The New York State Department of State has announced that nearly $20 million has been allocated to support 62 community planning and development projects across the state, including several in the Fingerlakes.
The funding, awarded through the 2025 Regional Economic Development Council Initiative, was divided into three categories – Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, Brownfield Opportunity Area Program, and Smart Growth Community Planning Program.
“The Department of State offers a comprehensive suite of community planning and development programs that are creating vibrant, equitable and resilient neighborhoods throughout the State,” said New York State Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “These programs, as well as our Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward, are creating a renaissance in community revitalization and economic development that is sweeping across the Empire State at an unprecedented rate.”
Below is a list of local awardees.
Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
The LWRP offers grants to communities to develop their own waterfront revitalization plans, expand public access to waterfronts, protect the environment, and boost tourism and economic development. $13.9 million was awarded to 36 projects in the state, including:
The Town of Canandaigua has been awarded $272,793 for its Canandaigua Lake Watershed Roadside Drainage Network Improvements Project. The project is a partnership between the Towns of Canandaigua, Middlesex, Gorham, and South Bristol and the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council to reduce nutrient and sediment loading into the lake by improving flood resiliency and roadside drainage systems at various locations.
The Town of Macedon has received $66,555 to develop a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program for areas along the Erie Canal and Ganargua Creek.
$82,500 was awarded to the Town of Seneca Falls for its Intermunicipal Water Quality Demonstration Network project. A partnership between the town and the Seneca and Cayuga Watershed Intermunicipal Organizations, they will plan and design “readily implementable water quality best management practices.”
The Town of Urbana has been awarded $1,474,959 for its project to replace the deteriorated Champlin Pier with an ADA-compliant dock system. By expanding access to Keuka Lake and creating new launch capacity, the project aims to increase tourism and support the local businesses that rely on the tourism economy.
Smart Growth Community Planning Program
$2 million was awarded to 14 projects through the SGCPP to help communities develop comprehensive plans. Plans must incorporate smart growth principles, including walkable, bikeable, transit-friendly streetscapes; compact, mixed-use community design; vibrant downtowns and other municipal centers; a diversity of housing options for all incomes, ages, and abilities; safe, accessible public spaces; ample parks and outdoor recreational opportunities; and clean energy.
The City of Geneva has been awarded $99,000 for its Smart Growth Comprehensive Plan to address housing, economic development, community revitalization, and resiliency, informed through community outreach.
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