$600,000 total available for Suffolk County downtown projects
Applications open Feb. 19; submission deadline is May 15
Eligible projects include sidewalks, parking, lighting, renovations and accessibility upgrades
Municipalities must partner with local organizations to apply
Suffolk County is offering a total of $600,000 in grants to support capital projects in or near downtown areas on municipally owned property. The application process for the Downtown RevitalizationGrant Program opens Thursday, Feb. 19, with submissions due by May 15.
“Suffolk County’s downtowns are the heart and soul of our region, and we are committed to help our local municipalities and community partners prosper and help attract new visitors to spur our local economy,” Ed Romaine, the county executive, said in a news release about the program.
“The County Downtown Revitalization Program not only serves as one of our legacy grant programs, but it signifies our commitment to continuously invest in our communities,” he added.
In partnership with local municipalities, organizations representing downtown areas – including business improvement districts, chambers of commerce, civic and historical associations, beautification societies, and local development corporations – are eligible to apply. Award recipients will be selected by the Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Citizens Advisory Panel through a competitive process.
Towns or villages partnering with a community organization must pass a resolution supporting the joint project. Projects must be capital in nature and have a significant, sustainable impact that enhances economic activity.
Eligible projects include public parking facilities, curb and sidewalk construction, pedestrian walkways, street lighting, public restrooms, accessibility improvements, renovations to existing structures and cultural facilities.
Eligible projects must be capital improvements with a minimum funding request of $10,000, involve a municipal partnership, be located on municipally owned property in or adjacent to a downtown, and have a lifespan of at least 15 years.
The Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning will host an informational session for potential applicants on Wednesday, March 11. Details, including the application and guidelines, are available here.
Nonprofit organizations can now apply to receive some of the $10 million in grants offered by the TD Charitable Foundation through its Housing for Everyone initiative.
The foundation, which is the charitable arm of TD Bank, is marking its 20th annual Housing for Everyone program by offering the most money in the program’s history.
This year, the program focuses on eviction prevention and early intervention strategies to promote long-term housing stability for renters in low- to moderate-income communities, according to a foundation statement.Grants of $250,000 each will be awarded to nonprofits that provide solutions intended to prevent eviction before a crisis occurs.
“Housing remains a critical issue across our footprint and beyond, and a key step to mitigating the issue is providing early intervention tools and education to those most vulnerable,” Paige Carlson-Heim, head of Social Impact at TD Bank, said in the statement. “As we mark 20 years of the Housing for Everyone grant program, we recognize that lasting change in housing stability requires an ongoing commitment, and we are proud to support the organizations driving change through education, legal support, and more.”
Since 2005, Housing for Everyone has provided more than $63 million to over 630 affordable housing initiatives. While median household income hasn’t grown much in that 20-year period, the foundation said home prices and rents have risen substantially, widening the housing affordability gap. The goal of the Housing for Everyone grants is to assist nonprofits across the TD Bank footprint that support communities with the preservation and development of affordable housing options.
Past Long Island grant winners include Patchogue-based Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, which was awarded a $175,000 Housing for Everyone grant in 2024 and Ronkonkoma-based Options for Community Living, which earned a $150,000 grant in 2023.
Since its inception in 2002, the TD Charitable Foundation has distributed over $361 million through donations to local nonprofits from Maine to Florida.
Additional details and access to the 2026 Housing for Everyone grant competition can be found at td.com/housingforeveryone. Applications are open until 4 p.m. on Nov. 25. Grantees will be announced in April 2026.
Hempstead Union Free School District begins $42.3M Gray Middle School modernization, adding classrooms, library, athletic fields and upgraded safety features
This $80 million funding opportunity for organizations across the state builds on the $86 million in capital awards announced by NYSCA earlier this year, including multi-year investments supporting large-scale capital projects that emphasize community development and placemaking.
“New York’s thriving cultural sector attracts global visitors, generates economic opportunity and strengthens our incomparable creativity, which makes us a global epicenter for tourism,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a news release about the fund.
