Nov. 7 application deadline ALBANY — Communities interested in applying for funding through New York State’s signature downtown-revitalization and economic-development programs have until early November to apply. The state says a total of $200 million is available in the next round of funding. That is comprised of $100 million each for round 9 of […]
Nov. 7 application deadline
ALBANY — Communities interested in applying for funding through New York State’s signature downtown-revitalization and economic-development programs have until early November to apply.
The state says a total of $200 million is available in the next round of funding. That is comprised of $100 million each for round 9 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and Round 4 of the NY Forward program, which focuses on revitalizing smaller and rural downtowns, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul said in the Sept. 3 announcement.
The similarities and differences between the DRI and NY Forward programs are further described in an educational brochure, which is available on the DRI and NY Forward websites. Together, the two programs have awarded $1.2 billion in funding to 151 communities across every region of the state.
Applications are now available through the state’s consolidated funding application portal. The deadline to apply is Nov. 7, 2025 at 4 p.m.
“The Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward program give communities the tools and resources they need to reimagine their futures and drive meaningful change,” New York Secretary of State Walter Mosley said in the announcement. “Through coupling significant investment with smart planning by the community and for the community, these programs deliver real results that improve the quality of life for residents, attract new businesses and spur additional private investment. We encourage all communities, no matter how small, to apply so we can help bring their visions to life.”
The Downtown Revitalization Initiative was launched in 2016 to accelerate and bolster the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all 10 regions of the state to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for increased local investments.
First announced as part of the 2022 budget, Hochul created the NY Forward program to build on the momentum created by the DRI. The program, which is funded at $100 million in this year’s enacted state budget, supports a more equitable downtown recovery for New York’s smaller and rural communities with a focus on hamlets and villages, the state says.
