this a year ago,” DeJoy said.

He went on to add that personally, he would like to see facade projects “to beautify and lift the area.”

Councilperson Nancy Nichols dreamed of a downtown Dunkirk “streetscape” similar to East Aurora’s.

Hayes concluded the process of getting the fund together is “slowly getting filled out so we can get this going.” It should be up and running “early next year,” he said.

The officials spoke about the business fund during a meeting of the Common Council’s Economic Development Committee.