Politics & Government

Sustainable Long Island Receives 45K Grant from Citi Foundation

The grant will be used to develop closed auto-dealership corridors.

has received a $45,000 grant to help redevelop closed auto-dealership corridors in low-to-moderate income Long Island communities.

“This generous grant will help initiate neighborhood revitalization within the communities looking to spur economic growth through job creation, curb sprawl, and add to their tax base,” said Ruth Negron-Gaines, board president of the Bethpage-based non-profit.

The funds were donated by the Citi Foundation and will be used to study redevelopment of these auto corridors in four communities on Long Island. The communities will be chosen over the next month.

Find out what's happening in Farmingdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The study will find the barriers to redevelopment of closed auto-dealership corridors, determine government agencies necessary for the redevelopment of these properties and identify the environmental challenges, community priorities and opportunities for partnerships.

“Promoting neighborhood revitalization is an important element of Citi’s commitment to community development,” said Pat Edwards, vice president of Citi. “We are pleased to facilitate this important analysis by Sustainable Long Island, which will help lay the groundwork for positive development.”

Find out what's happening in Farmingdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Of the currently closed auto-dealerships on Long Island, approximately 25 percent are located in low-to-moderate income communities, according to the non-profit.

In a release, Sustainable Long Island said many communities must now address numerous environmental and land use challenges in the development of these sites and that it is advocating an area-wide strategy that it has long supported in redevelopment programs.

“The reuse of these closed corridors can spark redevelopment opportunities for surrounding properties, serving as a catalyst for a community-wide resurgence," President Negron-Gaines said.


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