Capital Region
Capital Region
Village of Cambridge
The Village of Cambridge is an economic, social, and cultural hub in rural Washington County. Its landscape is formed by rolling hills dotted with working farms, picturesque hamlets and scenic views of the Adirondacks and Taconic mountains of New York and Green Mountains of Vermont. Founded in 1761, the Village is lined with historic houses, shops, businesses, community gathering places and the regional public K-12 school. It aims to offer an excellent quality of life, celebrate its history and connections to the natural environment and serve as an active space where diverse people of all ages and abilities live, work, innovate, play, explore and connect. Cambridge will focus on projects that rehabilitate and update historic structures, create trails and connections among natural resources, address important infrastructure concerns and expand housing options.
Village of Coxsackie
This compact and walkable downtown community provides a welcoming destination to shop and visit in the Reed Street National Historic District and outdoor recreational opportunities at the newly renovated Riverside Park. A recent influx of new residents and job growth opportunities are helping to revive the Village's economy, making further investment in arts, housing and entertainment and recreation sectors possible. The Village seeks to leverage its best attributes, including the area's natural beauty and rural small-town feel, to create a community where people want to live, work and play. Coxsackie will realize that vision through public improvement projects, arts and culture enhancements, and improved and expanded housing options to further revitalization.
Village of Kinderhook
The Village of Kinderhook offers its residents a quality of life that is defined by its local history and strong community ties. Recent local private and federal investment has invigorated Kinderhook's commercial resurgence and spurred job growth and opportunity. The Village of Kinderhook seeks to become a gateway community to the natural, cultural and historic assets of Columbia County. With a commitment to creating a sustainable community and future for Kinderhook, the vision is to now build on the community's unique character and diversity, enhance quality of life and empower the village economy. This vision will be achieved by improving accessibility and safety for bicycling and walking, re-energizing vacant storefronts, improving historic buildings and facilities and expanding recreational amenities.
Central New York
Central New York
Village of Phoenix
The Village of Phoenix’s Canal Waterfront District will be the focus of NY Forward funds. Phoenix seeks to achieve its vision for revitalization by embracing its canal history and the pursuit of continued economic development initiatives, along with a commitment to compatible building and open space design. The Village aims to enhance the economic, residential, and recreational opportunities available in the Canal Waterfront District and throughout the Village by reinvesting in the buildings and recreating the thriving canal community that once existed along the Oswego Canal at Lock 1. These new and expanded businesses, affordable housing stock and waterfront setting will attract people from around the country to the Village’s distinctive canal‐centered environment.
Village of Moravia
Moravia, rich in history and small-town character, aims to create a thriving downtown that supports the community and promotes sustainable growth while protecting its natural resources and ensuring the health and safety of its citizens. The Village sits in a valley, surrounded by vast stretches of farmland and forests and is located a short distance from the southern end of Owasco Lake. Moravia’s downtown serves as the center of business and social activity for not only the Village, but also several nearby rural towns. Moravia envisions becoming the provider of key services to southern Cayuga County and seeks to enhance opportunities for business, cultural and recreational growth.
Village of Hamilton
Hamilton is a compact, walkable village with the character of a small urban center surrounded by working rural landscapes. Hamilton’s NY Forward area includes the Village limits of Hamilton, with the majority of projects falling within the historic downtown center area. As the commercial center for thousands of rural residents of Central New York and the home of the student population of Colgate University, Hamilton seeks to encourage students to stay post-graduation, attract new young professionals and families and allow existing residents to age in place. Hamilton aims to expand housing opportunities, create civic spaces, and improve business development, arts, culture and recreation.
Finger Lakes Region
Finger Lakes Region
Village of Geneseo
Downtown Geneseo is centered along the Village's Main Street and Avon Road, which is known as the center of commerce, government, social interaction, entertainment and education in the Village and County. The Village of Geneseo seeks to build upon its existing architectural and geographic strengths to thrive as a vibrant cultural hub, performing and visual arts scene and tourist attraction in Livingston County. The Village's revitalization strategy identifies a number of opportunities to transform several prominent vacant buildings into downtown anchors, enhance walkability, and improve public spaces and amenities.
