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Grand Island pursues New York Forward funds; EDAB emphasizes business buy-in for $4.5M-scale grant
Summary
The EDAB summarized outreach for the New York Forward competitive grant program and said the town must secure private-project commitments and a clear town-center geography to produce a competitive fall application; members flagged a potential grant scale of roughly $4–4.5 million.
Town volunteers and staff told the Economic Development Advisory Board that outreach to downtown businesses is underway in preparation for a competitive New York Forward application. EDAB members said approved applications typically combine public and private projects and that the town needs both concept-ready projects and demonstrable private-sector buy-in to be competitive.
A staff member briefed the board on recent business outreach, the need to define an application geography (an outpatient town-center area rather than the waterfront), and that state guidance favors communities that have planning and policy foundations in place (members referenced a "pro-housing" certification that some towns hold). The group noted the grant program can be significant in scale—meeting participants referenced figures near $4.5 million for eligible awards—and said a mix of small public improvements and private storefront investments would strengthen an application.
Why it matters: The grant could underwrite infrastructure, storefront improvement and public-realm investments that EDAB members say would help revitalize the island’s town-center economy and tax base. Board members urged broad community outreach and emphasized that an application requires both readiness and community support.
Next steps: EDAB will continue business outreach, refine the geography for the application, and coordinate with town planning and the grant manager to assemble a competitive fall submission package.