“Through this transformative grant program, our world-class organizations will be able to develop innovative and sustainable projects that will serve New York residents and visitors for generations to come,” she added.
The program is designed to support arts and cultural nonprofits seeking state funding for capital improvements that enhance cultural programming for diverse audiences, promote accessibility and environmental sustainability, preserve and create jobs and drive growth in New York’s arts and tourism sectors.
“We are deeply grateful to Gov. Hochul for her continued investment in the arts, particularly at a time when cultural funding is being reduced elsewhere,” Lauren Wagner, executive director of Long Island Arts Alliance, told LIBN.
“The arts are a powerful catalyst for economic vitality, fueling local economies, strengthening communities and drawing visitors to our region,” Wagner said. “These grants will enable arts and cultural venues to become more accessible and sustainable, enhancing their ability to connect with audiences and serve as essential destinations for residents and visitors alike.”
Available throughout the state, the fund has three grant categories: Small and Midsized Capital Improvement Grants, Large Capital Improvement Grants and Capital Design Grants for Arts and Culture.
The Small and Midsized Capital Improvement Grants offer up to $2 million for construction and equipment projects, prioritizing accessibility, sustainability, artistry and community impact. No-match grants of $10,000–$99,000 are available to organizations with operating budgets under $2 million. Eligible projects align strong design with organizational capacity and community needs to support the future of arts and culture in New York.
Large Capital Improvement Grants are designed to provide grants ranging from $2 million to $10 million to support major capital projects with a total cost of $4 million or more. Covering up to 50 percent of project costs, these grants fund improvements that expand programming, increase accessibility and reach diverse audiences. Applicants must align with the state’s goals for economic development, social equity and public access.
The Capital Design Grants aim to support the development of mid-stage and advanced design documents for arts and cultural nonprofits with operating budgets of $10 million or less across the state that are planning eligible capital improvements and are currently in the early stages of design. Grants will range from $50,000 to $500,000, for a maximum of 50 percent of the design phase’s total cost. No-match grants of $10,000 to $99,000 will also be available for organizations with budgets under $2 million.
The application portal and guidelines for these opportunities are now open, and can be accessed on NYSCA’s website, arts.ny.gov. The deadline to submit completed applications is Jan. 13, 2026.
NYSCA will offer informational webinars and host virtual office hours to provide one-on-one support. Prospective applicants for the large capital grant program are required to consult with NYSCA Capital Projects staff to ensure their projects align with program priorities before applying. Grant awards are anticipated to be announced in spring 2026.
“We encourage organizations to attend NYSCA’s upcoming webinar on Sept. 18 to learn more and to see if this funding opportunity is the right fit, and we stand ready to provide guidance as needed,” Wagner said.
After more than 46 years in the making, the Matinecock Court affordable housing development in East Northport will welcome its first residents in just a couple of weeks.
LIBN has learned that developers expect to receive certificates of occupancy for about half of the buildings at the limited-equity cooperative complex and other necessary final approvals by the end of the month.
A kitchen in one of Matinecock Court’s 146 homes. / Photo by David Winzelberg
The $97 million development, located on 14.5 acres on the northwest corner of Elwood Road and Pulaski Road, brings 146 residences in 17 two-story residential buildings consisting of 18 one-bedroom units, 89 two-bedroom units, 38 three-bedroom units and a two-bedroom unit for the superintendent. Eight of the units are reserved for individuals with developmental disabilities and five are set aside for veterans. The project includes a 2,500-square-foot community building with a fitness center, administrative offices and meeting areas for residents. It also has its own sewage treatment plant.
Monthly maintenance fees at Matinecock Court range from $1,300 to $2,100, depending on the size of the unit. Prospective residents have to meet income requirements that restrict ownership in the gated community to households earning between $47,000 and $95,000 a year.
“We held a lottery a couple of months ago and received over 1,000 applications for 146 units,” Peter Florey, a principal of Levittown-based D&F Development Group, which partnered with Greenlawn-based nonprofitHousing Help on the East Northport project, told LIBN.
