Last week, New York State awarded the Village of Patchogue a $4.5 milliongrant as the Long Island winner of the fourth round of NY Forward Program.
“Success is built on partnerships and Gov. Hochul has been a dedicated partner to the Village of Patchogue since she first walked our streets years ago. With this ‘Storefront to Shorefront’ grant, we are finally bridging the gap between our vibrant downtown and our beautiful waterfront,” said mayor of the Village of Patchogue Paul Pontieri. “This funding allows us to expand recreation, improve walkability, and ensure that as our village grows, our residents’ quality of life remains on top priority. Thank you, Gov. Hochul, for being the dedicated advocate our community deserves.”
The grant, according to Pontieri, will be used as a collaboration between the village, chamber of commerce, Business Improvement District, the library and the arts council.
The Patchogue-Medford Library will be improving their façade and front of the building space; the Patchogue Arts Council will be painting more murals throughout downtown; the Patchogue Chamber will be looking to improve the village’s “image” overall; and the village itself will be using the money to repair and improve sidewalks and curbing down South Ocean Avenue, as well as connecting several new developments to the river creating a more walkable community.
“We put $5 million into the living shoreline at Shorefront Park and we want to make sure the people living in all our developments can get to it comfortably,” Pontieri said. “It’s a testament to us as a community that we can get these agencies and groups to work together to better the community.”
According to the governor’s office, each of the State’s 10 economic development regions is being awarded $10 million from each program, for a total state commitment of $200 million in funding and investments to help communities boost their economies by transforming downtowns into vibrant neighborhoods. To date, total investments in the DRI and NY Forward have reached $1.4 billion.
“Downtowns and Main Streets are powerhouses for localities, and any investments toward them shape the business and recreational scene for residents and visitors—that’s why the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward programs are so impactful,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “These transformational projects in Valley Stream and Patchogue are a commitment to Long Island’s future, where we will secure walkable downtowns, affordable housing, support for the arts and so much more. I’ll always keep fighting for Long Island.”
To receive funding fromthe NY Forward program, localities must be certified under the Pro-Housing Communities Program, which recognizes and rewards municipalities actively working to unlock their housing potential and encourages others to follow suit. After becoming certified, localities have exclusive access to up to $750 million in discretionary state funding.
The Village of Patchogue was founded in 1812 along the shores of the Great South Bay. According to state officials, “the village has evolved from an historic maritime hub into one of Long Island’s most dynamic and walkable downtown communities.”
First announced as part of the 2022 Budget, Governor Hochul created the NY Forward program to build on the momentum created by the DRI. The program works in concert with the DRI to accelerate and expand the revitalization of smaller and rural downtowns throughout the State so that all communities can benefit from the State’s revitalization efforts, regardless of size, character, needs and challenges.
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