Governor Hochul Announces $200 Million in Funding Available for Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward Programs

Governor Hochul today announced that $200 million in funding is available through the State's two signature downtown revitalization and economic development programs - Round 10 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and Round 5 of the NY Forward program. Together, the two programs have awarded $1.34 billion in funding to 178 communities across every region of the State.

Applications are now available through theState's Consolidated Funding Application Portal. The deadline to apply is January 8, 2027 at 4 p.m. The deadline for New York City communities to submit their applications to their Borough President's office is December 30, 2026. An application webinar will be held on November 5, 2026. Interested applicants can register on theDRI orNY Forward websites. The webinar will also be recorded and posted on the program websites.

"New York's downtowns are at the heart of our communities, bringing people together, supporting local businesses and creating opportunities for growth," Governor Hochul said. "Through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward, we're helping communities turn their ideas into more welcoming, accessible and economically vibrant downtowns. This new round of funding will build on that progress, giving more communities the resources to strengthen their local economies and create places where people want to live, work and visit."

New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, "Every community has its own vision for what their downtown can become, and the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward economic revitalization programs can help local leaders turn those ideas into action. By pairing State investment with community-driven planning, these state sponsored initiatives support projects that reflect local priorities, bring new life to downtowns and create opportunities for residents and businesses. We encourage communities across New York to take advantage of this funding as they seek to shape the future of their downtowns."

In the FY 2025 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul made the "Pro-Housing Community" designation a requirement for cities, towns and villages to access State discretionary programs, including the DRI and NY Forward. Certified localities have exclusive access to up to $750 million in State funding. To date, more than 460 municipalities across the State have become Pro-Housing certified.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "The Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward give communities the resources and expertise to turn local priorities into projects that strengthen city centers, support commercial districts, and attract new investment. With this $200 million funding round, Governor Hochul is helping more places across the State build on their hometown assets and create vibrant spaces for residents, visitors, and businesses."

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "Governor Hochul recognizes that vibrant downtowns and strong housing markets go hand in hand. Through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward, we are helping communities across New York create new housing opportunities, attract private investment and transform their downtowns into thriving places where people want to live, work and visit. This additional $200 million in funding will build on the tremendous success of these programs while rewarding communities that are committed to addressing our housing shortage and creating a more affordable New York for everyone."

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, "Transforming downtowns across the state represents an opportunity to incorporate clean energy and modern building practices into projects that spur economic growth and enhance long-term resiliency. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, NYSERDA's support of these programs helps turn community-driven plans into lasting investments that create attractive and thriving places for New York residents, businesses, and visitors."

Downtown Revitalization Initiative

TheDowntown Revitalization Initiative was launched in 2016 to accelerate and bolster the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all ten regions of the state to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for increased local investments. Led by the Department of State (DOS), DRI communities benefit from partnerships with and coordinated technical assistance provided by the Department of Housing and Community Renewal (HCR), Empire State Development (ESD) and the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA). The DRI represents an unprecedented and innovative "plan-then-act" strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate and ongoing implementation. To date, DRI has awarded a total of $1 billion to 101 communities in its first nine rounds.

NY Forward

First announced as part of the 2022 budget, Governor Hochul created theNY Forward program to build on the momentum created by the DRI. The innovative program supports a more equitable downtown recovery for New York's smaller and rural communities with a focus on hamlets and villages. NY Forward is meant to serve smaller communities and support local economies that often have a feel and charm that is distinct from larger, metropolitan urban centers funded through DRI. To date, NY Forward has awarded a total of $340 million to 77 communities over four rounds.

Like with DRI, DOS and an assigned consultant will work with NY Forward communities through a planning and technical assistance process to develop a slate of readily implementable projects. NY Forward differs, however, by providing one-to-one technical assistance from consultants to assist communities in developing their full applications and throughout the implementation process. NY Forward offers two $4.5 million awards for each region. Recognizing the unique scale and density of New York City neighborhoods and Long Island, New York City NY Forward funding is being combined with NYC DRI funding to permit one $20 million DRI award and Long Island NY Forward funding will instead include two DRI awards totaling $20 million.

The similarities and differences between the DRI and NY Forward programs are further described in an educational brochure, which is available on theDRI andNY Forward websites.