Empire State Development Corporation
05/08/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/08/2026 13:46
Governor Hochul Announces 21 Transformational Projects in Western New York as Part of Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward Programs
Projects Announced in the Villages of Cattaraugus, Westfield and Angola
Localities Must Be Certified Under Governor Hochul's Pro-Housing Communities Program To Receive DRI or NY Forward Funding
Project Renderings Available Here
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced awards for a total of 21 transformational projects for Western New York as part of two economic development programs: the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and NY Forward. Five projects were announced for the Village of Cattaraugus, the Round 8 winner of a $10 million DRI award; 9 projects were announced for the Village of Westfield, a Round 3 winner of a $4.5 million NY Forward award; and 7 were announced for the Village of Angola, also a Round 3 winner of a $4.5 million NY Forward award.
"The DRI and NY Forward winners in Western New York are extraordinary communities with so much to offer in terms of resources, culture and history," Governor Hochul said. "These awards are part of our ongoing efforts to transform downtown areas across the state and I look forward to watching Western New York use these funds in a way that highlights the people and businesses that make up a vital part of our great state."
DRI and NY Forward communities developed Strategic Implementation Plans (SIPs), which create a vision for the future of their downtown and identify and recommend a slate of complementary, transformative and implementable projects that support that vision. The SIPs are guided by a Local Planning Committee (LPC) comprised of local and regional leaders, stakeholders and community representatives, with the assistance of an assigned consultant and DOS staff, all of whom conduct extensive community outreach and engagement when determining projects. The projects selected for funding from the SIP were identified as having the greatest potential to jumpstart revitalization and generate new opportunities for long-term growth.
Empire State Development Corporation published this content on May 08, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 08, 2026 at 19:46 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]