News

The Potsdam Chamber of Commerce held a Board of Directors’ Q&A Event on February 19th at Jernabi Coffeehouse. The event allowed  potential and current Potsdam Chamber of Commerce members to network with fellow business owners, while receiving information about the Chamber directly from the Board of Directors. The Chamber’s Executive Director, Kurstin Stowell, says “The event was a success. We had the opportunity to share our insight and learn more about the needs of our businesses, in a comfortable, informal atmosphere. I hope that we can do this for our members again soon.”

Representing the Potsdam Chamber Board at this event: Sarah Sachs, Rob Bicknell, Allison Carney, Bill Shumway, Kellie Hitchman, Rose Rivezzi, Rae Hitchman, Jody Tosti, Kelly Chezum. Representing Chamber StaffL Kurstin Stowell

Potsdam Hosts Second Public Open House for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative

Potsdam, N.Y. – The Village of Potsdam, along with its state partners, is pleased to announce the second
Public Open House for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3rd,
2020 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the Town of Potsdam Community Room, 18 Elm Street, Potsdam, NY.
The open house is an opportunity for the public to learn about the DRI and share ideas to improve
quality of life, generate jobs and leverage private investment in the heart of the community. The LPC will
be providing information regarding a preliminary list of projects aimed at advancing the community’s
DRI vision, goals, and strategies.
A short presentation about the DRI program and meeting format will be held at 6:00. Following the
presentation, the public will have an opportunity to learn about proposed projects and participate in an
interactive activity. Members of the consultant team, state partners and LPC will be available to answer
questions from attendees. The open house will be the second of three public meetings throughout the
DRI process.
The DRI is transforming downtown neighborhoods into vibrant communities. In its fourth year, the
program will invest $100 million into 10 additional downtown neighborhoods across the state.
Participating communities are nominated by the state’s ten Regional Economic Development Councils
(REDCs) based on the downtown’s potential for transformation, and each community is awarded $10
million to develop a downtown strategic investment plan and implement key catalytic projects that
advance the community’s vision for revitalization. The Village of Potsdam was recently selected as the
North Country DRI community.
The DRI is a comprehensive approach to boosting local economies by transforming communities into
vibrant neighborhoods that offer a high quality of life for all residents. Each community selected to
participate in the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) will accomplish its goals through a unique
state-local partnership that includes a Local Planning Committee (LPC), a consultant team, and state
agency staff. With support from municipal staff and input from the public, this partnership will result in
a strategic investment plan that will achieve the vision and goals for revitalization of the downtown.
The Local Planning Committee (LPC) is made up of local and regional leaders, stakeholders, and
community representatives. LPC members will attend a variety of meetings at which they will be asked
to brainstorm ideas, provide direction to consultants, review planning products, and prioritize actions.
Mayor Reinhold Tischler and Kristin Esterberg, President of the State University of New York at Potsdam,
are the Potsdam LPC co-chairs.
The Consultant Team selected to assist in developing the DRI strategic investment plan is being led by
M.J. Engineering and Land Surveying, P.C. (MJ) of Clifton Park and includes Environmental Design &
Research, Landscape Architecture, Engineering & Environmental Services, D.P.C., CLA SITE Landscape
Architecture, Engineering & Planning, PC, Lacey Thaler Reilly Wilson, E.M. Pemrick and Company, and
Captain Consultants, LLC.
Public engagement is a key component of the DRI planning process and fundamental to the
success of the DRI. The objective of public engagement is to ensure that all stakeholders have ample
opportunity to know and understand the DRI process and its intended outcomes; to comment on the
study as it progresses; to express their concerns and contribute ideas; and to participate in building a
consensus about the vision for the Downtown and other outcomes, culminating in a locally supported
DRI Strategic Investment Plan. Public workshops and engagement activities will be scheduled
throughout the effort to allow opportunity for public input. More information about the DRI can be
Found at www.ny.gov/dri and www.PotsdamDRI.com.