Greenport American Legion renovation plans suffer setback
No one’s giving up hope, but plans for renovations to the American Legion Post on Third Street to accommodate Greenport’s recreation program have suffered a setback.
Mayor David Nyce announced Monday night that an application filed jointly by the village and members of the Burton Potter American Legion Post with the state Office of Parks Recreation & Historic Preservation is unlikely to be funded.
The village had hoped that linking its long-term recreational goals with the Legion’s future would boost the grant possibilities. But in a tight economic climate, it appears that won’t be the case, Mr. Nyce said at the Village Board work session.
Instead, he pledged to work with legionnaires on an application for a Community Development Block Grant to help finance ongoing renovations.
The mayor also acknowledged that Greenport is not likely to benefit from new requirements Gov. Andrew Cuomo is imposing on state grants to direct money to projects that will create jobs. The governor has established regional councils to vet grant applications and only those deemed most likely to create jobs are going to pass muster and be referred to the state for consideration, Mr. Nyce said.
For a small village to compete on that basis is very difficult, he said. Even if a project creates eight or 10 jobs that might be critical for Greenport, larger municipalities are likely to be able to promote projects that would create more jobs, he said.
