NY Forward Round Two Communities

Canastota

The Village of Canastota submitted its first NY Forward application last year and took seriously the feedback provided to create an even stronger application this year. With its historic village and the proximity of the Boxing Hall of Fame, the village is ready for transformative growth and this funding will help them reach those goals. Their application included a well-defined area that builds off past investments, while looking to the future with 16 proposed projects totaling more than $7 million.

• Read the Press Release
• View the Application

Brewerton

Last year, the Hamlet of Brewerton put forward their first application and made a strong impression on the CNYREDC. They took the feedback provided and put forward a very strong application this year. While less traditional than our usual NY Forward/ DRI communities, the CNYREDC felt the strong potential projects (15 projects totaling more than $42 million), along with their expansive riverfront made this a great candidate for NY Forward. Additionally, the opportunity to bring the two communities together to collaborate on a joint vision for the future was very exciting. Given both communities proximity to the Micron site, we see this investment as the first step towards intentional, strategic, and collaborative planning for the future of their communities

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• View the Application

Webster

The Village of Webster presented an application that highlighted a diverse list of projects in a strategic location demonstrating regional benefits and enhancing momentum of local development and a growing population. Webster has proven to have significant administrative capacity to manage a program of this scope and appears well positioned to take advantage of this opportunity, building on past revitalization applications and feedback.

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• View the Application

Macedon

The Town of Macedon’s application illustrated significant recent private investment, positioning the town as a key, forward thinking, community in the region. The proposed projects would capitalize on these investments and recent revitalization momentum to provide significant and transformational impact on visitors, residents, businesses, and employees. The Town of Macedon submitted applications for both the DRI and NYF. After reviewing key characteristics of the town and the published program guidance, the FLREDC DRI/NYF selection committee determined the geography to be a better fit for the NY Forward program.

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• View the Application

Brookhaven-North Bellport

North Bellport is a disadvantaged minority community on the South Shore in Suffolk County that is both a designated food and banking desert. Through public private partnerships the Town of Brookhaven envisions strengthening this community with new Transit Oriented Development (TOD) affordable housing, creation of a mixed-use business district to include both fresh food and financial establishments, facade and streetscape improvements and pedestrian safety improvements.

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• View the Application

Mineola

The Village of Mineola has used zoning changes and thoughtful planning to attract new businesses and people to their downtown creating over 1,400 housing units over the last decade. The Village envisions the creation of more public spaces in the downtown, development of vacant parcels into mixed use buildings, and placemaking and walkability improvements will help them build on their recent efforts. The NY Forward planning process will help both North Bellport and Mineola ensure their investments will align with their community’s goals and attract the private investment needed to revitalize their communities.

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• View the Application

Highland Falls

The Village of Highland Falls has been identified by Orange County’s most recent comprehensive plan as a priority growth area. Although the Village has been consistently making efforts to improve, utilizing funding from various sources to fund a Local Waterfront Revitalization Strategy (2020), improve sidewalks and renovations to individual buildings, and more, these projects have been completed in a piecemeal fashion as funding has become available. The Village proposes $6.5 million in transformative project opportunities that include multi-modal improvements to enhance the flow and safety of traffic downtown, main street façade renovations, improvements to general branding and marketing, and expansion of access to the waterfront.

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• View the Application

Montgomery

The Village of Montgomery’s chosen downtown target area lies south and east of the Wallkill River, a tributary to the Hudson River and a significant natural resource. This target area has been chosen as the focus of the Village’s New York Forward funding request because it has all the characteristics of a successful downtown. It is compact and walkable, has a high concentration of historic buildings, and is the area where most of the commercial and retail businesses are located, in addition to serving as the civic and cultural center of the Village. The Village of Montgomery proposes approximately $7.5 million in transformational project opportunities that include new sidewalks and bike lanes, the acquisition & development of municipal parking, several park upgrades, a lamppost initiative and creative placemaking, trees and landscaping improvements, building improvement grants, and wayfinding signage and branding.

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• View the Application

Boonville

The Village of Boonville showcased their can-do dedication with their first NY Forward application this year. It is clear they are committed to transforming their downtown into an attractive destination for tourists and residents alike – as they say, “walkable, bikeable, adorable”. Grants from NY Main Street, EPF, NYSERDA, DEC, and NYS Smart Growth have helped renovate mixed-use properties, renew parks, improve water quality, update their comprehensive plan with smart growth principles, and earn the Village a Clean Energy Community (CEC) designation. ESD strategic planning and feasibility funding was utilized in 2022 to study the former Delta Hardwood facility, which has been identified as a potential site to support multiple tenants and additional facility expansion. With investors ready with projects, a key component of their NY Forward application is to infill their Main Street with a new 16,000 SF historically accurate mixed-use construction filling the void left behind by the devastating 2020 fire that razed a five-building complex. Boonville will be the Mohawk Valley’s $4.5M NY Forward recipient.