First residents are expected to move into Matinecock Court early next month. / Photo by David Winzelberg
Florey added that he expects the first move-ins at Matinecock Court in the first week of September, and once final approvals are granted for the rest of the buildings, all residents should be in by November.
“We’re confident that we have enough people for full occupancy, with a substantial waiting list,” he said. “It will likely be a 45-day process to get everyone in.”
First pitched in 1978, the East Northport development has survived multiple court challenges, one of which went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, as the Town of Huntington and local residents tried in vain to derail it. The project, advanced by Housing Help, was stalled under other developers until D&F was tapped in Jan. 2021 to see it through.
“Matinecock Court represents more than just new housing, it’s the result of decades of persistence, advocacy, and community partnership to ensure that affordable housing is a reality on Long Island,” said Pilar Moya-Mancera, executive director of Housing Help. “We are grateful to D&F Development for helping bring this vision to life. When the lottery for its 146 apartments opened this summer, we received 1,000 applications—85.7% from Long Island and 32.1% from the Town of Huntington—proving the need is overwhelmingly local. Matinecock Court is not the finish line. It must be a blueprint for future projects, so we don’t wait another 45 years to meet our community’s housing needs.”
Housing advocates have hailed the opening of the project.
“We commend Housing Help and D&F Development for their perseverance in bringing Matinecock Court to the finish line,” Roger Weaving, president of the Huntington Township Housing Coalition, said in a written statement. “This attractive development stands as an excellent illustration of contemporary affordable housing.”
Weaving added that affordable housing opportunities like Matinecock Court can help stem the exodus of people leaving Long Island, and much more is needed.
“The few units of housing being created on Long Island today are overwhelmingly single-family homes, but this doesn’t meet the needs of smaller households,” he said. “When people can’t afford housing, they leave town and look for opportunities elsewhere.”
Matinecock Court is not the first limited-equity cooperative complex that D&F, headed by Florey and Leonard D’Amico, has developed. In 2017, D&F completed Long Island’s first limited-equity housing co-op called Highland Green in Melville. The $34 million project created a two-story, income-restricted, 117-townhouse community on an 8-acre site once occupied by a commercial nursery on Ruland Road. Purchasers bought into the co-ops for low down payments – from $1,880 to $2,600 – and part of their $940 to $1,300 monthly maintenance charges builds equity in the complex while helping to pay down a tax-exempt bond used to finance its construction.
If the new apartment tower had been planned for another plot of land, chances are good the concrete plant in the middle of the city would have helped build it.
But, as it happens, the century-old facility on La Brea Avenue that has provided concrete for buildings and roads across the Los Angeles region sat where the tower is to go up.
Now, the West Hollywood facility has ceased operating in order to make way for a new apartment tower.
A worker sprays water to keep dust down at the Cemex concrete plant in West Hollywood. A 34-story apartment building is being planned for the site.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
The mixing plant that routinely filled fleets of trucks with ready-to-pour concrete stood out as an urban oddity in its final years, a dusty, noisy industrial yard on busy La Brea Avenue near Santa Monica Boulevard, across the street from a shopping center with a Target store.
Straddling the border between West Hollywood and Los Angeles, it backed up against L.A.’s burgeoning Sycamore District that includes upmarket stores, restaurants and art galleries that have sprung up in the former industrial district.
The Cemex Hollywood Concrete Plant was one of the last industrial businesses operating in West Hollywood, said Jennifer Alkire, the city’s assistant director of community development.
The Cemex concrete plant in West Hollywood was described as “the pioneer mixing plant in the West” in a 1924 issue of Concrete magazine.
(CIM Group)
“It was definitely an unusual use, particularly as the city continued to develop and change and grow,” she said. “Obviously, it was there long before the city incorporated” in 1984.
A 1924 issue of Concrete magazine said that the operation at 1000 La Brea Ave. appeared to be “the pioneer mixing plant in the West,” the first of its kind offering “ready-mixed Portland cement concrete in quantities sufficient for a flagpole foundation or a 12-story building, and delivered right on the job when required.”
