NEW YORK—New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on July 13 a total of $200 million in funding for two major revitalization initiatives: NY Forward, a new program aimed at rejuvenating smaller and rural communities, and Round 6 of the state's successful Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
The funding announcement was made in Jamaica, Queens at the ribbon-cutting for Greater Nexus, a brand-new $11-million coworking space funded through Jamaica's previous DRI award.
“New York's downtowns are the heart and soul of our communities and regions, and today we're taking comprehensive action to support them,” Gov. Hochul said. “The Downtown Revitalization Initiative has ignited a renaissance in these spaces, which are critical to the continued growth of businesses and local economies, and I am proud to support this vital program. As we grow our downtowns, we are proud to launch a new program—NY Forward—that will provide crucial support to New York's smaller and rural communities to help bring them back to the bustling towns and villages they once were.”
DRI was launched in 2016 to accelerate and bolster the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all 10 regions of the state to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for increased local investments. Led by the Department of State (DOS) with assistance from the Department of Housing and Community Renewal (HCR), Empire State Development (ESD) and the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA), DRI represents an unprecedented and innovative "plan-then-act" strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation. The governor added a new component to DRI this year that allows two or three communities to apply jointly for one award. To date, DRI has awarded a total of $600 million to 59 communities in its first five rounds.
As part of this year's budget, Gov. Hochul announced NY Forward to build on DRI's momentum. The new program, which is funded through $100 million in this year's Enacted State Budget, will support a more equitable downtown recovery for New York's smaller and rural communities with a focus on hamlets and villages. NY Forward is meant to serve smaller communities and support local economies that often have a feel and charm that is distinct from larger, metropolitan urban centers funded through DRI, state officials noted.
DOS and an assigned consultant will work with NY Forward communities through a planning and technical assistance process to develop a slate of readily implementable projects, with each REDC nominating the winners. NY Forward differs by providing capacity-building workshops and technical assistance from consultants to assist communities in developing their full applications and throughout the implementation process. NY Forward also offers two funding options for each region—two $4.5 million awards; or one $4.5 million grant and two $2.25 million grants.
Applications for NY Forward will launch later this month and winners are expected to be selected later this year.
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "Creating opportunity means smart economic development strategies to ensure communities have the resources and infrastructure needed to support businesses and residents. Through State investments, New York is working to fuel economic growth in Southeast Queens that will support businesses, create jobs, and catalyze new investments. The Greater Nexus co-working space will leverage these investments to create affordable workspaces for entrepreneurs, startups, and freelancers to grow their businesses that will drive Downtown Jamaica's revitalization for years to come."
In July 2016, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the City of Middletown had won a hotly contested $10-million state grant to help revitalize its downtown district.
The City of Middletown beat six other finalists from the Mid-Hudson region. The other finalists were: Ossining, Kingston, Peekskill, Poughkeepsie, New Rochelle and White Plains. The grant was part of a $100-million effort to improve the urban vitality of city centers across the state.
