We want to hear from you!
Events
The Town and Village of Lake George are preparing joint applications for both the NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and NY Forward programs and we want to hear from you!
The Steering Committee has identified a series of projects will that transform downtown Lake George into a vibrant center that offers a high quality of life and will serve as a magnet for redevelopment, business, job creation, and economic and housing diversity.
Drop by the Lake George Town Hall on Monday, September 11th anytime between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm to provide feedback on the proposed projects.
Can’t join in person?
Check back to take part in a virtual Community Survey that will be held between September 11th -17th
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LGopenhouse2
The Downtown Lake George Revitalization Team is preparing applications to the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and NY Forward programs.
Where is the Lake George DRI/NY Forward district boundary?
What is the vision for the district?
"Through investment into the downtown area from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), the Town & Village of Lake George and its partners will continue to promote and improve quality of life and sense of place through revitalization. By enhancing and expanding the downtown character to create a more vibrant community, creating accommodations for a growing population and focusing on the “visitor experience” of the tourism sector, we will preserve and improve upon the integrity of its historical, cultural, recreational and environmental resources while leveraging them as economic drivers. To strengthen the year-round economy for future generations, our communities support initiatives that create an inclusive and diverse workforce and sustainable environment."
What is the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) program?
The Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) is a New York State program designed to foster the transformation of urban centers with significant potential for redevelopment, business, job creation, greater economic and housing diversity, and opportunity. The intention is to provide funding that can help communities on the cusp of economic revitalization tip over into sustained prosperity. Communities are selected annually by their respective Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) through a competitive application process. Previous winners for the Capital Region are the City of Glens Falls, City of Hudson, City of Albany, City of Schenectady, Village of Tannersville, and City of Cohoes.
New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), a cornerstone of the State’s economic development program, transforms downtown neighborhoods into vibrant centers that offer a high quality of life and are magnets for redevelopment, business, job creation, economic and housing diversity. These compact, walkable downtowns are a key ingredient to helping New York State rebuild its economy from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to achieving the State’s bold climate goals by promoting the use of public transit and reducing dependence on private vehicles.
In 2022, the program invested $200 million in up to 20 additional downtowns statewide. Participating communities were nominated by the state’s ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) based on the downtown’s potential for transformation. Tentatively for 2023, within each region, the REDC will nominate either two downtowns to receive $10 million each or one downtown to receive an award of $20 million to develop a downtown strategic investment plan and implement key catalytic projects that advance the community’s vision for revitalization.
The DRI is led by the NYS Department of State. Communities receive support from private sector experts and a team of state agency staff led by the Department of State in close partnership with Empire State Development, and NYS Homes and Community Renewal.
What is the NY Forward Program?
In 2022, Governor Hochul introduced the NY Forward grant program designed to invigorate downtowns in New York’s smaller and rural communities—such as villages, hamlets and other small, neighborhood-scale municipal centers. NY Forward (NYF) is intended to build on the success of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) by adopting the same "Plan-then-Act" strategy.
Each of the State’s ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) had the option of nominating two communities for a $4.5 million NYF award or one for a $4.5 million award plus two for a $2.25 million award following a competitive application process. The selected communities will develop a Strategic Investment Plan that includes a vision for the downtown and a catalogue of proposed transformative projects, based on community outreach and input. That plan forms the foundation for immediate and ongoing project implementation.
The Village and Town of Lake George plan to submit an application to the 2023 round of the NY Forward Program. As a first step in the NY Forward process, the Village and Town will be soliciting input from the public in order to gauge interest and collect ideas for proposed projects to include in the application. These should be capital projects, within the NYF Boundary that will help catalyze downtown revitalization, and be ready for implementation within two years with an infusion of NYF funds.
© The Lake George DRI/NY Forward website was prepared by Elan Planning and Design (a NYS Certified WBE).