Projects Announced in Dunkirk, Wellsville and Lancaster
Project Renderings Available Here
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a total of 22 transformational projects for the Western NY region as part of two economic development programs: the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and NY Forward. Nine projects were announced for Dunkirk, the Round 6 winner of a $10 million DRI award; seven projects were announced for Wellsville, a Round 1 winner of a $4.5 million NY Forward award; and eight projects were announced for Lancaster, also a Round 1 winner of a $4.5 million NY Forward award.
“New York’s downtowns are the heartbeat of our state, and the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward programs help us fulfill our commitment to uplifting communities in every region,” Governor Hochul said. “These projects in Western New York will help revitalize our beautiful downtowns and create more opportunities for New Yorkers to build thriving communities for future generations.”
Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI)
The City of Dunkirk was named the Western New York winner of the sixth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative in 2023. The 9 projects selected seek to harness the city’s connection to Lake Erie to attract new investment, activate its waterfront and serve as a conduit for redevelopment of its historic business district.
New investment combined with past investments will create a robust environment for the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of historic downtown buildings and infill development that incorporates mixed-income residential opportunities.
The DRI investments are part of the Governor's ongoing efforts to revitalize the economy and create more opportunities in Western New York. The DRI is led by the Department of State, which provides technical assistance as each participating community develops a Strategic Investment Plan identifying specific projects with a unique vision for the revitalization of the downtown area.
The specific projects to be funded through the DRI support several goals and strategies contained in the community’s Strategic Investment Plan, such as amplifying the city's unique sense of place with a genuine and authentic experience that will be catalytic for future organic growth and will foster development that is inclusive while embracing its strong heritage and ethnic diversity.
Dunkirk joins the communities of Jamestown, Olean, Lockport, Niagara Falls Bridge District, North Tonawanda, Buffalo's Broadway-Fillmore Neighborhood and Tonawanda, which were Western New York's winners in the first seven DRI rounds.
The $9.7 million State investment in these projects through the DRI will leverage additional public and private investments as the revitalization process proceeds and builds momentum.