Hoosick Falls and Schuylerville to Each Receive $4.5m through NY Forward Awards

ALBANY - The Villages of Hoosick Falls and Schuylerville are the latest recipients of Governor Kathy Hochul’s NYForward initiative. Each municipality will receive $4.5 million to put towards projects that seek to revitalize areas of the communities. The projects are submitted by property owners and a final group is selected by committee before being submitted to the State, which ultimately chooses what items receive funding. The Village of Cambridge received $2.25m last year in the first round of awards.

Governor Hochul announced the awards during a press conference on Wednesday. Much of the press conference focused on a $10 million award to Lake George. Shortly before the end of the presser, Hochul recognized both Mayor Rob Allen of Hoosick Falls and Dan Carpenter of Schuylerville who were in the audience.

Of Hoosick Falls, Hochul said there is “such energy flowing” and called it a “place you want to be.” She said it was “amazing what you’re doing there.” The Hoosick Falls project focuses on increasing walkability around the community and improving the aging facades of a number of buildings. Hochul spoke about growing up in a small community and how the facades, many of which “date back hundreds of years, lose their luster.” She said her own home town covered up many of the brick facades and is still working to “peel it back” and unveil the “grandeur of yesteryear”. Hochul said the state will continue to “protect these facades, and the charm, and public amenities.”

Hoosick Falls Mayor Robert Allen said, “On behalf of our entire community, we are elated to be the recipient of this grant and to once again partner with the State to better serve and provide for our communities. We are extremely grateful for this honor, and look forward to hitting the ground running. Hoosick Falls is a strong and resilient community, and their efforts are why we are here today. We thank the Department of State, Governor Hochul, and all involved with the NY Forward program.”

“This program is the work product of an amazing group of Village leaders, community members, residents, and small business owners, many of whom have worked on this for the past two years,” Mayor Allen continued. “This group put together a proposal for the first round that included survey results from over 700 community members. After not being chosen, they immediately went to work adjusting and improving on their original proposal. The second proposal led to a guided tour on location with members of the group and many of the state committee members, which in turn led to a final round presentation where more detailed questions could be asked.” he told The Eagle

State Senator Jacob Ashby said, “The Village of Hoosick Falls is well-deserving of the NY Forward award as they are in the process of re-imagining what the Village was, is, and can be. Their proposal finds the balance of preserving its historic charm and modernizing into an economic hub through walkable corridors connecting homes, businesses, and public amenities. Congratulations to the village residents and Mayor Allen, and I look forward to partnering with him throughout implementation of this funding to ensure that Hoosick Falls reaches its greatest potential. Thank you to Governor Hochul for recognizing the potential that exists in Hoosick Falls and selecting them for this funding.”

Assemblymember Scott Bendett said, “Main streets are very important to our towns and villages. Hoosick Falls has been through a lot over the years and is well-deserving of this New York Forward Grant to help revitalize and build up its main street and infrastructure. I am proud Gov. Hochul has recognized Rensselaer County as a place to invest and I am excited about the changes we will see down the road.”

SCHUYLERVILLE

Schuylerville Mayor Dan Carpenter was also on hand for the announcement. Hochul commended everyone involved in the development of their application. The Schuylerville project will focus on adding housing, exciting events and restoring the old canalway. Hochul discussed traveling the canal as a hobby of hers, of the Champlain Canalway she said, “go to any other part of the country, you can’t find anything like this.” Hochul said she cherishes not just her travel along the canal but the places they stop. “We have stopped in the most charming places, off the beaten trail, and the people are so dedicated, they so believe in their story and their history.”

Hochul discussed the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Saratoga in 2027. Hochul said the grant would allow Schuylerville to “greet the world with a really transformed village.” for that event.

Among the projects Schuylerville included in their application was $750,000 towards the construction of a $3 million mixed use building on the site of the former Hotel Schuylerville, $1.85 million for the construction of a Community Center at Fort Hardy Park, $1 million of a $2 million project to restore the old canalway, $25,000 of a $100,000 project to expand lodging at the Basin, $400,000 of a $1 million project to construct a 4,000 event barn on the island opposite The Basin Grill, $250,000 to start a revolving loan fund for small projects and funding for signs and waypoints. The final selection of projects will happen after community and state input.

Schuylerville Mayor Dan Carpenter told THE EAGLE, ““As Mayor of Schuylerville, I am thrilled to announce that our village has been selected as a recipient of the $4.5 million New York State Forward Grant, thanks to the decision by Governor Hochul and the NYS Regional Economic Development Council. This is a momentous opportunity for our community, marking a new chapter in Schuylerville’s growth and development. We are deeply grateful for this investment in our future, and we pledge to use these funds judiciously to enhance the lives of our residents and bolster our local economy. Together, we will work tirelessly to ensure that Schuylerville not only thrives but becomes a model of community revitalization and innovation in New York State.”

Hochul went on to congratulate the communities, “The vision you presented for your villages and towns means there’s no turning back.” She called the day a “turning point” in the future of the municipalities. “You’re going to remember this day and remember you were here.” and said there was “something magical” about what the State was doing there today.

Assemblymember Carrie Woerner said, “This significant NY Forward award is both a recognition of the historic importance of the Village of Schuylerville and a commitment to its future as a community that nurtures small businesses and growing families. I applaud Mayor Dan Carpenter and the community leaders who crafted the vision represented in the Village of Schuylerville’s application. And, I thank Governor Hochul for her vision in establishing the NY Forward program to invest in New York’s villages and small cities.”