Governor Hochul Announces Long Beach and Lindenhurst Winners of First Round of NY Forward Long Island Program

Governor Katy Hochul announced that the City of Long Beach and the Village of Lindenhurst will receive $4.5 million each as Long Island’s first round winners of the NY Forward. Building on the momentum of the state’s successful Downtown Revitalization Initiative, the $100 million NY Forward program uses the same “Plan then Act” strategy as DRI to support a more equitable downtown regeneration for New York City’s smaller and rural communities. As part of NY Forward Round One, two to three awards will be given to small communities in each FROMten state economic development regions to support the development and implementation of their centers’ revitalization plan.

“Our business centers create a vital economic lifeline for many of our small communities to thrive, thrive and reach their full potential,” Governor Hochul said. “As we continue to help New York businesses recover from the pandemic, we are implementing a fair plan with NY Forward to improve our business districts using the successful plan of our Downtown Revitalization Initiative.”

New York Forward is a central component of the state’s economic development efforts, working with DRI to accelerate and expand New York’s urban regeneration. NY Forward serves small communities with a historic character that sets them apart from the larger, more urban central business districts typically funded through DRI. NY Forward communities are walkable, less dense neighborhoods that serve directly to the local population and are more local in nature, focusing on the immediate surrounding residential or rural agricultural areas.

Like DRI, each NY Forward community will develop a strategic investment plan to revitalize their downtown area through a set of easy-to-implement projects. The State Department will provide enhanced technical assistance to better support smaller communities that may have fewer opportunities through the NY Forward program and funding projects appropriate to the size of each community. Projects may include renovation and redesign of buildings, new building or the creation of new or improved public spaces and other projects that elevate certain cultural and historical qualities that enhance the sense of small-town charm.

long beach

Long Beach, nicknamed the “City by the Sea”, is best known for its beach and boardwalk. In the center of Long Beach is the Park Avenue CBD, which is home to over 180 businesses. The City of Long Beach is seeking to elevate its downtown’s status as a major regional destination by expanding the city’s Complete Streets initiatives to introduce new measures to reduce traffic and improve traffic by making its main street more walkable and cyclist friendly. Town also aims to promote transit-oriented/smart and equitable development, developing existing and new local businesses to provide high-quality jobs and expand the arts, and build sustainable infrastructure.

Lindenhurst

The Village of Lindenhurst business center is defined by the compact and walkable core of the Village, which also includes some of the Village’s best outdoor spaces and community facilities. The village aims to create a healthy, prosperous city center that is attractive for businesses, visitors as well as residents. To spur economic growth downtown, the Village has already undertaken numerous planning efforts, including creating a floating downtown redevelopment area to encourage residential and mixed-use development and redevelopment on sites within walking distance of the LIRR and the CBD. Lindenhurst aims to build on these efforts by creating new multimodal travel options in and around the city center, converting underutilized properties into commercial spaces and mixed-use developments, and investing in housing and community amenities.

Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said: “Downtown communities across the state are being transformed through New York’s unique “plan then act” approach to downtown revitalization, and Long Beach and Lindenhurst are the first Long Island communities to receive funding from our newest program, NY Forward. This funding will help Long Beach and Lindenhurst achieve their vision of downtown regeneration and drive equitable economic growth for generations to come.”

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said: “NY Forward is a renaissance catalyst helping local communities create new opportunities for growth and economic prosperity. The City of Long Beach and the Village of Lindenhurst will greatly benefit from this funding as they work to raise their status as regional destinations and promote sustainable and equitable development. This will not only bring new businesses to the area, but also create healthy and prosperous city centers that are attractive to residents, visitors and businesses alike.”

Long Island Linda Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs armyBethpage Federal Credit Union director of strategy and marketing and President of Farmingdale State College, Dr. John Nader, said: “LIREDC is thrilled that the City of Long Beach and the Village of Lindenhurst have been selected as recipients of $4.5 million each through NY Forward. This funding will provide a vital boost to small and rural communities, enabling them to create opportunities for long-term growth and prosperity. The investments made through NY Forward will have a transformative impact on the economic future of these communities, and we look forward to the positive changes that will come as a result.”

