CORTLAND, NY (607NewsNow) – The Crown City is getting a facelift.

On April 21, the DEC announced that Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cortland County will receive $200,000 in funding for the Blocks in Bloom program.

It’s part of $6 million in Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants going to 32 community-based organizations in the state.

“For two decades, DEC’s Environmental Justice grant programs have delivered real outcomes in support of a healthier, more sustainable future for people all across New York,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “The awards we are announcing today, through Governor Hochul’s leadership, support organizations that are working tirelessly to lift up their communities and advance environmental justice. We look forward to many more years of providing necessary resources to grantees and their partners to improve environmental outcomes across the state.”

In Cortland, the grant money will be used to plant flowers, pollinators, and vegetable gardens on 20 downtown streets to help reduce heat, improve soil health, and strengthen community bonds.