NORWICH – The City of Norwich is in the midst of several state funding applications, each of which – if awarded – would play a different role in improving business and employment opportunities, the overall quality of residential life and the economic vitality of the downtown area.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Common Council, aldermen approved resolutions to apply for three New York State grants, including one that would assist a prospective developer in restoring the vacant buildings at 42 and 44-46 N. Broad.

The Consolidated Funding Application (CFA, or commonly referred to as Main Street funding) and Southern Tier Region Community Revitalization Program – the largest award the city is applying for – would be used in revitalizing the downtown area. In the past, similar awards have helped the city restore a run-down property at 24 East Main, and assisted merchants and building owners on North and South Broad streets with interior renovations and storefront restoration.

Though previous rounds of Main Street grants have been a huge success for the city, stipulations of the CFA won’t allow the same degree of flexibility, said Community and Planning Development Specialist Todd Dreyer.

“This round of funding provides a maximum of only 50 percent of the last round,” he explained, citing the $500,000 obtained through the previous round of funding. What’s more, city officials are uncertain if the new round of endowments will be in the form of grants or low-interest loans to be repaid by the city. Should funds be awarded in the form of a low-interest loan, the city may act as a “pass-through” entity to administer low-interest loans to participating property owners.