Write a commentThe City of Fulton has cut the ribbon on 2 completed Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) projects and an expanded food pantry and clothing closet.
The DRI projects included additional renovations at the CNY Community Arts Center and exterior awnings at Eastern Shore Insurance.
At the CNY Community Arts Center’s ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, November 21, executive director of the Greater Fulton-Oswego Chamber of Commerce Sara Broadwell said, “Things are changing, things are turning with the momentum that everyone has.”
Specifically, the DRI funding was used to complete a mural and new signage on the exterior of the building to enhance the appeal of Fulton’s downtown. The center has previously completed other renovations that included raising the roof and adding a soundproof room for recording audio.
"We're always looking ahead to the next project," noted Bonnie McLellan, the center's executive director. Future plans at the center will continue refining the building to further improve seating capacity and production quality with projects such as professional-grade cameras to record performances and balcony seating.
Eastern Shore Insurance Agency’s DRI project built on exterior renovations the agency had already begun. On its own, the agency had already completed brick restoration on the building’s exterior, restored exterior lighting, and commissioned new interior and exterior signage from Universal Metal Works. With DRI funding, the agency was able to add exterior awnings to further enhance curb appeal.
“This project is a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration,” noted Mayor Jim Rice during the ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, November 26.
“The DRI process was fairly seamless,” remarked Kim Allen, Director of Agency Operations at Eastern Shore Insurance Agency, “even though it was a new experience for us.”
The Fulton Church of the Nazarene, headed by Pastor Paul Riggall, expanded its food pantry and clothing closet in response to community needs from the city’s more vulnerable residents. The pantry is typically open on the fourth Saturday of each month from 10am to 12pm; in December, open hours will take place on the third Saturday, December 21st.
The pantry includes shelf-stable items, freezer foods, and personal care items like laundry detergent and soap. Fulton Church of the Nazarenes, located at 914 Utica Street, cut the ribbon on its completed project on Saturday, November 23.
The three projects all highlight different aspects of the City of Fulton’s needs, from lifting up families and individuals at risk of food insecurity and providing quality job opportunities locally to creating a more active arts scene that attracts regional tourism dollars.
There is already another ribbon cutting on the horizon: CiTi BOCES will be opening a student-run café, CiTi CoCo, on Tuesday, December 3. The café is located at 129 Cayuga Street, just up the street from both the CNY Arts Center and Eastern Shore Insurance Agency.
We at iHeart Oswego look forward to seeing what else is on the horizon for the City of Fulton!
