Boonville making plans on how to spend its $4.5M NY Forward award

BOONVILLE — Those involved in the local planning committee (LPC) for the Village of Boonville in northern Oneida County are working to figure out how to spend $4.5 million in state funding it was awarded earlier this year. The open call for NY Forward project proposals, which started on June 3, was set to close on Aug. 1, per a notice on the website: boonvilleforward.org. The village also launched a community survey on July 3 to gather public input on the vision and development priorities for the NY Forward Area. The survey was scheduled to remain open through July 25, per a posting on the village’s Facebook page. The Village of Boonville was also scheduled to host an open house for community input at Erwin Library on July 18. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Feb. 12 announced both Boonville and Richfield as this year’s Mohawk Valley region winners NY Forward funding, receiving $4.5 million each. The Village of Boonville’s application — entitled, “We’re Just Up the Road”— seeks to transform its downtown into an attractive destination for tourists and residents alike, building on its reputation as a hub for tourism and recreation, as well as the “Gateway to the Adirondacks.”   Referring to itself as “walkable, bikable, adorable,” the village’s downtown destinations and amenities are never more than a 10 or 20-minute walk away. Through this NY Forward award, village officials envision improved pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, expanded small business opportunities, and enhanced public spaces with ample cultural activities.   “We are profoundly grateful that Governor Hochul has taken an interest in our small village and sees potential for Boonville’s future,” Judith Dellerba, mayor of the Village of Boonville, said in the state’s announcement. “The generous award from NY Forward will enable us to embark on transformative projects that will positively impact the lives of our citizens and strengthen the fabric of the Boonville community. This new partnership between the Village of Boonville and Governor Hochul’s office exemplifies a shared vision for a brighter future, and together we will work tirelessly to maximize the impact of this funding, ensuring it reaches every bit of our village, and leaves a lasting legacy for generations to come.”

Developing plan

Boonville is in the process of developing a strategic-investment plan to revitalize its downtown. A local planning committee made up of municipal representatives, community leaders, and other stakeholders is leading the effort, supported by a team of private-sector experts and state planners. The New York Department of State is overseeing the Boonville NY Forward process with support from a consultant team led by Laberge Group, an Albany–based engineering consultant, per the website of boonvilleforward.org. At the same time, the LPC will be responsible for meeting regularly with the consultant team and representing the public throughout the process. Both Dellerba and Laura Casamento, who serves on the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council, are the LPC co-chairs, per the website. Casamento previously served as president of Utica University. The LPC held a meeting back on June 27, per a post on the village’s Facebook page. The Village of Boonville’s NY Forward boundary extends from Awesome Country Farmhouse, LLC and the former Delta Hardwood manufacturing facility in the southeast, continues through the Main Street / Schuyler Street corridors, and terminates at the Boonville-Oneida County Fairgrounds in the west, per the website.