NY Forward Overview

The Village of Boonville is the recipient of a $4.5 million grant award from New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council (MVREDC) through the second round of the NY Forward program.

Building on the momentum of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), the NY Forward program is intended to support more equitable downtown recovery for New York’s smaller communities with a focus on hamlets, villages and neighborhood-scale commercial centers. The program provides these smaller communities with planning and implementation support needed to attract more businesses, residents and visitors while also providing a higher quality of life for all residents.

Planning Process

Boonville NY Forward planning process will be grounded in and propelled by the collective community vision, and culminate in the Strategic Investment Plan. Throughout the planning process, interested and impacted parties - including residents, business owners, civic organizations, Village staff, anchor institutions, and the general public - are invited to attend Local Planning Committee (LPC) meetings and public workshops to learn about the process and its intended outcomes; to pose questions; to comment on the findings, goals, and recommendations; and to contribute project ideas.

1

Public Engagement

Public engagement will occur throughout the entire NY Forward planning process to ensure community needs, opportunities and challenges are identified, to determine potential projects, and to ensure NY Forward revitalization efforts are supported.

2

Downtown Profile + Assessment

The downtown profile and assessment will provide a clear, concise and compelling narrative that articulates the story of the region and downtown area, and describes the future of the area and region. This section will provide a data-driven basis for projects recommended for NY Forward funding.

3

Community Vision, Goals + Revitalization Strategies

Informed by the NY Forward application and community input, the LPC will develop a vision statement with corresponding goals and revitalization strategies to guide decision-making about future development and investment in the NY Forward area.

4

Project Development

NY Forward projects will be identified through an open call for project proposals. The consultant team will work closely with project sponsors to develop project profiles. The final slate of projects are intended to have positive and transformative impacts on the NY Forward community, and will be a mix of public, non-profit, and privately sponsored projects.

5

Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) Compilation

The SIP will describe the unique challenges and opportunities for revitalization of the NY Forward area, present the community’s vision for the future of the area, and propose transformative projects that may be realized with an investment of NY Forward funds. Once complete, the State will review Boonville’s SIP and select which projects will receive NY Forward funding.

Boonville NY Forward Boundary

The Village of Boonville’s NY Forward boundary extends from Awesome Country and the former Delta Hardwood manufacturing facility in the southeast, continues through the Main Street / Schuyler Street corridors, and terminates at the Boonville-Oneida County Fairgrounds in the west. Boonville’s NY Forward Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) will examine the unique challenges and opportunities for the revitalization of Boonville, present the community’s vision for the future of the NY Forward area, and propose transformative projects that may be realized with the investment of NY Forward funding.

Local Planning Committee (LPC)

While the New York State Department of State will oversee the Boonville NY Forward process with support from a consultant team led by Laberge Group, the Local Planning Committee (LPC) will be responsible for meeting regularly with the consultant team and representing the public throughout the process.

The LPC is comprised of NYS Department of State approved members, including a diverse group of community leaders and stakeholders. The LPC is tasked with overseeing the development of the SIP, which will identify a slate of projects ready for implementation. The LPC will also be responsible for sharing information about the NY Forward with their networks and communities. Members of the LPC play an important role in ensuring that the plan is grounded in the values and aspirations of the community.

All LPC meetings are open to the public and provide opportunity for public comment.

Members of the Boonville LPC include:

  • Co-Chair Judith Dellerba, Mayor

  • Co-Chair Dr. Laura M. Casamento, Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council

  • Sharon Cihocki, Adirondack Central School

  • Patricia Thomas, Erwin Library and Institute

  • Katrina Fiorenza, Skills USA

  • Wayne Weiler, Weiler's Landscape Aesthetics

  • Heidi Barrett, Sturges Manufacturing Co.

  • Michael Kramer, Adirondack Central School District

  • Phyllis White, Phyl's Finds

  • Lisa Bellinger-Barbour, Northern Oneida County Council of
    Governments

  • Lisa Stanford, Virtually Yours, LLC

  • Tara Silliman, The Lodge at Headwaters

  • Leah Boek, Boonville Family Care

  • Jenifer Andrews, Lodging Kit Company

  • Lisa Kaiding, Village Treasurer | Grants Administrator

Draft Vision

During the NY Forward application process, the Village of Boonville engaged community members to develop a vision for Downtown. The Strategic Investment Plan will build on its NY Forward application, including the preliminary vision for revitalization.

“We envision pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, more small businesses, and activated greenspaces featuring cultural activities in the Village of Boonville. Our historic downtown will be aesthetically pleasing with inviting greenery, benches, flowers, and enhanced landscaping and design that brings a clean, fresh look while maintaining our village charm. We intend to revive the historic features of tired building facades and create inclusive, accessible entrances. The Village will actively facilitate economic growth and court businesses that see workforce and growth opportunities in Boonville.”

Draft Goals

The planning process will aim to develop actionable goals and strategies, and identify a portfolio of transformative projects that will support Boonville’s vision for downtown revitalization. Draft goals will be presented below. Join your neighbors at Public Meeting #1 to help develop these goals for your community!