Section 1220. Statement of legislative findings and purpose

The legislature
  hereby  finds and declares that there exists in New York state a serious
  need for financial and technical  resources  to  help  communities  with
  their  efforts  to  preserve  and  revitalize  main  street and downtown
  business districts which include commercial and  residential  uses.  The
  legislature  therefore  finds  that  a  program should be established to
  provide financial assistance to  stimulate  reinvestment  in  properties
  located  within main street, mixed-use commercial, and downtown business
  districts in urban, small town, and rural areas by  preserving  existing
  housing units, fostering the development of new housing units, upgrading
  commercial  and  retail  areas, and by creating innovative approaches to
  neighborhood and community revitalization, including the improvement  of
  cultural, civic and community facilities.