NY Forward supports a more equitable downtown recovery for New York’s smaller and rural communities, with a focus on hamlets, villages, and neighborhood-scale municipal centers. Through the NY Forward program, these smaller downtowns will attract more businesses, residents, and visitors, while also providing a higher quality of life for residents.

The State has allocated $100 million for the first round of NY Forward. Each of the State’s ten REDCs will have the option of nominating two communities for $4.5 million NY Forward awards or three communities one of which will receive $4.5 million and two that will be awarded $2.25 million. NY Forward funds will also be used to provide robust capacity-building and technical assistance directly to communities throughout each phase of the program.

More Information from NYS Department of State