Gouverneur NY Forward Draft Vision & Goals
VISION:
“Nestled along the Oswegatchie River, downtown Gouverneur will be a safe, friendly and walkable environment, honoring its historical charm, vibrant and expanding downtown business community and its proximity to major regional employers. Through an enhanced quality of life, and increased opportunities for residents and visitors, the village will highlight its rich recreational, cultural, and retail assets, positioning the community as a regional destination.”
GOALS:
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STRENGTHEN & EXPAND THE LOCAL ECONOMY - Continue the momentum from the NY Forward grant awards and invest in downtown to bring all downtown storefronts into productive use by supporting building renovations, reducing barriers for small businesses, and enhancing/marketing the appeal and economic vitality of Gouverneur’s historic downtown.
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ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE & COMMUNITY RESILIENCY - Improve public spaces, expand recreational opportunities, and strengthen downtown’s role as a vibrant community hub.
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BECOME A REGIONAL DESTINATION - Attract visitors to downtown by promoting local businesses, cultural assets, and events.
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IMPROVE WALKABILITY AND CONNECTIONS DOWNTOWN - Create a safe, accessible, and connected network of sidewalks and walking paths that strengthen connections between key destinations.
WHAT IS NY FORWARD?
NY Forward was launched in 2022 and serves as a central component of the State's economic development efforts, working together with the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), to accelerate and expand the revitalization of New York's downtowns. NY Forward supports smaller communities with historic character that distinguishes them from the larger, more urban central business districts typically funded through DRI. NY Forward communities are walkable, less dense areas that serve the immediate local community, and are more local in nature - focusing on the immediately surrounding residential or rural agricultural centric development. Through the NY Forward program, these smaller downtowns will receive planning and project implementation support needed to attract more businesses, residents, and visitors, while also providing a higher quality of life for all residents.
The NYS Department of State (DOS) administers the NY Forward program in close coordination with NYS Homes & Community Renewal (HCR), Empire State Development (ESD), and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
In the third year of the NY Forward program, each of the State’s 10 Regional Economic Development Councils nominated two communities for $4.5 million NY Forward awards. NY Forward funds are also used to provide robust capacity-building and technical assistance directly to communities throughout each phase of the program.
The Village of Gouverneur will receive $4.5 million in funding as one of the North Country’s recipients of NY Forward funding!
NY FORWARD BOUNDARY
*NY Forward Boundary, subject to change