Waterville Community Center Back As Option

One of the three business owners chosen to receive funding from the Village of Waterville’s NY Forward grant has dropped out.

Tom Eisenhut, owner of the Buell Block with the laundromat on the first floor, had been selected to get $1.8 million of the $4.5 million fund.

He notified officials he was withdrawing his project from the grant.

At last week’s Village of Waterville Board meeting, Mayor Gene Ostrander and Village Clerk Gayle Barnes said the state will re-allocate the funds.

While the state has final approval, the Village requested funding for the Community Center, the Big Creek overlook project and to add $100,000 to the Small Project Fund.

The Community Center and overlook were part of the original list of projects submitted to the State last November.

Along with Eisenhut’s project, the State also selected renovation of the Mulligan’s building for $1.83 million and Stately on Main for $388,000.

The Small Project Fund was designated at $500,000 as the only public project.

Some of the projects submitted by the Local Planning Committee did not meet the criteria for received a grant, Barnes said.

That eliminated them from reconsideration of the newly available funds.

More businesses can receive funding, they said, by adding to the Small Project Fund.

Barnes said the two other projects awarded have not yet signed contracts with the state