While concrete had been a preferred construction material for hundreds of years, it was 20th century advances in truck technology that made it practical to be delivered instead of mixed on-site.
By 1924, concrete from the La Brea plant was being used to pave streets in Los Angeles, the magazine said. Customers included the Standard and Union oil companies, along with the Famous Players-Lasky, Buster Keaton and Vitagraph movie studios.
Ready-mix concrete plants continued to support development in the Southern California region during the building boom of the post-World War II era, according to research prepared for a draft environmental impact report on the planned development of the La Brea Avenue site. The plant there was upgraded in the 1930s and 1960s and operated continuously until its closure a few weeks ago.
As mechanical plants go, it was a pretty simple one. Nearly vertical conveyor belts lifted dry ingredients high up to be deposited into hoppers where they were mixed with water and then the wet concrete was poured into waiting trucks below. Concrete trucks routinely queued up on nearby streets before departing right on La Brea Avenue with their agitator drums turning.
Its last operator, Mexican multinational building materials company Cemex, declined to comment on the closure. The company’s landlord, Los Angeles developer CIM Group, said Cemex’s lease on the property was set to expire at the end of November and that it would clear the site of structures and vacate. By the end of October, most of the plant had been disassembled and carted away.
CIM Group is seeking approval from the city of West Hollywood to build a 514-unit apartment complex that would fill much of the former plant site and another parcel on La Brea Avenue. Called 1000 La Brea, it would rise 34 stories and include floor retail space for shops and restaurants.
It would have rooftop gardens, a swimming pool, fitness center, yoga room and library. There would be subterranean and above-ground parking, and at least 20% of the units are expected to be designated as affordable with subsidized rents.
An artist’s rendering shows the apartment tower planned for the site of the Cemex concrete plant at 1000 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood.
(CIM Group)
Shaul Kuba, co-founder of CIM Group, said he expects being situated on the edge of the upscale Sycamore district will help the apartment building land tenants. Neighbors would include Hollywood production facilities such as the former Warner Bros. studio now known as the Lot and other entertainment businesses, including broadcaster Sirius XM studios and Jay-Z’s entertainment company.
“This should become a place where people in the entertainment industry in the neighborhood can live and actually be close to their work,” he said. “The entertainment industry is very focused in this area right now.”
The east side of West Hollywood has evolved from being a collection of mostly low-rise commercial buildings, Alkire said, to including several multistory mixed-use residential buildings and neighborhood-serving retail properties such as the Movietown Square apartments and the West Hollywood Gateway shopping center.
California cities need more apartments to meet housing goals, she said. “It’s definitely been made a priority by our City Council and by the state.”
CIM hopes to break ground on the project next year and complete it by 2028, Kuba said.
SEATTLE, April 10, 2024 (Newswire.com)
– Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC ) Puget Sound, in collaboration with the Amazon Housing Equity Fund, is addressing the tremendous need for affordable housing by investing in the next generation of housing developers. Today they are announcing the second cohort of Housing Equity Accelerator Fellows. This diverse group of 20 individuals, comprising 10 for-profits and nine non-profits, brings a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to advancing affordable housing and community development in the Puget Sound region.
“We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with LISC on this critical work,” said Senthil Sankaran, Principal, The Amazon Housing Equity Fund. “The Housing Equity Accelerator is essential – both for creating affordable housing where it’s needed most and for creating greater equity across the industry.”
The Housing Equity Accelerator (HEA) aims to boost the supply of affordable housing by nurturing the growth of emerging housing developers in Puget Sound. The program is structured to enhance capacity for creating more affordable units and to create opportunities for generating wealth and equity.
HEA’s comprehensive approach to capacity-building for Fellows focuses on three main components: Content, Connections, and Capital. The program offers a tailored 12-month curriculum and ongoing technical support to equip participants with the skills needed to scale their businesses for affordable housing development. Additionally, HEA facilitates networking opportunities within a diverse professional community and provides access to grants and loans to support the development of affordable housing.
