The village of Waterloo wasn’t the only Finger Lakes community to receive good news when the Governor stopped in Rochester on Tuesday.
In addition to the village of Waterloo being announced as the newest recipient of a $10 Million Downtown Revitalization Initiative Award, the town of Macedon has been awarded $4.5 million in state funding and investments from the NY Forward program. The money will be used to help revitalize the Wayne County community’s downtown and generate new opportunities for long-term growth following the local planning process. The village of Webster was also announced Tuesday as a recipient of a NY Forward award.
Macedon Town Supervisor Kim V. Leonard said, “As Supervisor on behalf of the Town of Macedon, we are so honored and proud to be chosen for the $4.5M NY Forward Program Award. Governor Hochul’s announcement of the NY Forward Program is a perfect fit for our Town. The definition of her program to “invigorate and enliven downtowns in New York’s smaller and rural communities” is the catalyst Macedon has been striving for. The Town of Macedon has been through many challenges, but we have persevered and understand the importance of ‘Unity’ in the word Community.”
Both communities will now begin the process of developing a Strategic Investment Plan to revitalize their downtowns. A Local Planning Committee made up of municipal representatives, community leaders, and other stakeholders will lead the effort, supported by a team of private sector experts and state planners. The Strategic Investment Plan will examine local assets and opportunities to identify projects that align with each community’s vision and that are poised for implementation. Funding will be awarded for selected projects from the Strategic Investment Plan that have the greatest potential to jumpstart revitalization and generate new opportunities for long-term growth.
State Senator Pam Helming said, “I’m thrilled to see another 54th District community selected for this state investment. Supervisor Kim Leonard and her team have done amazing work to improve the Route 31 corridor, attract new businesses, expand access to healthcare, and position the town for additional growth. Macedon has all the ingredients for success – livability, proximity to Rochester and the Thruway, the Erie Canal driving tourism and recreation, investment by major employers like Baldwin Richardson Foods and ABX Packaging, and small businesses fueling the local economy. I am proud to support the town’s efforts and look forward to Macedon’s bright future.”