NEWYORK: Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the City of Jamestown will receive $10 million in funding as the Western New York winner of the ninth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), and the Villages of Falconer and Hamburg will each receive $4.5 million as the Western New York winners of the fourth round of NY Forward.
For Round 9 of the DRI and Round 4 of the NY Forward Program, each of the state’s 10 economic development regions is being awarded $10 million from each program, for a total state commitment of $200 million in funding and investments to help communities boost their economies by transforming downtowns into vibrant neighborhoods. To date, total investments in the DRI and NY Forward have reached $1.4 billion.
“When we invest in our neighborhoods, we invest in our communities — that is a foundational principle of local government power to create lasting change,” Governor Hochul said.
“As a daughter of Buffalo — and one proud Buffalo Bills fan — I’ve represented Western New York for decades and seen how communities have grown when time and money were dedicated to them. Jamestown, Falconer and Hamburg have exciting futures ahead, and I’m eager to see how the very region I grew up in will continue to expand its downtowns, welcoming current and new visitors to lively shopping scenes and new outdoor recreational spaces.”
To receive funding from either the DRI or NY Forward program, localities must be certified under Governor Hochul’s Pro-Housing Communities Program, which recognizes and rewards municipalities actively working to unlock their housing potential and encourages others to follow suit.
After becoming certified, localities have exclusive access to up to $750 million in discretionary state funding, including DRI and NY Forward. Since the launch of the Pro-Housing Communities Program, funds awarded to Pro-Housing Communities throughout the state have supported up to 20,000 more homes. To date, more than 420 communities across New York have been certified.
Many of the projects funded through the DRI and NY Forward support Governor Hochul’s affordability agenda.
The DRI has invested in the creation of more than 5,000 units of housing — more than 2,000 of which are affordable or workforce housing. The programs committed $9 million to 12 projects that provide affordable or free childcare and childcare worker training. The DRI and NY Forward have also invested in the creation of public parks, public art — such as murals and sculptures – and art, music and cultural venues that provide free outdoor recreation and entertainment opportunities.
“The future is bright for these Western New York communities! In this latest round of DRI and NY Forward funding, Jamestown, Falconer, and Hamburg will now have the opportunity to hand select projects for funding that will make the changes in their downtowns that their residents need. We have seen time and time again that investing in downtown communities leads to both economic growth and better quality of life for residents. Thanks to Governor Hochul for supporting these two programs that are game-changing for our state and the region in so many ways,” said New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley.
