Senator Patrick M. Gallivan announced that $9 million in funding from the NY Forward economic development program will support 12 projects in the Town of Aurora, the Hamlet of West Falls, and the Village of Gowanda. These areas were selected as Round 2 winners in New York State’s revitalization efforts.
Gallivan expressed his support for local leaders and community stakeholders who identified projects aimed at improving public spaces, boosting local businesses, and creating new opportunities for residents and visitors. “By focusing on what makes these communities unique, we help build the local economy and enhance the quality of life for everyone,” he stated.
In Aurora and West Falls, seven projects totaling $4.5 million have been approved. These include expanding programming capacity at the West Falls Center for the Arts with a budget of $1,245,000; expanding capacity at Blueberry Treehouse Farm with $784,000; transforming Veterans Park, West Falls-Colden Library, and West Falls Community Playground into local destinations with $758,000; reinventing the West Falls Depot with $725,000; building access to West Falls by converting a rail corridor into a multi-use trail with $420,000; preserving The Dog Bar with $392,000; and celebrating local flavor at Florence Market with $176,000.
Gowanda will see five projects funded by another $4.5 million. These include utilizing a former community bank as an accessible connector to Hollywood Theater with a budget of $1,400,000; modernizing the 1904 Armes Block into a mixed-use center with $1,300,000; beautifying Gowanda Business District’s streetscape with $989,000; creating a small project fund for additional downtown improvements worth $655,000; and elevating Gowanda’s identity through wayfinding connectivity and branding plans costing $156,000.
The communities involved developed Strategic Implementation Plans guided by Local Planning Committees consisting of local leaders and stakeholders. The selected projects aim to kickstart revitalization efforts while providing long-term growth opportunities.
