Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced that the village of Phoenix will receive $4.5 million, and the villages of Moravia and Hamilton will each receive $2.25 million in funding as the Central New York region winners of the first round of NY Forward.
Building on the momentum of the state’s successful Downtown Revitalization Initiative, the $100 million NY Forward program adopts the same “plan-then-act” strategy as the DRI to support a more equitable downtown recovery for New York’s smaller and rural communities.
“New York’s downtowns are the heart and soul of our communities and regions, and NY Forward will ensure that Phoenix, Moravia, and Hamilton have the resources they need to thrive and flourish,” Gov. Hochul said. “This funding will revitalize these villages back to what the bustling areas they once were by making communities more walkable, creating new housing opportunities, and attracting businesses.”
Mayor of Phoenix Caleb Sweet said, “The village of Phoenix is ripe with potential and ready to finish its transformation into a vibrant canal community. Thanks to Gov. Hochul and the innovative NY Forward program, we can now make our plans a reality. We look forward to creating a strategic plan that will attract new businesses, expand housing opportunities, increase employment rates and enhance tourism and recreational opportunities in the village.”
Operation Oswego County Executive Director Austin Wheelock said, “The Village of Phoenix developed an excellent proposal by building off their unique waterfront assets and recent successes. They were very deserving of the $4.5 million NY Forward award. With $100 billion in public and private investments over the next 20 years, just a few miles away at the Micron site in Clay, Phoenix is poised for significant commercial and residential growth, and will now have the much-needed financial resources to turn those plans into reality. We are excited to continue working together with the village on the implementation of this important initiative.”