“The Housing Equity Accelerator isn’t just a program; it’s a game-changer for our housing crisis,” declared Lauren McGowan, Executive Director of LISC Puget Sound. “Given Washington state’s need to add over 1.1 million homes in the next 20 years, with over half being affordable for our lowest income neighbors, these developers are an essential part of the solution. We are honored to welcome this dynamic group of individuals and organizations to the Housing Equity Accelerator.”
The new cohort includes eight women and features diverse representation from African American, Black Immigrant, American Indian, Asian, and Latin American communities. Sixteen of the fellows have lived experience in affordable housing, further strengthening their connection to the communities they serve.
From Everett to Seattle to Tacoma, the pipelines the fellows are working on encompass a wide range of developments, showcasing their dedication to addressing housing challenges across the region.
“Housing is the foundation for healthy families and strong communities,” said Michael Pugh, LISC president and CEO. “When we invest in the infrastructure of organizations that address local housing gaps, we not only improve long-term affordability throughout the region, but we also have the chance to fuel the kind of economic expansion that creates jobs and supports local businesses, while families build financial stability for the future.”
The 2024 HEA Fellows:
Alexandria Brown – Louis Rudolph Homes
Bilan Aden – African Community Housing & Development
Caleb Jackson – Uplift Investment Group
Cleveland King – YMCA of Greater Seattle
Danny Cage Jr. – YMCA of Greater Seattle
Demarus Tevuk – Seattle Indian Services Commission
Deonte Randolph – Product Development
Eric Frank – SUSTAINABUILDITY LLC
Ismail Mohammad – Plutus Development, LLC
Johnny Vong – Blackfish Capital LLC
Kateesha Atterberry – Urban Black
Keelan Flowers – Flowers Investments Inc.
Khevin Pratt – J2Housing
Larry Gilmore – ClearBlu Capital Group Inc.
Mansour Camara – Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
Manuel Garibay – Kamiak Real Estate
Maya Spotted Bear – Chief Seattle Club
Mesha Florentino – Delridge Neighborhood Development Association
Mohamed Mohamed – East African Community Services
Tsega Desta – Ethiopian Community in Seattle
About LISC: LISC is one of the country’s largest community development organizations, helping forge vibrant, resilient communities across America. We work with residents and partners to close systemic gaps in health, wealth, and opportunity and advance racial equity so that people and local economies can thrive. Since our founding, LISC has invested $29.7 billion to create more than 489,261 affordable homes and apartments, developing 81.5 million square feet of retail, community, and educational space. The Housing Equity Accelerator is one of the LISC Puget Sound initiatives designed to address economic, housing, and racial justice. Together with partners, we are working to increase the supply of affordable homes in the region and close the racial wealth gap.
Alliance will leverage the robust capabilities of POSSE PLS and eCheck solutions, giving government agencies the tools needed to fast-track permitting outcomes.
DENVER, December 12, 2023 (Newswire.com)
– Government software solution provider Computronix has formed a strategic partnership with Australian proptech innovator Archistar to integrate the latter’s AI-based eCheck toolset within the POSSE PLS – Permitting and Licensing System. A powerful compliance check technology, eCheck uses AI to make more than 90 complex checks against local building codes and regulations in just seconds. Following its seamless integration with POSSE PLS, Computronix’s end-to-end solution for municipal planning, permitting, inspection, licensing, and code enforcement, eCheck will simplify and streamline the review process for builders, architects, designers, planners, and building surveyors alike — providing rich 3D visual feedback on all pertinent code-compliance checks.
Archistar CEO & Founder, Dr Ben Coorey, said: “Archistar is committed to empowering cities and municipalities worldwide with advanced technology to effectively tackle the global housing supply crisis. We are proud to partner with Computronix, a company renowned for its award-winning, service-centric approach to serving government clients. By harmonizing the strengths of POSSE PLS and eCheck, we are set to revolutionize the way cities assess and approve permits, delivering faster building permits, enhanced transparency and an enriched experience for government officials and submitters alike.”
