Town of Amenia receives $71K grant for sidewalk replacement

AMENIA — As one of four municipalities to receive funding from Dutchess County’s 2019 Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) program for municipal sidewalk projects, the town of Amenia was awarded $71,000 to complete downtown Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements along Route 343.

Totaling $334,599, the first round of project awards granted by this year’s CBDG program was set aside to improve accessibility with sidewalk enhancements throughout the county, according to a recent press release from Dutchess County. On top of that, the awards contribute to almost $1.5 million in funding awarded this year through the CBDG and the HOME Investment Partnership programs, which intend to improve accessibility, address critical public service needs and expand affordable housing options.

With an award of $71,000, the town of Amenia intends to replace 120 linear feet of deteriorated sidewalks near the Amenia post office and other local businesses in downtown Amenia.

“The sidewalk in front of the post office is very heavily traveled and could be challenging for some of our physically impaired residents,” said Amenia town Supervisor Victoria Perotti. “It was a priority for me to get some grant money so we can make them safer and more accessible.”

Perotti commented that sidewalk replacement also plays a part in the town’s plan to improve downtown Amenia and encourage economic development. For the time being, she said the town has to send out a request for proposals (RFP) and obtain bids for engineering work, a process that she anticipates will be completed later this year.

Applications for 2020 CBDG funds will be released this August.