The Catskill Chronicle

LIBERTY, NY (June 15, 2011) – Liberty Fitness on North Main Street is the first project under the Liberty CDC’s Main Street Program to move into the construction phase and begin transformation  inside and out.

Liberty Fitneess owner, Cindy Fracasse and CDC Executive Director Heinrich Strauch recently signed the grant contract that awards funding to the project out of the CDC’s Main Street Grant from the NYS Office of Housing Community Renewal.

Fracasse said, “I am proud to be the first recipient of Liberty Main Street funds, and it is fitting that this program comes along as Liberty Fitness is about to celebrate its 10^th anniversary.”

”Liberty Fitness is exactly the kind of business that you want on a Main Street,” said Strauch, “It creates foot traffic, its customers use other Main Street businesses, and it offers an important service to the community. What better partner than Liberty Fitness to start our efforts to get Main Street into better shape?”

Acting Liberty Chamber of Commerce President Jeremy Gorelick, who will support Fracasse as construction coordinator, said, ”Liberty Fitness is an important and dedicated member of the Village’s business community. We look forward to seeing it rejuvenated as part of the bigger Main Street program. Come Summer 2012, Liberty’s Main Street will have made another important step forward.”

The Liberty Main Street program is funded through a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant from the NYS Office of Housing and Community Renewal. A committee of community representatives selected 17 Main Street properties (out of 27 applications) to receive funding of up to 75% of total project costs for proposed improvements, with all projects to be completed by August 2012.