Updates and News

NY Forward LPC Meeting #5

Please join us for the fifth and final Local Planning Committee (LPC) meeting for the Waterville NY Forward on October 30, 2025 from 6-8PM at the Waterville Municipal Hall. At this meeting, the LPC will formally evaluate each project proposed for NY Forward funding and finalize the slate of projects to be included in the Village’s Strategic Investment Plan. ​The public is welcome, and time will be reserved at the end of the meeting for public comment.

Waterville to Hold First Public Workshop for the NY Forward Strategic Investment Plan

June 11, 2025, Waterville, NY – The Village of Waterville will host a public workshop to gather community input on the vision, goals, and development opportunities for the NY Forward Strategic Investment Plan. The open house-style workshop will be held on June 26, 2025 from 4:00 – 8:00 PM in the Waterville Public Library located at 206 White St., Waterville, New York 13480. All of those interested in learning more about the NY Forward program and the Open Call for Project Proposals are welcome to attend and are invited to drop in anytime between 4:00 and 8:00 PM.

The Open Call for Project Proposals opened on Thursday, May 22, 2025 and will close Friday July 18, 2025 at 4:00 PM. Interested project sponsors please take note that the application form is available online at www.WatervilleForward.org. Hard copies of the application are also available at the Waterville Village Hall located at 122 Barton Avenue, Waterville, NY 13480.

In addition, the Village of Waterville is seeking public opinion on local goals and objectives of the New York Forward Process to help guide the selection of projects ultimately be selected as part of the Project Slate that will be presented to Governor Hochul for funding. A link to the survey can be found online at www.WatervilleForward.org.

The Village of Waterville was awarded $4.5 million from New York State Governor Kathy Hochul for downtown development. Investments from this program will allow Waterville to develop a Strategic Investment Plan and implement catalytic projects to advance the community’s vision for downtown improvements. Projects selected for funding will transform the community and support a vibrant local economy.

More information can be found at: www.WatervilleForward.org.

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. 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. For more information about the NY Forward program, please visit https://www.ny.gov/programs/ny-forward.

For more information about this press release, please contact Village Clerk/Treasurer Gayle Barnes at (315) 841-4221 or email clerk@villageofwaterville.org.

Waterville to Hold Second Local Planning Committee Meeting for the NY Forward Strategic Investment Plan

The Local Planning Committee (LPC) for the Village of Waterville’s NY Forward (NYF) program will hold its second meeting on Thursday June 12, 2025 from 6:00PM- 8:00PM in the Meeting Room at the Waterville Municipal Hall located at 122 Barton Avenue, Waterville NY 13480. The meeting is open to observers from the public, with an opportunity for public comment at the end of the meeting.

More information about the Waterville NY Forward Process and a full schedule of meetings can be found at: www.WatervilleForward.org.

Decarbonization 101 Webinars for potential project sponsors

Potential project sponsors do not need to join both sessions; the project team is offering two identical sessions for your convenience.

• June 25, 2025 // 2PM – 3PM
• July 15, 2025 // 10AM – 11AM

This webinar will provide an introduction to decarbonization and the reduction of carbon emissions by improving the design and construction of buildings and how they use energy. Key topics include an overview of decarbonization and an introduction to different types of decarbonization strategies that can be incorporated into DRI/NYF building projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are those sponsored by a public, non-profit or private entity with legal authority to undertake the project

Eligible Projects

• Public Improvement Projects
• New Development/Rehabilitation of Downtown Buildings
• Façade enhancements or small scale building renovations
• Branding and Marketing for downtown

NYF Projects must:

• Be located within the NYF Boundary
• Be able to break ground within two years of receiving funding
• Have financing largely in place
• Must have site control or be in the process of obtaining site control

Local Planning Committee

The Department of State contact: Daniel Lapin
The Project Management Firm: Laberge Group.