State Senator Monica R. Martinez said: “I applaud the governor Hochul for her continued commitment to providing the necessary resources needed for the community to thrive. The village of Lindenhurst has focused on creating a walkable, vibrant city center that prioritizes the needs of both residents and businesses and serves as a role model for other communities. I look forward to the positive impact New York Forward and other programs will have on the state’s economy and the overall quality of life for New Yorkers.”

State Senator Alexis Wake said, “I am so proud to support the great village of Lindenhurst as the recipient of a $4.5 million NY Forward Grant for downtown revitalization. Mayor, Mike LavorataVillage Trustee R.J. Renna and Village Council Assistant Cathy McCaffrey have been hard at work building support to get these funds to their village. Mayor brought many new changes to the village for family recreation, such as the demolition of an abandoned building to create a park in the village square, a gathering place for concerts, family events and New Year’s holidays. They set their sights on the possible acquisition and removal of the old courthouse to enhance that small town charm that became Lindenhurst. These funds will bring much more to the charming village and will certainly make it a destination.”

State Senator Patricia Canzoneri Fitzpatrick said: “Long Beach has a long and storied history as a vibrant and beautiful seaside community on the Atlantic coast. The receipt of NY Forward funds will be an important catalyst for further revitalization of downtown by the sea. I want to thank the Governor Hochul for working with me to provide economic support to the Long Beach community.”

Assembly member Kimberley Jean-Pierre said: “I am proud that the Village of Lindenhurst has been selected as the winner of the NY Forward. The village of Lindenhurst has a lively and walkable town center that draws many to the area. The village has been working very hard to improve and I’m glad their efforts are recognized today. I appreciate Governor Hole’s investment in our downtown communities to keep them attractive for years to come.”

Assemblyman Ari Brown said: “Long Beach is one of two cities on Long Island, a beautiful community rich in diversity and history. Long Beach has really changed in the last forty years; I remember in the early 80s a lot of abandoned houses and shop windows. Long Beach is indeed a hidden gem, but can certainly use this funding to help transform it into a world-class seaside destination. I thank the governor Hochul for her efforts and for choosing Long Beach as one of the NY Forward recipients.”

Long Beach City Council President John Bendo saidWe would like to thank the Governor Hochul and the state for these investments. With a thriving business district of 35,000 residents and a prime destination for visitors during the summer, Long Beach is key to its success. With this historic investment, we can now focus on very necessary updating our central business district to meet the needs of our residents and visitors to the city.”

Village of Lindenhurst Mayor Michael Lavorata said, “The village of Lindenhurst is thrilled to receive this grant! I cannot express our excitement at this incredible achievement. I want to thank Cathy McCaffrey and R. J. Renna for Everybody their hard work. I would like to give special credit to Ms. McCaffrey who led the operation and also gave a presentation and helped advance the village’s commitment to the ongoing revitalization of downtown! This is truly a historic event for us in our centenary year and we look forward to the next 100 years.”

The Long Island Regional Economic Development Board has conducted a rigorous and competitive review process for proposals from communities across the region and has considered the following criteria before recommending these communities as candidates:

The city center should be compact, with well-defined boundaries that include the ability to capitalize on previous or encourage future private and public investment in and around the area, recent or upcoming job growth within or in the immediate vicinity of the city center. this can attract downtown workers who support redevelopment and ensure sustainable growth, and downtown must be an attractive and livable community for diverse populations of all ages, incomes, genders, identities, abilities, mobility and cultural backgrounds.

In addition, the municipality must already have accepted or to have a possibility develop and implement a policy that improves livability and quality of life, conduct an open and active process of interaction with the population, which will result in a concept for the revitalization of the city center and a preliminary list of projects and initiatives that can be included in the strategic investment plan. The boundaries also include a municipality that has identified transformational projects that will be ready for implementation in the near future with an infusion of NY Forward funds, and a municipality that has local capacity to manage the project planning and implementation process, including the ability to oversee municipal project contracts.

Long Beach and Lindenhurst will now begin the process of developing strategic investment plans to revitalize their centers. A local planning committee, composed of representatives of municipalities, community leaders and other stakeholders, will lead this effort with the support of a panel of experts from the private sector and government planners. The Strategic Investment Plan will look at local assets and opportunities to identify projects that fit each community’s vision and are ready to go. Funding will be allocated to selected projects from the Strategic Investment Plan that have the greatest potential to accelerate recovery and create new opportunities for long-term growth.