Lyons Falls to host second round of public engagement for New York Forward

Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.
·2 min read

Oct. 5—LYONS FALLS — The Village of Lyons Falls, along with its state partners, has announced the second round of public engagement for the Lyons Falls New York Forward program.

The village has been awarded $2.25 million through the NY Forward program to fund downtown revitalization. The Local Planning Committee is evaluating a number of project proposals to move forward for potential funding consideration.

An in-person open house, scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Lyons Falls Library, 3918 High St., will provide an opportunity to learn more about the proposed projects currently being evaluated.

An online project gallery is available to learn more about each of the proposed projects at www.lyonsfallsnyforward.com. For anyone who would like to view the proposed projects gallery in-person, an in-person project gallery is open through Oct. 11 at the Lyons Falls Library.

To give feedback and share perspective on how transformative each project will be to downtown, complete a project questionnaire by Oct. 11 at www.lyonsfallsnyforward.com. Hard copies will also be made available at the Lyons Falls Library and village office.

NY Forward is a central component of the State's economic development efforts, working together with the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, to accelerate and expand the revitalization of New York's downtowns.

NY Forward serves smaller communities with historic character that distinguishes them from the larger, more urban central business districts typically funded through DRI. NY Forward communities are walkable, less dense areas that serve the immediate local community, and are more local in nature — focusing on the immediately surrounding residential or rural agricultural centric development.

Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul has committed $100 million for the first round of the NY Forward program.

Each of the State's 10 Regional Economic Development Councils had the option of recommending two communities for $4.5 million NY Forward awards or three communities, one of which will receive $4.5 million and two will be awarded $2.25 million. Lyons Falls was awarded $2.25 million.

NY Forward is led by the Department of State, in close partnership with Empire State Development, NYS Homes and Community Renewal and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

The Local Planning Committee includes local and regional leaders, stakeholders, and community representatives.

Local committee members attend a variety of meetings at which they will be asked to brainstorm ideas, provide direction to consultants, review planning products and prioritize actions. Mayor Donna Dolhof and Michele Ledoux of the North Country Regional Economic Development Council are the Lyons Falls committee cochairs.

Public workshops and engagement activities will be scheduled throughout the effort to allow opportunity for public input. More information about NY Forward can be found at https://www.ny.gov/programs/ny-forward.