Previous Applications
Village of Weedsport 2024 DRI/NY Forward Application
The Village of Weedsport submitted an application for Round 8 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Program and Round 3 of the NY Forward (NYF) Program on October 17, 2024 with a total of $23,070,800 for 21 proposed projects. The Village of Weedsport did not win an award in 2024, but was recommended to apply again in 2025 to Round 9 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) program.
Vision Statement:
“Thriving in the center of New York’s rural heartlands, Weedsport is a small village with a bright future. Built on the historic path of the Erie Canal and surrounded by the remnants of major rail lines, the village has stood as a hub of activity for generations and will continue to do so for generations to come. Weedsport will continue to attract new businesses, residents, and visitors to this tight knit, walkable, bustling community through infill development, preservation of its historic downtown, and by supporting growth through a diverse range of housing types and income levels. New developments will be centered around Weedsport’s thriving school district, helping guarantee the village’s future is bright. Weedsport’s central, well connected location just off the NYS Thruway, bisected by NYS Routes 31 and 34, and with direct access to Route 5, is a logistical bullseye to locate jobs and find talented workers. Yesterday, Weedsport was the county’s link to commerce and tourism through the Erie Canal, a vast network of railroads, and the Syracuse-Rochester Trolley. Tomorrow, it will be Central New York’s Gateway to the Finger Lakes, opening doors to residents, businesses and tourists alike. Weedsport is no longer a place people drive through, but a place people go to. ”
Villages of Cayuga, Union Springs, & Aurora 2023 Joint DRI Application
The Villages of Cayuga, Union Springs, and Aurora submitted their joint application for Round 7 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Program on September 29, 2023 with a total of $22,973,000 for 44 proposed projects.
On February 4, 2024, the application was announced as the winner for the Central New York Region and the 3 villages will jointly receive $10 million.
Vision Statement:
“The Village of Cayuga will be a community that provides the best quality of life for its residents and a unique visitor experience by capitalizing on the beauty and history of its location on Cayuga Lake. Cayuga will leverage its quaint, historical, waterfront-village charm to support its residential diversity and attract neighborhood-scale commercial activity. In cooperation with the private enterprises and public agencies, Cayuga will offer boaters, fishers, eco-tourists, and the general public a unique, memorable, and joyful experience on both its land and water.”
Village of Moravia 2022 NY Forward Application
The Village of Moravia submitted their application for Round 1 of the New York Forward Program on September 30, 2022 with a total of $6,420,000 for 18 proposed projects. On February 14, 2023, the application was announced as a winner for the Central New York Region and the village received $2.25 million.
Vision Statement:
“Moravia, rich in history and small-town character, has a thriving downtown that supports the community and promotes sustainable growth while protecting its natural resources and ensuring the health and safety of its citizens. Strategically located between Auburn, Cortland, and Ithaca, the Village is the sole provider of key services to southern Cayuga County and seeks to enhance opportunities for business, cultural, and recreational growth. Moravia prides itself on active public involvement through fraternal organizations, social and service clubs, religious institutions, and friendly neighbors. History, hospitality, and remarkable Finger Lakes scenery come together in the Village to create a community that is proud of its past and excited about its future.”
City of Auburn 2016 DRI Application
The city of Auburn was a winner of the third round of the program. New York State provided the city with grant awards for thirteen projects. These projects are now in the planning or construction process, or have been completed.
Examples of projects that received funding through Auburn's DRI program:
State Street Plaza transformed a vacant building into public space for gathering and events in downtown (photo credit: The Citizen).
Budget: $1.6 million
DRI Award: $1 million
Vacant Plaza of the Arts building renovated to house Cayuga Community College's new Culinary Arts Program (photo credit: CCC).
Budget: $1.46 million
DRI Award: $800,000
Rendering of 22 East Genesee St Renovation. This project received funding to convert the vacant building into a mixed use retail and apartments (rendering credit: Ramsgard Architectural Design).
Budget: $3.3 million
DRI Award: $625,000
The picture above shows the Auburn DRI project boundary, within which all projects are located. Another project funded by the state was the Small Business Fund which is not tied to a specific site, but is a grant program in itself established to help fund business and housing projects meeting the goals of the Auburn DRI program.
Budget: $772,800+
DRI Award: $600,000