Village of Medina
Downtown Medina is a compact and walkable area along the Erie Canal encompassing many of the Village's most impactful economic drivers and a significant portion of its local waterfront and water access points. By capitalizing on the synergies between the downtown and the waterfront, the Village's deep-rooted historical significance and architectural assets, recent and ongoing economic developments and its scenic and strategic location - Medina is poised to restore and advance its legacy as a key cultural anchor and economic hub along the Erie Canal. Medina's vision includes investments to reactivate upper stories in downtown, enhance recreational park space and water access, expand cultural tourism assets, diversify housing options, and encourage small business creation.
Long Island
Long Island
City of Long Beach
Long Beach, nicknamed the "City by the Sea", is best known for its beach and associated boardwalk. Long Beach's downtown includes the Park Avenue Central Business District, which is home to over 180 businesses. The City of Long Beach seeks to enhance its downtown's status as a major regional destination by expanding the City's Complete Streets Initiatives to introduce new traffic calming measures and improved circulation, making its main thoroughfare friendlier to pedestrians and bikers. The City also aims to promote transit oriented/smart and equitable development, grow existing and new local businesses to provide high-quality jobs and expand the arts, along with building resilient infrastructure.
Village of Lindenhurst
The Village of Lindenhurst's downtown is defined by a compact and walkable Village core, which also includes several of the Village's premier open space assets and community amenities. The Village has a goal of creating a healthy, thriving downtown that is attractive for businesses, visitors and residents alike. To spur economic growth in the downtown, the Village has already engaged in numerous planning efforts, including creating a Downtown Redevelopment District Floating Zone to encourage residential and mixed-use development and redevelopment on sites within walking distance of the LIRR and the central business district. Lindenhurst aims to build on these efforts by creating new multi-modal travel choices in and around downtown, transforming underutilized properties into commercial space and mixed-use developments and investing in housing and community amenities.
Mid-Hudson
Mid-Hudson
The Village of Sleepy Hollow
The Village of Sleepy Hollow is known for its literary fame centered around the story, the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Downtown Sleepy Hollow consists of dense, mixed-use commercial corridors with buildings mostly constructed in the latter half of the 19th century and has multi-modal access and a strong tourism industry. Recently, the Village has experienced reinvestment from major institutions and businesses, including from regional health centers and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, as well as substantial private investment to create new residential units. To successfully seize the opportunity offered by these investments, Sleepy Hollow seeks to create more attractive and safer streets with unique placemaking components, redevelop vacant and underutilized lots and add housing at multiple price points - enabling the Village to once again flourish.
The Town of Cornwall and Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson
The Town of Cornwall surrounds and includes the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, and both rest on the shores of the Hudson River, nestled between the hills of the Hudson Highlands and Storm King Mountain. The Town of Cornwall and Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson each have distinct, walkable downtown areas that are less than two miles apart and are anchored by a diversity of public spaces and institutions. The Town and Village have been planning for and investing in revitalization that would make these downtowns into a unique destination in an area full of attractions while continuing to improve the quality of life for residents of this community. To further this progress, the Town of Cornwall and the Village of Cornwall-on Hudson seek to connect their two downtowns, enhance placemaking and public spaces and revitalize underutilized buildings and sites throughout the neighborhood
Mohawk Valley
Mohawk Valley
Village of Cooperstown
Anchored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown is known for being a national attraction for baseball players, fans and afficionados, as well as a premiere arts and culture destination. The Fenimore Art Museum and The Farmers' Museum are located just outside the Village's Boundaries, and the Village hosts numerous musical and cultural events in addition to the two major Hall of Fame Events. The entirety of the Village is listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places, and Lake Otsego provides a scenic backdrop for the community. Cooperstown seeks to build on prior downtown improvements and its natural tourism draw by creating connections from Main Street to Lake Otsego, revitalizing historic facades, enhancing infrastructure to improve residential and commercial quality, improving walkability and accessibility and assisting in the creation of downtown apartment-style housing.
