DRI Stockade Business District Small Grants Awards

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This grant program has concluded. 

With support from the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative, the City launched its Stockade Business District Small Grants Program this spring to assist home and business owners in the neighborhood. This is the City's first project undertaken in partnership with the Ulster County Office of Economic Development under a new Shared Services Agreement. Home and/or business-owners are invited to apply to one of the following three areas:

The Micro-Enterprise Grant Program opened first and applications for projects to create, improve, or expand a business were accepted through May 1st. Eligible uses of funds include purchase of permanent machinery and equipment, interior renovations, soft costs and purchase and installation of signage. The City received 40 applications and, with the help of a team of community members, 12 winning projects were selected. Mayor Noble announced the awards of $5,000 each to the businesses below on October 20th at Rough Draft:

Cacao Lab, Chic’s Restaurant and Sports Bar, Chops Grille, First Capital Poke Bar, Headstone Gallery, Hill Valley Candles, Kingston Bread + Bar, Maria Vera Skincare, Rough Draft Bar and Books, Utility Bicycle Works, World’s End Comics and Stockade Tavern

The Business Façade Improvement Grant Program opened second and applications were accepted through March 24, 2023. Grants will fund commercial building façade repairs with awards of up to $25,000. Mayor Noble announced the awards on May 8th. Finalists for the funding are:

Halter Associates Realty at 89 North Front Street, Lucas Pet Supply at 30 Joys Lane, Schneider’s Jewelers at 290 Wall Street, Ulster Publishing Co. at 322 Wall Street, 316 Wall Street, Multiple businesses at 318 Wall Street, Multiple businesses at 224 Fair Street, 89 John Street, Multiple businesses at 48 Main Street

The Residential Rehabilitation Improvement Program closed in January 2024. Funds are being used to make improvements to residential properties with awards of up to $40,000. Awards will be provided to owners of multi-family and mixed-use buildings with a limited number of awards provided to single-family homeowners. Applicants must provide a 25% match toward the total cost of their project. Funding will be distributed on a reimbursement basis after owners submit vendor invoices with proof of payment. The purpose of this program is to help income-eligible residential property owners undertake minor to substantial repairs in order to resolve building code violations, address health and safety hazards, and make necessary structural improvements.

The Small Grants Program is part of Kingston’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, a $10 million multi-component grant award that was first given to the City of Kingston in September of 2017. More information about the original DRI award is available here.

The three Small Grant initiatives total $600,000 in funds to assist homeowners and businesses in the DRI project area, which is bounded by the Esopus Creek and Route I-587 to the north and east, St. James Street to the south, and Washington Avenue and Dietz Stadium to the west (see map below).

If you are unsure if your business or home location qualifies, please email oed@co.ulster.ny.us with your name and address to confirm eligibility.


Eligible applicants must meet ALL of the following criteria:

  • Your business must be located in the map area referenced above. A close-up of the map is located here: Close-up of Eligibility Map
  • Your business must be a for-profit sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, Limited Liability Company or other legal form of business. Nonprofit corporations or organizations are NOT eligible to apply.
  • You must spend awarded funds in a way that will help create, improve, or expand your business.

With support from the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative, the City launched its Stockade Business District Small Grants Program this spring to assist home and business owners in the neighborhood. This is the City's first project undertaken in partnership with the Ulster County Office of Economic Development under a new Shared Services Agreement. Home and/or business-owners are invited to apply to one of the following three areas:

The Micro-Enterprise Grant Program opened first and applications for projects to create, improve, or expand a business were accepted through May 1st. Eligible uses of funds include purchase of permanent machinery and equipment, interior renovations, soft costs and purchase and installation of signage. The City received 40 applications and, with the help of a team of community members, 12 winning projects were selected. Mayor Noble announced the awards of $5,000 each to the businesses below on October 20th at Rough Draft:

Cacao Lab, Chic’s Restaurant and Sports Bar, Chops Grille, First Capital Poke Bar, Headstone Gallery, Hill Valley Candles, Kingston Bread + Bar, Maria Vera Skincare, Rough Draft Bar and Books, Utility Bicycle Works, World’s End Comics and Stockade Tavern

The Business Façade Improvement Grant Program opened second and applications were accepted through March 24, 2023. Grants will fund commercial building façade repairs with awards of up to $25,000. Mayor Noble announced the awards on May 8th. Finalists for the funding are:

Halter Associates Realty at 89 North Front Street, Lucas Pet Supply at 30 Joys Lane, Schneider’s Jewelers at 290 Wall Street, Ulster Publishing Co. at 322 Wall Street, 316 Wall Street, Multiple businesses at 318 Wall Street, Multiple businesses at 224 Fair Street, 89 John Street, Multiple businesses at 48 Main Street

The Residential Rehabilitation Improvement Program closed in January 2024. Funds are being used to make improvements to residential properties with awards of up to $40,000. Awards will be provided to owners of multi-family and mixed-use buildings with a limited number of awards provided to single-family homeowners. Applicants must provide a 25% match toward the total cost of their project. Funding will be distributed on a reimbursement basis after owners submit vendor invoices with proof of payment. The purpose of this program is to help income-eligible residential property owners undertake minor to substantial repairs in order to resolve building code violations, address health and safety hazards, and make necessary structural improvements.

The Small Grants Program is part of Kingston’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, a $10 million multi-component grant award that was first given to the City of Kingston in September of 2017. More information about the original DRI award is available here.

The three Small Grant initiatives total $600,000 in funds to assist homeowners and businesses in the DRI project area, which is bounded by the Esopus Creek and Route I-587 to the north and east, St. James Street to the south, and Washington Avenue and Dietz Stadium to the west (see map below).

If you are unsure if your business or home location qualifies, please email oed@co.ulster.ny.us with your name and address to confirm eligibility.


Eligible applicants must meet ALL of the following criteria:

  • Your business must be located in the map area referenced above. A close-up of the map is located here: Close-up of Eligibility Map
  • Your business must be a for-profit sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, Limited Liability Company or other legal form of business. Nonprofit corporations or organizations are NOT eligible to apply.
  • You must spend awarded funds in a way that will help create, improve, or expand your business.