As the conversations regarding downtown revitalization and proper infrastructure continue county-wide, Smithtown was able to cash in on much-needed county grant money earmarked for small business, regional tourism, workforce development, and downtown districts.
Smithtown finds itself in a unique position compared to other towns across Suffolk County and its position has been the subject of much political debate, especially in this year’s local elections. Since Smithtown’s former Supervisor Pat Vecchio’s (R) tenure ended in 2017 after a successful primary from then-Councilman Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park), actual development and planning for Smithtown’s future are now regular conversations at Town Hall. Vecchio’s previous mantra was not to raise taxes, and while this earned him general likeability, not raising taxes meant no new services, infrastructure, or redevelopment, which has put the town in the odd position of having to work backwards to meet the economic and infrastructural needs of today.
Now, in the final months of County Executive Steve Bellone’s (D-West Babylon) time in Hauppauge, Smithtown has been awarded millions of dollars in competitive grant money geared specifically for these purposes.
A presentation of the funds, both in terms of speech as well as oversized checks, was held Tuesday afternoon on the stage of the Smithtown Theater on Main Street with elected officials and community leaders in attendance.
Firstly, Smithtown was presented with $3.4 million in JumpStart Funding to support economic development in the Kings Park and St. James downtown districts.
The Suffolk County JumpStart program, according to the office of the County Executive, is “part of a comprehensive economic development plan designed to strengthen existing community assets and encourage, foster, and enhance the planning and development of regionally significant projects in and around Suffolk’s downtowns.”
The County is set to distribute $16 million in such funding to local municipalities this year.
Furthermore, organizations within Smithtown also received funds from the County’s JumpSMART Small Business Downtown Investment Program. According to the office of the County Executive, the JumpSMART program “provides a funding source for projects and programs that support small businesses, strengthen local arts and cultural organizations, promote tourism, and enhance workforce development efforts in conjunction with the County’s existing JumpStart program.”
This year, more than sixty organizations will have received approximately $30 million in collective grant funding.
“We realize that our long-term economic prosperity is dependent to a great extent on the success of our downtowns,” said Bellone. “These are the places that are the hearts of communities. By investing in our downtowns, we are supporting all our small businesses. Our downtowns are the places where we have the vibrancy we need to keep and attract young people into our communities.”
Bellone announced a $500,000 grant to the Smithtown Performing Arts Center (PAC). “Local, historic theaters like this one are critical to bringing people into the downtown, and when people come into the downtown, they spend, which is good for all small businesses.”
Bellone hailed the Town’s work in St. James, calling it “tremendous progress” under the leadership of Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park) and the Town Board. He announced a $100,000 JumpSMART grant to the Celebrate St. James organization and a $900,000 JumpStart grant to Smithtown for the acquisition, planning, and development of the Calderone Theater.
Of Kings Park, Bellone said it is “one of the best examples of community-based planning for the revitalization of a downtown. The Kings Park Community is further along in advancing its downtown revitalization vision than just about any community in Suffolk County.”
Bellone then announced the award of a $1.45 million JumpSMART grant to Agape Sports Services, which is looking to build an indoor-outdoor sports complex that will be what Bellone described as a “major regional tourism asset,” expected to bring 350,000 people to the Kings Park downtown. Additionally, the Town of Smithtown was awarded a $2.5 million JumpStart grant for traffic calming and streetscape improvements for Kings Park.
Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim then took the podium.
“We have a very impressive program that we started in 2018 to revitalize our three major business districts,” said Wehrheim. “We would not be able to do this alone at the local level. They [the County] have bought into our vision and have supported it 100% from day one.”
Wehrheim thanked the elected officials involved in securing the funds, as well as the community organizations who contribute to the economic health and wellness of the downtowns.
Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), of the Twelfth District, representing roughly half of Smithtown said: “This is the start of the beautification and economic revival of Main Street in Smithtown. We will get there thanks to these grants.”
Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga), of the Thirteenth District, representing the other half of Smithtown joked: “If you [Executive Bellone] would have done this ten years ago, I would have never given you such a hard time.”
Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James) thanked the community groups for their persistence in lobbying elected officials for these funds.
“Our chambers and civics groups are the ones who brought these plans forward and said ‘this is what we need to do great downtown revitalizations,’” said Mattera.
He continued: “Look at our Supervisor and our Town Council, look at what they have done in just six years. They’ve done what hasn’t been done in fifty years.”
Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) said: “Creating an environment for economic growth is what the government should do and then get out of the way and let the private sector create the vitality necessary to make downtowns thrive.”
The large checks were then presented for photo opportunities.
In attendance also were Deputy County Executive Peter Scully; Smithtown Councilman Thomas J. McCarthy (R-Nissequogue); Barbara Franco, President of the Smithtown Chamber of Commerce; Tony Tanzi, President of the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce; Kenny Henderson of Agape Community Sports; William Garthe, Board Member and Past President of St. James Chamber; Michael Mucciolo, Board President of the Smithtown PAC; Jack Ader, Founder and Executive Vice President of Celebrate St. James; and Jonathan Keyes, Director of Downtown Revitalization and Transit Oriented Development, Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning.
