New multimillion-dollar state program set to help villages, hamlets renovate and redevelop

Villages, hamlets and rural areas looking to boost and repurpose their “town squares” or central areas can compete for multimillion-dollar grants under a new state program launching this month. 

The program is called NY Forward and is modeled after the larger Downtown Revitalization Initiative that has awarded $10 million grants annually in each of 10 regions. Those grants are part of a competitive process after which recipients then develop strategic plans with community input.

“We have heard consistently from smaller communities that they are not ready or [don’t] necessarily need as big an award at this time, but have significant needs that could be transformative with a smaller grant or an award,” New York State Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez told Newsday on Tuesday.

The NY Forward program “would approach the community in the same way, with that local planning ... looking at multiple projects that this award can help be the seed for larger investments and potentially more activity from either our state partners, local partners or the private sector,” Rodriguez said.

While the Downtown Revitalization Initiative grants focused on transit-oriented development projects in higher-density walkable downtowns, the NY Forward program assumes most people will drive to low-density, walkable areas where the grants are targeted. Some of the kinds of projects envisioned include renovations of buildings, redevelopment of upper stories on existing buildings as housing and enhancements of “small-town charm” through cultural or historically themed projects.

Applications are open to municipalities, which are encouraged to file a letter of intent with the state by Aug. 10. Though the letter — a three-page form that identifies the area of focus as well as local stakeholders — isn’t required to apply for the grants, municipalities that do file one will get access to technical experts who can provide guidance and advice on developing their grant application, which is due by Sept. 23.

Regional development councils will then nominate proposals and the grants will be awarded before the end of the year. Each region will receive $9 million that will be divided into two or three grants. The state will also spend $1 million in each region on consultants to develop proposals. 

“We have a lot of wonderful, charming towns and villages all across Long Island that could use an investment in a few projects to help bring them back to what they may have been,” Rodriguez said.

Sea Cliff Mayor Elena Villafane said Wednesday that the timing of the new program is “really spot on.”

The village is in the middle of developing a long-range comprehensive plan to achieve the kind of transformative projects to redevelop parts of Sea Cliff, including potential rental housing, while maintaining its small-town charm and cultural history, Villafane said.

“We have a section of our village that really could utilize a cohesive scheme or plan, to take [a] section of Glen Cove Avenue and really turn it into future development for businesses and housing,” the mayor said. “We have single-story buildings that could be two-story, and we have a number of properties that are in transition right now.”