Village of Dolgeville
Tucked away at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, the Village of Dolgeville acts as a gateway to the Adirondack region and a connection to regional cities. The Village's proposed NY Forward area is located in the heart of Downtown Dolgeville, an easily walkable space with the Village's Main Street running through its center and comprising some of its most unique features characterized by industrial uses along the East Canada Creek, a strategic location that was home to the first Mohawk Valley hydroelectric plant. The Village's unique combination of natural resources and innovative infrastructure cement the space as a center of industry within the Village. Building upon its storied history, the Village's vision is to restore its economic, commercial, cultural and artistic vibrancy and its historic Main Street district, leading the Village into a prosperous, sustainable future. The Village of Dolgeville seeks to achieve this vision by improving access to the East Canada Creek, creating a fund to assist small businesses and providing critical childcare facilities.
Village of Sharon Springs
The Village of Sharon Springs is recognized by both the National Register of Historic Places as well as the New York State Register of Historic Places. Sharon Springs' proposed NY Forward area would incorporate Main Street as it extends north approximately one mile to the Adler Hotel and Village line and two blocks east of Main Street. Within this area right on Main Street, mineral springs, creeks and waterfalls meander through a history that is coming alive in recreational spas, a village park, restaurants, hotels, a theater and arts, exhibits and shops. Sharon Springs is looking to build on its recent growth in private business investment and public infrastructure investment to become a modern, model business, residential and tourism community for the 21st century and beyond. The Village will achieve its vision by renovating key arts and entertainment venues and other historic buildings, adding public Wi-Fi and assisting the Village's numerous small businesses.
New York City
New York City
Garment District
The Garment District is strategically located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, among New York City's busiest transportation hubs and most iconic landmarks. It was built for the apparel industry nearly 100 years ago; and today, is a center for commerce and tourism. The Garment District seeks to build on its rich history, global name recognition with over 50 hotels and its unparalleled access to local and regional transportation. The community's vision is to realize its potential and transform into a robust neighborhood with increased economic opportunities, engaging public spaces and improved safety and quality of life for businesses, tourists and residents.
Far Rockaway
Far Rockaway aims to revitalize its downtown by enhancing its facades to create a more cohesive and beautified area as well as improving pedestrian and visitor wayfinding, bicycle infrastructure and streetscape amenities to emphasize proximity of Far Rockaway's beaches to its downtown commercial core. It also seeks to establish itself as a destination for shopping and dining through partnership with the MTA and by creating seasonal, annual and/or periodic events to attract families to shop and enjoy the area.
North Country
North Country
Village of Cape Vincent
The Village of Cape Vincent is a small-town, rural community with unique scenic, historical and natural resources. Cape Vincent's downtown is a commercial and residential area. A village green where concerts and other activities are held sits at the center, and the St. Lawrence River runs parallel to the downtown's main thoroughfare. Many private and public investments within the Village are underway ,creating momentum for additional revitalization efforts, and the Village is committed to preserving the essential qualities that make it a desirable place to live while improving the local economy by promoting compatible residential and small business growth. To realize its vision for revitalization, Cape Vincent seeks to create safer streets and enhance gateways to the community, improve an international port of entry, develop mixed-use and multi-story buildings and improve connectivity to the waterfront.
Village of Lyons Falls
The Village of Lyons Falls is located at the confluence of Moose and Black River and is situated on a 70-foot waterfall. The Village has undergone significant changes over the past 20 years with the closure of the Lyons Falls Pulp and Paper Mill, but recent public and private investment, local planning efforts and infrastructure improvements have begun to spur redevelopment. The Village seeks to build on these efforts by increasing recreational tourism opportunities focused on the Moose and Black Rivers, spurring economic development and celebrating the rich history and beauty of the area.
