Schenectady, N.Y.  — The Schenectady County Capital Resource Corporation (CRC) today approved $60,000 in funding to renovate 519 State Street, the latest improvement to the fast growing Proctors Block in downtown Schenectady.  Schenectady County will provide $50,000 to fund the balance of project costs.

The project includes new windows, repairs and repointing of the brick façade, repairs to the upper cornice and an improved entry way to the building which houses the County’s Public Defenders office.

The Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority recently announced a major upgrade to the adjoining building at 515 State Street to include renovated residential units and ground floor retail space. The two buildings are among the last buildings that need renovations in this section of downtown.

The Schenectady County CRC uses fees earned from completed development projects to help fund economic development projects at no cost to the taxpayers. .

Gary Hughes, Chair of the CRC and Majority Leader of the Schenectady County Legislature said, “This County-owned building needs repairs.  We are using funding available from the CRC to make improvements to the building investing in an upgrade that will benefit the County and downtown.”

The CRC will seek bids on the project after developing final plans and specifications for the project. Work will be completed in 2014.

Metroplex administers the CRC as part of Schenectady County’s unified economic development team.