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• View the Application

Richfield

The Town of Richfield made their first attempt to become a NY Forward winner this year. We feel that NY Forward is the perfect fit for a community like Richfield! They are small community with outsized passion for the revitalization of their Main Street. Working hand-in-hand with the Village of Richfield Springs and with the injection of NY Forward funds into rehabilitation and reuse projects like The Bank Loft and investments in quality of life like the Spring Park and Streetscape improvements has shown that they will transform their Town for residents and visitors from all over the world. The Town of Richfield will also be a $4.5M NY Forward recipient.

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• View the Application

Hudson Square

The Hudson Square NY Forward application was formally submitted by the Office of the Manhattan Borough President in partnership with the Hudson Square Business Improvement District. Hudson Square is a roughly 33-square block neighborhood located on lower Manhattan’s west side. The neighborhood is primarily commercial in use, with over 12 million square feet of office space. The estimated daytime population is approximately 70,000 people and consists of approximately 60,000 office workers, 3,000 residents, 4,000 students and faculty, and 3,000 visitors and tourists. Because of its long industrial history, Hudson Square’s streets are more suited to the movement of goods and vehicles than the movement of people. In addition, the neighborhood has also been historically disconnected from neighboring parts of lower Manhattan, including SoHo, the West Village, and Tribeca. To address these challenges, the NY Forward grant would be used to make improvements in the western part of the Hudson Square neighborhood, improving cohesion and bridging the gaps across the neighborhood and with the adjacent communities.

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• View the Application

Canton

Canton presented a comprehensive plan to redevelop blight into new mixed-use development, offering diverse housing options, premium retail space, and an entrepreneurship center. With a $4.5 million NY Forward award the community will rebuild and restore commercial and residential buildings, beautify Main Street, and make downtown welcoming and accessible to everyone.

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• View the Application
  

Alexandria Bay

Alexandria Bay presented a slate of private sector project opportunities that will renovate blight, improve amenities, grow the business season, and build much-needed housing in downtown. With the $4.5 million NY Forward grant the community will continue to regrow its economy and attract visitors, and investors to downtown.

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• View the Application

Village of Groton

The Village of Groton’s application articulated the vision and the cohesiveness with the STREDC vision. The community leadership provided well defined boundaries for investment and has the foundation with an active comprehensive plan for a wholistic approach to community development. Groton’s presentation demonstrated a clear pathway to success through public- private commitments to bring them to fruition.

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• View the Application

Town of Urbana and Village of Hammondsport

The Town of Urbana/Village of Hammondsport application touches on several of the criteria as it combines investments into municipal projects to spur private sector investment. This includes better access to the waterfront and public wayfinding to support additional businesses in the downtown. The two communities revealed how the NY Forward grant will enhance efforts already underway which will encourage upper floor redevelopment and housing investments while protecting the natural asset of Keuka Lake.

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• View the Application
  

Aurora – Hamlet of West Falls

The Hamlet of West Falls will embrace its historic role as a principal rural center along the Cazenovia by leveraging its natural assets, unique hamlet atmosphere, and vibrant community engagement to foster a welcoming, walkable, green community for its residents and visitors with intriguing local amenities and healthy, family-oriented outdoor and cultural activities. Proposed NY Forward projects include a renovated library and community center, multi-use and diverse housing complex, unique general store and blueberry farm venue, updated concert and art center, restored train depot, and improvements to the multi-use rail trail.

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• View the Application

Gowanda

The Village of Gowanda is undergoing a renaissance, bringing its potential as a true smalltown destination to life. Prior planning and investments have placed Gowanda at the cusp of a downtown resurgence, with development poised to fulfill the community’s vision. Gowanda’s rich history and abundance of natural resources will provide the foundation for economic growth, the development of unique attractions, and the continued investment in existing recreational assets. Proposed NY Forward projects include the restoration of the historic Hollywood Theatre, New York and Lake Erie Railroad excursions, clean up and redevelopment of a federal Superfund site into Gateway Park, and development of a microbrewery.

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• View the Application