About NY Forward
Learn more about the NY Forward program and planning process!
NY Forward Overview
NY Forward was launched in 2022 to support a more equitable downtown recovery for New York’s smaller communities, with a focus on hamlets, villages, and neighborhood-scale commercial centers. Through NY Forward, smaller communities have the opportunity to receive planning and implementation support needed to attract and support businesses, residents, and visitors and enhancing quality of life for the community.
Similar to the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), the NYS Department of State administers the Governor’s NY Forward Program in close coordination with Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), Empire State Development (ESD), New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and several other State partners.
NY Forward Goals
Enhance public spaces for arts and cultural events that serve the existing members of the community but also draw in visitors from around the region.
Cultivate a variety of housing opportunities that help build an inclusive and welcoming community
Create an active downtown with a strong sense of place that reflects the community's heritage and culture.
Provide amenities that support and enhance downtown living and quality of life for people of all ages, abilities, incomes, and backgrounds
Attract new businesses that
create a robust mix of shopping, entertainment, and service options for residents and visitors, and that provide job opportunities for a variety of skills and salaries.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support investments that are more resilient to future climate change impacts
Grow local tax revenue
NY Forward Process for Awarded Communities
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Transparent, open, and ongoing public engagement is a critical component of the DRI/NY Forward planning process and the development of the Strategic Investment Plan (SIP). Public engagement shall occur in an orderly manner throughout the entire NY Forward planning process to ensure community needs, opportunities, and challenges are identified; to determine potential projects; and to ensure the NY Forward revitalization efforts are locally supported.
VISION, GOALS, REVITALIZATION STRATEGIES, AND DOWNTOWN ROADMAP
Informed by the community’s NY Forward application and community input, the Local Planning Committee (LPC) will develop a vision statement with corresponding goals and revitalization strategies to guide decision-making about future development and investment in the NY Forward area. This process will also include the development of complementary activities in the downtown roadmap, which will provide the community with actions that would help to further downtown revitalization.
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
NY Forward projects can be identified in a variety of ways, during an Open Call for Projects, through public engagement, or during the planning process as it advances. The consultant team will work closely with project sponsors and the LPC to develop and refine proposed projects. The LPC will recommend a final slate of projects to the State to be considered for NY Forward funding. These projects are expected to have positive and transformative impacts on the NY Forward community and are sponsored by public, private, or non-profit entities. The LPC will select the final slate of projects based on public input, LPC and community priorities, and evaluation criteria established by the LPC based on State requirements.
STRATEGIC INVESTMENT PLAN
The goals of NY Forward program should be reflected in the SIP and the projects therein. The SIP, which is prepared by the consultant team, is a compilation of the required deliverables described throughout this guidebook. The SIP will describe the unique challenges and opportunities for revitalization of the NY Forward area, present the community’s vision for the future of the area, and propose transformative projects that may be realized with an investment of NY Forward funds. The SIP will be available once awards are made.
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
Following the completion of the planning process is the selection and implementation of the awarded projects. Awarded projects will enter into a contract with the appropriate state agency and are expected to break ground within two years of award. During project implementation, municipalities will be expected to monitor all awarded projects. Communities can also continue the momentum of downtown revitalization by implementing the downtown roadmap.
NY FORWARD TIMELINE
Planning Process
NY Forward Grant Awards Announced
Project Implementation
July 2026 - January 2027
Summer 2027
2027-2031