A fresh wave of funding is up for grabs as New York State rolls out $200 million to help cities, towns and villages breathe new life into their downtowns.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the funding this week—$100 million each for Round 9 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and Round 4 of the NY Forward program. Applications are open now through the state’s Consolidated Funding Application portal and must be submitted by 4 p.m. on November 7. New York City communities have an earlier deadline of October 31 to submit through their Borough President’s office.
“From bustling city centers to small rural villages, every community needs and deserves the opportunity to thrive,” Hochul said. “We’re making transformative investments that strengthen our local economies and create vibrant, walkable downtowns.”
The two programs have already pumped $1.2 billion into 151 communities statewide, supporting everything from small business growth to housing and infrastructure upgrades. But this year comes with a new requirement: localities must either be “Pro-Housing Community” certified—or have at least submitted a letter of intent—before they can apply. Full certification is required before any awards are announced.
What the programs do
The Downtown Revitalization Initiative, launched in 2016, targets medium and larger communities with the goal of turning downtowns into centers of activity. It has already awarded $900 million to 91 places and supported the creation of more than 4,500 new housing units.
For Round 9, the state is also accepting joint applications from two or three neighboring communities that share a unified vision.
The NY Forward program, on the other hand, focuses on smaller and rural towns—including hamlets and villages. First launched in 2022, it’s aimed at helping charming but often overlooked communities attract business, tourism and new residents. NY Forward has awarded $300 million to 60 communities so far.
Each region in the state can receive two NY Forward awards of $4.5 million. In New York City, the NY Forward and DRI funds are combined for a single $20 million award to better match the city’s scale.
Focus on housing, infrastructure and smart growth
To access the funding, local governments must meet the Pro-Housing Community standards. This designation gives certified communities exclusive access to $750 million in state programs, including a $100 million fund aimed at boosting housing supply by improving infrastructure like water and sewer systems.
More than 350 municipalities have already received Pro-Housing certification.
“These programs deliver real results that improve quality of life, attract businesses and spur private investment,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley.
Empire State Development President and CEO Hope Knight added that the new round of funding will support “high-quality, community-driven projects” to fuel long-term economic growth.
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