Department of State holding downtown revitalization forum on Long Island

The New York Department of State will hold a forum on downtown revitalization programs at Farmingdale State College on Tuesday.

The Long Island event is part of a statewide tour to promote two DOS economic development programs, the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and New York Forward.

Scheduled for 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Campus Center Ballroom, speakers will include Kisha Santiago, deputy secretary of state; John Nader, president of Farmingdale State College and co-chair of the Regional Economic Development Council; and Linda Armyn, president and CEO of Bethpage Federal Credit Union and co-chair of the Regional Economic Development Council.

Mayors and municipal officials from Downtown Revitalization Initiative communities, private stakeholders involved with the DRI and New York Forward and agency staff will provide advice, insights and recommendations for future potential program applicants and awardees.

Beginning in 2016, the state has awarded$10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grants to downtown areas across the state. On Long Island, recipients have included the Village of Westbury; Hicksville (Town of Oyster Bay); Central Islip (Town of Islip); Baldwin (Town of Hempstead); Village of Amityville; Riverhead; Huntington Station and Kings Park.

Once the DRI grant is secured, municipalities form local planning committees comprised of business leaders and residents with input from state officials to determine which projects to fund.

The money and planning assistance from the DRI has helped to improve downtowns and attract hundreds of millions in investment from developerswhere it’s been awarded. The DRIfunding is also especially critical for smaller villages and municipalities where budgets are stretched, and every penny is already committed to maintaining vital services.

Like the DRI program before it, the New York Forward program also awards a total of $100 million statewide. Each of the state’s 10 Regional Economic Development Councilscanrecommend two communities for $4.5 million awards, or three communities one of which will receive $4.5 million and two will be awarded $2.25 million.

In the latest round of New York Forward awards, North Bellport (Town of Brookhaven) and the Village of Mineola each received $4.5 million.

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