New York Forward (NYF)
HELP SHAPE ATHENS' NYF PROPOSAL FOR $4.5 MILLION FOR OUR DOWNTOWN!
Thank you for participating and providing input! The Village has submitted its 2024 NYF Proposal.
About NYF
NY Forward's goal is to boost local economies by funding public and private projects that transform neighborhoods into "vibrant places where the next generation of New Yorkers will want to live, work and raise a family." Past regional winners like Hoosick Falls, Schuvlervillle, Coxsackie, Kinderhook and Cambridge have helped with small business rehabilitation, painted facades of historic buildings, developed housing on upper stories, built trails, added sidewalks and streetlights and marketed their communities.
The Capital Region Economic Development Council (CREDC) will choose two downtowns in our region that are ripe for revitalization to receive $4.5 million awards.
Letter of Support
Share your support for Athens' $4.5 million proposal. Write a personal letter of support describing your vision for Athens' downtown. Your input matters!
Open Call for Projects
Do you have a project that you would like to submit for NYF funding? Use the survey link above to learn more and complete the application.
Proposals due by:
Open Call is Closed
Community Survey
Take a short community survey to share your vision for Athens' downtown and identify the types of projects you would support. We want to hear from you about your passion for the village and your support for ready-to-go projects that will help our downtown to thrive Surveys are also available at the library on ipads - or contact us for a paper copy.
Survey is closed. Thank you!
About New York Forward
NY Forward supports a more equitable downtown recovery for New York’s smaller and rural communities, with a focus on hamlets and villages. The program builds on the success of the "Plan-then-Act" Strategy of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). The State allocates two $4.5 million awards per REDC region. With bones built for a vibrant downtown, these communities, through NY Forward, will attract more businesses, residents and visitors. A healthy regional economy relies on a critical mass of vibrant downtowns of various sizes, character, history, needs and challenges. NY Forward completes that picture.
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Read more about the NYF program at https://www.ny.gov/programs/ny-forward
NYF Brochure
Read the State brochure that describes both the NYF and DRI programs intended to help NY's downtowns, "the heart and soul of our regions."
In 2023, the Village of Athens submitted its first New York Forward proposal. Many of these projects to revitalize our downtown may be considered again for inclusion in the 2024 proposal, which is due on October 18, 2024.
NYF Application Guidance
Questions? Please contact us at RevitalizeAthensNY@gmail.com
NY Forward
Letters of Support
Support Athen's 2024 NYF Proposal by writing a heartfelt letter of support that explains why you think Athens is ready to invest $4.5 million in downtown projects. What do you love about the Village? What types of projects will make it a better place to live, work and play? Use the links below if you'd like some letter writing guidance or to see past samples of letters of support. Winning NYF proposals show strong community support for the initiative!
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Address letters (but do not mail) to:
Capital Region Economic Development Council (CREDC)
Michael Yevoli, Regional Director
433 River Street, Troy, NY 12180
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EMAIL YOUR LETTER TO:
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Or you can mail or drop your letter at the Community Building:
c/o Village Clerk
2 First Street
Athens, NY 12015
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Questions?
Please contact us at RevitalizeAthensNY@gmail.com
