SCHUMER: WILLIAMSVILLE TO MAKE HISTORIC WATER MILL PERMANENT HOME FOR SWEET JENNY’S ICE CREAM
Currently, Sweet Jenny’s Rents Space in the Historic Water Mill, but with Renovations Nearly Complete, and Neighborhood Revitalization Underway, Sweet Jenny’s Could Become Permanent Fixture in the Mill
Schumer has Helped to Secure over $3.3M for Revitalization of Main St. & Spring St. in Williamsville – Says Projects like Sweet Jenny’s are Exactly Why Funding was so Important
Schumer: Sweet Jenny’s Ice Cream is the Cherry-on-Top of the ‘Picture Main St.’ Plan
Earlier thisweek, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and Williamsville Mayor Brian Kulpa announced that the Village of Williamsville will move forward with plans to make the Spring St. Water Mill the long term home of Sweet Jenny’s Ice Cream. Mayor Brian Kulpa worked closely with local leaders to develop a ‘Picture Main St.’ plan to revitalize Main St. and Spring St. in the Village of Williamsville. Last summer, Senator Schumer joined their efforts by pushing for federal funding to help the project become a reality and late last year the Senator announced an initial federal investment of nearly $3.3 million in the project. That funding, and excitement surrounding the plan, has led to a spark in business activity in the Village, including from the popular local ice cream shop Sweet Jenny’s.
“Sweet Jenny’s Ice Cream is setting up shop in the Williamsville Water Mill, which is exactly the type of impact we had in mind when pushing federal agencies to ‘Picture Main St.’ improvements and their positive impact on residents and new business activity,” said Senator Schumer. “Williamsville is quickly becoming a model for how smart investment in infrastructure can improve quality of life, help grow local businesses, and make a community more attractive to tourists and visitors. The decision to make the Water Mill the permanent home of Sweet Jenny’s is the cherry on top of a project that is truly transforming the Williamsville community.”
"Through the hard work of Senator Schumer, we have seen significant public investments by the Environmental Facilities Corporation and NYS DOT in the core of our business district,” said Williamsville Mayor Brian Kulpa. “I am proud to have that public investment now joined by significant private investment by Sweet Jenny's. Howard and Tara Cadmus are true friends of the Village and will be great stewards for the preservation of the Mill.”
Schumer has secured funding for Williamsville’s ‘Picture Main St.’ project in the form of two grants. The first grant was for $800,000 through the Green Infrastructure Grant Program and the second grant was for $2.5 million from the Federal Highway Administration. Both grants were key in helping to get the project off the ground and helping to attract Sweet Jenny’s to the mill.
Sweet Jenny’s has been renting space in the historic water mill since December, and had previously said that their decision to stay long-term would be based on the success of their business at that location. Recently, Sweet Jenny’s made the decision that they would like to make the water mill their permanent home, and the Village has agreed to explore making that a reality. The historic mill used to be a hub of activity in the Village but has sat vacant for a number of years. The ‘Picture Main St.’ project, and the federal investment, focused on revitalizing the area around the mill. With Sweet Jenny’s decision to make it their permanent home, those investments are already paying off.
"While our interest in occupying and restoring the Mill and its adjoining properties has been an ongoing dream of ours for some time, the Picture Main Street program, the Spring Street renewal projects, and the opportunity to work with such caring and forward thinking local, State, and federal government officials have made the proposition all the more attractive,” said Howard Cadmus, owner of Sweet Jenny's Ice Cream. “Putting the residents of a community first, including small business owners, has always been something we prize and we couldn't ask for better more like minded partners in a project that does just that."
Schumer and Kulpa highlighted that by making Williamsville more walkable and livable, more businesses will look to locate in the area. Creating a unique shopping and restaurant district will help to grow the Village and attract new visitors both from within the region and from outside the region.
Sweet Jenny’s has been creating ice cream, chocolate, and other sweets since 1985. The current owners, Howard and Tara Cadmus, purchased Sweet Jenny’s in 2011. Using a combination of Sweet Jenny’s traditional recipes, and bringing their own new ideas and methods, Howard and Tara have continued to grow Sweet Jenny’s into a local favorite.