The village of Saranac Lake has endorsed a $500,000 state grant application from Calli Shelton and Randy Coles, who plan to convert the former Dew Drop Inn into a restaurant and bar seen here. (Image provided)

SARANAC LAKE — The village Board of Trustees has thrown its support behind state grant applications for the former Dew Drop Inn, Pendragon Theatre and BluSeed Studios, among several other programs and projects.

Applications for the seventh round of the state’s Regional Economic Development Council competition were due at the end of July.

The state is offering $800 million in economic development incentives to 10 regions across New York: $225 million in performance-based grants and tax credits from Empire State Development, and approximately $575 million from two dozen state agency programs.

The North Country REDC typically announces its priority projects for state funding in late September or early October. The state REDC awards take place in early December.

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27 Broadway

At its July 24 meeting, the village board approved a resolution supporting the Saranac Lake Local Development Corporation’s application for $500,000 for 27 Broadway, the address and proposed name of a restaurant planned for the former Dew Drop Inn downtown. Calli Shelton and her husband Randy Coles purchased the vacant, condemned building last year from Ed Dukett and moved here from Texas. They plan to turn it into a new restaurant and bar with upper-level apartments.

As part of the renovations, which are underway, the village would reroute its River Walk through 27 Broadway’s patio overhanging the Saranac River. Currently the River Walk veers away from the river to go around the building through an alley, rejoining the river on the other side.

The funding is being sought from the New York Main Street Program.

“The proposed funding will contribute to ongoing village revitalization efforts,” the resolution says.

In November, the village Board of Trustees approved a $200,000 economic development loan to Shelton and Coles. The funding was earmarked for demolition, stabilization work and interior improvements, some of which has been completed.

Pendragon

The board also backed an REDC application from Pendragon Theatre for state funding to advance its plan to convert the Tousley Storage building at 47-49 Main St., also known as the Madden’s Transfer and Storage building, into a theater seating 150 to 175 people.

The theater is asking for $3 million in Arts and Cultural Facilities program funding from the New York State Council on the Arts and a $500,000 Parks Preservation and Heritage grant from the state Environmental Protection Fund, according to Pendragon board Chairwoman Holly Wolff.

The village board’s resolution says the funding would pay for “structural services and acquisition of an historic downtown building for [Pendragon’s] future home.

“Pendragon Theatre’s relocation will help strengthen the business, contribute to the village’s downtown revitalization, and contribute to a stronger Saranac Lake economy that offers such arts and culture opportunities to its residents and visitors,” the resolution reads.

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Microenterprise program

The board also supported an application from Franklin County for grant funding to create a microenterprise program, which would provide business owners or entrepreneurs with reimbursement grants of up to $35,000 for non-construction expenses: acquisition of property,; financing of machinery, furniture, fixtures and equipment; working capital; inventory; and employee training expenses.

County Economic Development Director Russ Kinyon said the application was filed on behalf of the village and other towns. They’re seeking a maximum of $200,000, of which $170,000 would be distributed to microenterprises.

“We received 30 letters of interest from Franklin County businesses, including 15 from the Saranac Lake area,” Kinyon said. “These letters described the business, how they would use the grant funds, and how many jobs would be proposed. The total proposed jobs were 36 full-time and 39 part-time.”

At least half of the funds would go to startup businesses and the rest to existing businesses looking to grow, Kinyon said.

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BluSeed Studios

BluSeed Studios, which recently combined its organization with Saranac Lake ArtWorks, has submitted a “workforce” grant application to the New York State Council on the Arts, according to another resolution the village board endorsed.

It says the two organizations are seeking funding to hire an events and outreach coordinator to continue to grow their activities and programs. The amount of money sought wasn’t listed.

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Play ADK

The village is also backing an application from Play ADK for $50,000 to purchase and renovate a commercial construction vehicle for use as a mobile play center.

It’s the first phase of a plan created by Saranac Lake resident Rob Carr to help promote and raise funds to start a children’s museum in Saranac Lake.