Village of Waddington
Waddington's downtown is a well-defined, compact and walkable business district intertwined with single and multiple family residential structures along with an eclectic mixture of 19th century wood and stone multi-story buildings and 20th century utilitarian architecture ready for redevelopment. Lifestyle and work habits changed by the COVID-19 pandemic have made Waddington an attractive location for residents of all ages, resulting in public and private investments that have further created economic opportunities within the downtown. Waddington seeks to build on these investments by enhancing streetscapes and wayfinding, redeveloping historical mixed-use buildings and connecting the downtown to the waterfront.
Southern Tier
Southern Tier
Village of Montour Falls
Montour Falls exemplifies a genuinely remarkable convergence of natural, cultural and recreational assets with a commitment to a sustainable future. The downtown area of Montour Falls connects one of the region's most popular and impressive waterfalls — Shequaga Falls — to a corridor of restaurants, breweries, boutiques and historically significant buildings and sites. The Village is dotted with small parks that serve as gathering places and venues for community events, and it offers unique opportunities to enjoy the scenic beauty of the region, such as the Catharine Valley Trail and the Queen Catharine Marsh trails. Significant investment in infrastructure, sustainability and job growth has been made within the downtown and surrounding area, and the Village is quickly becoming a popular destination for Schuyler County residents and visitors. The Village of Montour Falls seeks to leverage its growing culture of sustainability and environmental awareness along with its historical charm, entrepreneurial spirits, friendly and walkable atmosphere and proximity to major regional employers to create a vibrant downtown that maximizes its "main street" character and improves the quality of life, resiliency and economic opportunities for progressive community development to sustain a year-round innovative and prosperous economy. The Village will realize its vision by encouraging new construction to incorporate Green building principles, preserving and restoring historically significant buildings and encouraging the growth of small, locally-owned businesses and increasing the number of residential options available in downtown.
Village of Waverly
Located at the intersection of the Chemung and Susquehanna Rivers, the Village of Waverly has embraced a small-town-America way of life that allows its residents to enjoy a peaceful, yet active, lifestyle in an atmosphere of scenic natural beauty, stewarded community spaces, storied history and distinct architecture. Downtown Waverly has a great mix of independently owned boutique shops, assorted restaurants and service businesses, and hosts community events all year-round. Its natural landscape offers a myriad of outdoor recreational opportunities, from paddling and fishing to biking and hiking. The Village’s NY Forward area encompasses its Downtown Central Business District, which is a largely intact, historic downtown comprised of mainly attached, multi-story, mixed-use buildings. The Village of Waverly seeks to leverage its friendly, engaged community, strong leadership, abundance of quality local businesses, top-notch educational system and recreational gems to epitomize the vibrancy of small-town America. Waverly will achieve its vision of creating a more attractive downtown with a strong sense of place that attracts a variety of new businesses, grows the local tax base, provides diverse housing and job opportunities and supports the state's decarbonization goals by transforming abandoned and underutilized buildings, creating more housing and health care opportunities and investing in greener public amenities.
Western New York
Western New York
Village of Lancaster
The Village of Lancaster is home to two National Historic Districts and a number of historic landmark buildings and structures that create a unique sense of place within the Village's traditional business district. In recent years, the Village has begun to see a renaissance resulting from collaboration and planning. Investments in placemaking, walkability, green space, building rehabilitation and infill development are helping transform downtown Lancaster into a bustling center of activity well-served by public transportation. Building on this progress, Lancaster aims to create a 21st Century Downtown with a vibrant village center that retains its traditional historic character and walkability, while encouraging and supporting enhanced economic development, health and wellness for residents and visitors, environmentally friendly infrastructure and practices, multimodal transportation and affordable housing options.
Village of Wellsville
The Village of Wellsville's historic downtown has a significant collection of architecturally and historically significant buildings and benefits from its close proximity to Alfred State College and Alfred University. The Village of Wellsville's vision is to capitalize on its unique small-town historic character while pursuing economic activity to create a community that is a thriving, walkable, equitable place. Building off recent commercial and industrial growth, Wellsville seeks to foster new projects that cultivate investment and attract new residents, including preserving and adaptively reusing historic buildings, creating new and diverse housing choices, improving its business park and investing in parks, trails and placemaking.