Rocky Point Civic Awarded Downtown Grant Funding

While locals await to hear on the status of a $750,000 state grant application to upgrade downtown Rocky Point, word came down this week that the Rocky Point Civic Association was awarded just under $50,000 to upgrade the intersection of Broadway and Prince.

According to civic association treasurer Kathy Weber, the project – which will include new curbs, streetlights, crosswalks and a four-way stop sign – was awarded enough points from the Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Committee this past week. Formal approval from the county Economic Development Committee, the Legislature and County Executive are still needed, though are expected by October.

"This is all good news," said Weber on Saturday morning, adding that other organizations to receive funding included the Bay Shore Chamber of Commerce, Flanders/Riverside/Northampton Civic Association, the Central Islip Civic Council, Northport Chamber of Commerce, and others.

Along with the farmers market in Rocky Point, Town Councilwoman Jane Bonner, C-Rocky Point, noted that cleaning up the intersection "will be a nice anchor and draw, and really be a shot in the arm that the downtown needs."

Bonner, whose office helped prepare the grant along with Legis. Sarah Anker's, D-Mt. Sinai, added that she hopes the county funding bodes well for the New York State Department of Transportation grant.

Anker added that even making sure an application fits all the qualifications for a grant can be half of the challenge in making a formal application, so she was glad to hear that the project got the funding it deserves.