How Jamestown uses more than $1 million in federal funding will set a course for the city’s future. For the sake of the incoming National Comedy Center and Jamestown’s potential as a tourist destination, let’s hope that funding focuses on improving the city’s gateway areas.

The development department held a hearing last week regarding the city’s plans for $1,052,851 in Community Development Block Grant funding and $246,960 in HOME funding. Jamestown officials use the federal funding for neighborhood, housing and economic development needs. Funding cannot be used to develop buildings for the general conduct of government, for political activities, equipment purchases, or the city’s general operating expenses.

Improving gateway areas, including Second Street, Foote Avenue and Main Street, would provide incoming tourists with a good first impression of the city. We support Peter Lombardi, Jamestown Renaissance Corporation deputy director, who wants city officials to fund rehabilitation programs for owner-occupied homes and rentals, creating more attractive buildings in those areas.

Officials hope to open the National Comedy Center during the 2016 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival. The attraction could have a $23 million annual economic impact on the region resulting from a projected 114,000 visitors.

By making the city’s entryways a little better and brighter, perhaps those visitors will have a good first impression of the city and will want to return. Several areas of the city could benefit from CDBG and HOME funding, but now more than ever, Jamestown’s gateways could use an upgrade.

Those who could not attend the public hearing but would like to voice their opinions on potential uses for the funding can do so at surveymonkey.com/s/jamestowncdbg or by writing the Jamestown Department of Development, Jamestown Municipal Building, 200 E. Third St., Jamestown, NY 14701.