HERKIMER, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul stopped at Herkimer Community College on Monday to announce the villages of Herkimer and Boonville and the town of Richfield as recipients of state funding for downtown revitalization projects. Herkimer will receive $10 million as the Mohawk Valley-region winner in the seventh round of the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative […]
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HERKIMER, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul stopped at Herkimer Community College on Monday to announce the villages of Herkimer and Boonville and the town of Richfield as recipients of state funding for downtown revitalization projects.
Herkimer will receive $10 million as the Mohawk Valley-region winner in the seventh round of the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). Boonville and Richfield will get $4.5 million each as this year’s Mohawk Valley-region NY Forward winners.
“This whole region was once a diamond in the rough,” Hochul said of the Mohawk Valley region. After losing a little of its luster amid challenging times, the area is shining once again, she said.
Calling itself “a jewel with multiple facets,” Herkimer worked to improve its odds of DRI funding by completing a strategic master plan, revising zoning code, refining its proposed projects, securing commitments for private-sector investments, and more.
With the $10 million, Herkimer will use up to $300,000 to develop a strategic-investment plan. A local planning committee comprised of municipal representatives, community leaders, and other stakeholders, with support from private-sector experts and state planners, will develop the plan, which will examine local assets and opportunities to identify economic developments, transportation, housing, and community projects that align with the village’s vision for downtown revitalization.
“The DRI stands as a transformational investment that will benefit many generations to come,” Herkimer Mayor Dana Sherry said. “We look forward to additional guidance from the governor’s office and Empire State Development as we ignite the rebirth of the village of Herkimer.”
Boonville seeks to transform its downtown into a destination for tourists and residents,alike. The village has used prior public-sector grants to renovate mixed-use properties, enhance parks, improve water quality, update the village/town comprehensive plan with smart-growth principles, and achieve the Clean Energy Community designation. With the NY Forward award, the village hopes to create an improved, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, expand small business opportunities, and enhance public spaces with cultural activities.
“This 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,” Boonville Mayor Judith Dellerba said. “This new partnership between the village of Boonville and Gov. 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.”
Richfield will also build on previous investments that set the revitalization process in motion. Projects and goals include enhancing public spaces with streetscape improvements, adaptive re-use of existing buildings, increasing walking and biking options, increasing sustainability and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, supporting small-business growth, and increasing awareness and appreciation of diverse cultural backgrounds.
Both communities will begin developing strategic-investment plans to identify projects.
“For the past decade, the village and town of Richfield Springs have collaborated on several joint initiatives to strengthen our community and bring prosperity to our residents,” Village of Richfield Springs Mayor Richard Spencer said.
“This grant will enable our small community to enact a number of projects that will benefit our community in the areas of housing, economic development, and recreation,”Richfield Town Supervisor Larry Frigault said. “Each of these projects will help improve the quality of life in Richfield.”
The Downtown Revitalization Initiative, created in 2016, helps accelerate and expand the revitalization of downtowns to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for investment. The state’s 10 regional economic-development councils nominate communities based on the downtown’s potential for transformation. Each community is awarded $10 million to develop a plan and implement key catalytic projects.
NY Forward works alongside DRI but focuses on smaller and rural downtowns with projects appropriate scaled to the size of each community.