SEEC Announces 2026 Curb Appeal Program Winners, Celebrating Main Street Beautification Across Schoharie County
Seven Properties Recognized for Investment in Historic Storefronts and the Vitality of Schoharie County's Commercial Corridors
SCHOHARIE, NY — Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corporation (SEEC) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 SEEC Placemaking: Curb Appeal Program — seven commercial properties and businesses whose commitment to exterior improvements is helping strengthen the character and vitality of Main Streets across Schoharie County. Total investment for this year's projects is anticipated to exceed $150,000, with the majority of improvements taking place within Schoharie County's designated Historic Districts.
Now in its third year, the Curb Appeal Program provides matching grants of up to $5,000 to commercial and mixed-use property owners and business tenants in village centers and hamlets throughout the county. The program's goal is to encourage pedestrian-friendly, well-appointed, high-quality Main Street corridors, with preference given to historically appropriate improvements in the county's eight historic districts. The program is made possible through private donations to the SEEC Prosperity Fund, which co-invests alongside property owners to maximize impact.
Congratulations to the 2026 Curb Appeal Award Recipients:
The Sharon Bee — 189 Main Street, Sharon Springs
A beloved destination on Sharon Springs' Main Street, formerly Cobbler & Co., a one-of-a-kind gift shop featuring twelve individually themed rooms across two floors, is being reimagined as The Sharon Bee. The project includes repainting the exterior of the building in a period-appropriate color, continuing the momentum of revitalization along one of Schoharie County's most charming village corridors.
204 Main Bar & Bistro — 204 Main Street, Sharon Springs
204 Main Bar & Bistro has been a cornerstone of Sharon Springs since 2011, serving fresh, locally-sourced food with everything made in-house — from bread and pastas to desserts. Their Curb Appeal project will replace the sign at the front of the bistro, sharpening the storefront's presence on Main Street.
The future home of Malliard Eye Care — 483 West Main Street
The future home of Malliard Eye Care will undergo a full restoration of its exterior to its historically original facade appearance, an investment that will help preserve one of West Main Street's architectural landmarks as the practice prepares to open its doors.
W. Whitman Books — 304 Main Street, Middleburgh
Founded in 2017 by Doug Guevara and David Chancey, W. Whitman Books has become a cultural anchor in the village of Middleburgh, offering an eclectic collection of used, new, and rare books alongside music concerts, poetry readings, and art exhibitions. The shop's Curb Appeal project includes exterior painting, a new front sign, repair and replacement of the front wood facade, an upgrade of the two front windows, and the addition of an awning for the display windows — reinforcing its role as a true community gathering place on Middleburgh's Main Street.
Race Printing & Package Center — Cobleskill
A certified Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) and family-owned institution since 1989, Race Printing & Package Center has served the Schoharie County community for more than three decades with printing, design, packaging, and shipping services. Their project will repair the parking lot, which has been damaged by stormwater runoff from the neighboring Price Chopper lot, by patching, resealing, and diverting drainage to improve customer safety. The business will also replace its front sign with a new wooden-framed sign and add landscaping, including new bushes, reflecting the same pride Race brings to serving its neighbors.
Bob Putnam Agency — 552 Main Street, Cobleskill
Founded in 1981 by Bob Putnam, the Bob Putnam Agency is an independent insurance agency that has grown from a single new agency with no clients to four locations serving thousands of clients across Cooperstown, Binghamton, Cobleskill, and Worcester. The agency offers auto, home, business, life insurance, and retirement solutions, built on a foundation of personalized service and long-term client relationships. Their Curb Appeal project will replace and repaint the building's clapboard siding, reflecting the same longstanding commitment to Cobleskill's Main Street community.
Schoharie Mercantile — 295 Main Street, Schoharie
The owners of the Greek Gyro restaurant are making improvements to the Taylor Block Building for the new home of Schoharie Mercantile crafters. The project includes replacing the shop's exterior side door with a new fiberglass door and adding trim around the windows, along with replacing the building's main entrance front door.
Built on Local Investment
In 2024, SEEC received applications from nearly 20 commercial property owners and tenants, organized a review committee, and hired design consultants to help each applicant realize their building's potential. The committee ultimately awarded grants to 11 projects spanning seven communities. In total, SEEC awarded $175,329 to 11 projects in 2024, with recipients painting storefronts, upgrading windows, improving signage, and adding porches and landscaping.
The 2026 class continues that tradition — seven properties investing more than $150,000 in their communities, their buildings, and the future of Schoharie County's Main Streets, with the majority of that investment concentrated in the county's designated Historic Districts.
About Placemaking: Curb Appeal Program
Placemaking is the notion that where investment occurs matters. Desirability matters. Design matters. SEEC has launched a Placemaking: Curb Appeal Program that is focused on Schoharie County population centers. By bettering the appearance of building facades and streetscapes, the SEEC Placemaking: Curb Appeal Program serves to improve the economic vitality of local commercial districts. Better aesthetics increase property values, improve the marketability of spaces, and draw business, travelers, and residents to our communities.
The priority objective is to create pedestrian-friendly, well-appointed, high-quality Main Street commercial corridors. Importantly, SEEC emphasizes good design. As such, SEEC has referenced design guidelines that each community and applicant should consider, in addition to providing the Curb Appeal Program Design Checklist, in preparing the project application. Visit www.seecny.org to learn more.
About Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corporation (SEEC)
Founded in 2019 by private sector leaders, SEEC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to fostering economic growth and prosperity in Schoharie County. SEEC works at the intersection of entrepreneurship, placemaking, and community revitalization — having mobilized over $56 million in public-private investment in recent years. Learn more at seecny.org.
MEDIA CONTACT
Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corporation
seecny.org | Schoharie, NY
