The Ontario County Office of Economic Development says it is proudly celebrating significant state funding awarded on Monday to two of its municipalities, the City of Canandaigua and the Village of Phelps, through New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and NY Forward programs. This funding will help revitalize these communities, enhancing their economic vitality and quality of life for residents and visitors alike.
The City of Canandaigua will receive $10 million as the Finger Lakes winner of the eighth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Additionally, the Village of Phelps has been awarded $4.5 million through the third round of the NY Forward program.
“Congratulations to both the City of Canandaigua and the Village of Phelps on this remarkable accomplishment,” said Ryan Davis, Director of Economic Development. “These two deserving communities have spent a great deal of time working with their respective communities developing project plans for this transformative investment. Today, that hard work has paid off and I look forward to working with both Phelps and Canandaigua as these plans take shape.”
The City of Canandaigua has been a finalist for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative multiple times over the past several years. They have also partnered with the Town of Canandaigua on past applications. The Village of Phelps has submitted applications each round of New York Forward, last year making it as a finalist. Each community reportedly expanded their public outreach this past year, emphasizing their community engagement in their final “pitch’ meeting.
Both Canandaigua and Phelps have fully embraced the Governor’s pro-housing initiatives and helped distinguish them this year. Governor Hochul noted that pro-housing enthusiasm during a private award ceremony, held Friday in Brighton.
The awarded funds will support long-term projects that are expected to be completed over the next five years. Canandaigua’s focus is on connecting its downtown with the lakefront through improved walkways and bike paths, fostering a vibrant mix of businesses, housing, and cultural attractions. In Phelps, the funding will enhance the downtown streetscape, making the village even more welcoming for residents and visitors through beautification and accessibility improvements.
“On behalf of Ontario County, I congratulate the City of Canandaigua and the Village of Phelps for their recent awards from New York State. It is my understanding this $14.5 million coming to Ontario County is the first time the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council has had multiple awards to the municipalities in the same county in the same year,” said Ontario County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jared Simpson. “I look forward to seeing the positive impact this has on both communities. Congratulations to Mayor Palumbo and Mayor Cheney for this accomplishment. I’d also like to thank Ryan Davis and the Economic Development department for their continued guidance and for being so instrumental in helping our communities grow.”
Have all the Finger Lakes news from Finger Lakes News Radio delivered to your email every morning for FREE! Sign up by clicking here
