Dryden village to apply for NY Forward grant

The Village of Dryden and Dryden Business Administration is in line to apply for the state’s NY Forward grant, a program to “invigorate and enliven downtown areas in small and rural communities,” according to a description of the grant.

The grant program complements the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant program (tinyurl.com/yk5fywpw) that’s geared more toward cities and awards $10 million to one city in each of the 10 regions of the state.

For NY Forward, the program will either award two $2.25 million grants or one $4.5 million grant to smaller municipalities in each region. The deadline to apply for the grant is Sept. 13, and the winners will be announced later this year.

The village will compete against four other counties and a handful of villages and towns in the central New York region.

In an effort to convince the state to award the grant to Dryden, the village is hosting a community input meeting at 7 p.m. today at the Dryden Fire Station on 26 North St.

“We’d love to get as many people to come and talk about what they like, what they want, what’s missing and what will make this a better village to live in,” said Village Mayor Mike Murphy.

The Dryden Business Association plans to assist in writing the grant for the village.

“Their commitment is great, and it’s allowed us to go ahead,” Murphy said. “They’re one of the reasons we’re going after this.”

Murphy noted that a plethora of locations within the village will have a survey and a suggestion drop-off box on hand. The locations are as follows: First National Bank of Dryden (both locations), Dryden Agway, Clark’s Shur Fine Food Mart, Arnold’s Florist, Southworth Library, Tompkins Community Bank, Dryden Village Hall, Bright Day Laundromat and Poets Landing Laundry Room.

Visit villageofdrydengrant.my.canva.site for the online version of the survey or use the QR code on a flier at the various local businesses in the village.

“We want to win and to do that we need the support from others to contribute [to the survey],” Murphy said.

Tourists and out-of-towners are also welcome to the meeting or to fill out the survey, Murphy said.

“You don’t have to be a village resident,” he said. “You just have to be someone that’s willing to share what you want to see done better.”

Those interested in providing ideas, thoughts and information beyond the community input meeting can send an email to villageclerk@dryden-ny.org. Village officials ask those emailing suggestions to put “NY Forward” in the subject line.

“We want to know what the people want, what they need, what they love [about the village] and what they want us to continue to do,” Murphy said.

Murphy noted that he and others “love the village we live in,” but “it doesn’t mean it’s perfect.”

“There are lots of things that could make this a livable place and also a place for people to stop and use our businesses,” he said.

Areas in the village in need of improvements and an upgrade include Montgomery Park, Main Street and North Street, Murphy noted.

Further using Montgomery Park as an example, Murphy mentioned that over 600 members of the community a few years back came together to raise over $120,000 to complete projects for the park.

“We have a vibrant community; we just want to make it better,” Murphy said. “It’s what the village and the community sees.”

Murphy mentioned the village is looking forward to presenting ideas to the community and taking in as much information as possible.

“The better ideas, the more suggestions and more we can show that this is what a community wants and things that will make it a better place will help us get the grants,” he said.

Dryden Dispatch appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com.

In brief:

Meetings in the month of September

The Dryden Town Board’s next abstract and agenda meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 8 and its business meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 15. Both meetings can be seen in person at the Town Hall on 93 E. Main St. or virtually.

The village of Dryden’s upcoming Board of Trustees meeting is slated for 7 p.m. Sept. 21 on the second floor of the Village Hall on 16 South St.

For the village of Freeville, its Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6 at the Village Hall on 5 Factory St.

Youth Soccer in Dryden deadline is Sept. 1

The deadline to register for youth soccer this fall in Dryden is slated for Sept. 1.

The cost to join the program is $25. Games will be played Sept. 17 and 24 and Oct. 1, 8, 15 and 22 at Dryden High School. Age groups 7 through 8 and 11 through 13 will play at 9 a.m., while ages 5 through 6 and 9 through 10 are at 10:30 a.m.

Weekly practices and dates are to be determined. The 5 through 6 age group will have no practices. Age 7 through 8 will practice once a week, and ages 9 through 13 practice twice per week.

Coaches will contact players regarding assignment of teams, practices and games. Shin guards are required, and cleats are recommended.

For more information and to register, go to drydenrec.recdesk.com.