Gord Meeberg, VP of Business Development for Computronix, adds, “In Archistar, we recognize a corporate culture much like our own: one dedicated to building innovative solutions designed to fundamentally streamline permitting processes for community planners and builders. POSSE PLS with eCheck will leverage the robust capabilities of both award-winning solutions, giving government agencies the leading-edge tools needed to fast-track municipal planning and permitting outcomes, to meet affordable housing targets and exceed economic development objectives.”
In addition to the integration of their complimentary and compatible technologies, Archistar and Computronix have agreed to work together to jointly promote their respective solutions to community development leaders worldwide.
Leveraging artificial intelligence to assess planning rules and restrictions on land plots, eCheck streamlines the plan review process, creating rapid compliance checks that can be used to accelerate the design and building process. In tandem with the award-winning POSSE PLS system, this offering represents a powerful total product solution for government leaders keen to fast-track community development processes to facilitate increased affordable housing supply.
About Computronix: Computronix is a leading provider of transformative software solutions for land management, alcohol beverage control, enterprise licensing, gaming control and workflow management. Winner of 22 national and international awards, including the Smithsonian Institution’s collection of ground-breaking software, our POSSE Platform is a wholly integrated and fully realized product suite. A true service-centric organization, exemplified in our 100% Project Success rate and industry-leading employee retention rate, Computronix is proud to serve major government clients representing over 100 million citizens from Honolulu to Halifax.
About Archistar: Founded by Dr. Benjamin Coorey, a global expert in 3D generative design, Archistar is the world’s leading digital platform for the Property Industry. The platform combines architectural design with artificial intelligence to inform decision-making in property and is used by agents, developers, architects, government planners and homeowners nationwide. Since launching in 2018, Archistar has grown rapidly, listed in the AFR Top 100 fastest-growing companies in Australia for three years in a row, with notable clients including Mirvac, Ernst & Young, Brookfield and JLL.
Perth, Australia, October 4, 2016 (Newswire.com)
– Global Empowers is a social startup with a powerful vision of helping the people of the world who need it most. Their first product, Vigor Aqua, is an advanced water purification tablet that also acts as a vitamin and food source. Something which, when produced and widely spread, could change the face of certain parts of the world for the better in a very dramatic and lasting way.
There’s no argument that lack of clean water and food is one of the most serious problems faced by large amounts of people in the world today. Few understand this better than the recently launched social startup Global Empowers, founded by passionate entrepreneur Joseph Mwansa born and raised in Zambia, who has personally seen the different standards of living people in the world face, and has positioned Global Empowers to help change it for the better. Global Empowers first product, the advanced water purification tablet Vigor Aqua, is close to being released and is expected to be able to help address the clean water and food problem faced by poor communities across the world in a way that is ethical, affordable and effective. Excitement surrounding the project is high.
“Global Empowers has a mission of offering help to people who are living in very dire circumstances who desperately need the things we often take for granted like clean water and adequate nutrition,” commented Mwansa. “We believe when we all work together we can make the world a better place. We’ve started by tackling the problem of having access to clean water, with our first product Vigor Aqua. This purifies water powerfully, removing germs and viruses and making it safe to drink. What this can do for the health of a community who formerly only had contaminated water to drink is amazing in all the best ways.”
According to Global Empowers, Vigor Aqua will address many important issues in a safe and effective way. Highlights include eliminating germs and viruses that cause water borne diseases. Also, treating and freeing water from Giardia, Cholera, Typhoid, Dysentery and many other waterborne diseases including Hepatitis A & E and Salmonella. As a bonus, Vigor Aqua is also enhanced with vitamins and nutrients, making it a healthy food source as well as way to purify water addressing two very serious problems at the same time.
A crowdfunding campaign for Global Empowers has commenced with a release date for Vigor Aqua expected to be announced soon. Make your mark by helping Global Empowers reach their crowdfunding goal. Visit https://startsomegood.com/globalempowers
