City of Corning (Winner)
County: Steuben County
Population: 5,000 to 10,000
City Hall: (607) 324-7421

The City’s Housing Partnership is a successful collaboration between public and private entities that has improved the neighborhoods and housing stock in the City of Corning. In just two years, the program has already assisted in the rehabilitation of thirteen total properties by renovating eleven and demolishing two. The Corning Housing Partnership has led to a more concentrated effort to improve the City’s housing stock and neighborhoods by leveraging the knowledge and expertise of local partners.

Village of Clyde (Winner)
County: Wayne County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (315) 923-3971

Over twenty years ago, local planning and community groups began to look at the property along the Erie Canal in the Village of Clyde. The property was abandoned by the West Shore railroad. In 2000, the Village of Clyde acquired ownership for $10,000 through a grant. During the years following this acquisition, many additions were added to this vacant land based on several planning reports completed by various outside entities. The main idea from these reports was to develop the land into a park and provide a stop for boaters along the canal. The result of these efforts is now a beautiful park called Lauraville Landing which is due to the fact that Clyde used to be referred to as “Lauraville” in the 1800’s.

City of Binghamton (Winner)
County: Broome County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
City Hall: (607) 772-7001

The City of Binghamton diagnosed a problem in the heart of its North Main Street (NoMa) area. The City, partnered with the local housing non-profit First Ward Action Council, underwent a $10.5 million revitalization project funded by State grants to renovate the exhausted Crandall and North Streets. Spurred by resident neighborhood groups, the City identified the two streets as an epicenter of policy activity, and code violations. To combat this matter the City and First Ward begun a revitalization project to transform the decrepit streets of Crandall and North to create new, affordable housing for low-income residents. In addition to creating affordable living, the Revitalization Project transformed the neighborhood, while saving some of the historic houses. The City credits the Revitalization Project for increasing quality of life in NoMa, and attributes it as a catalyst for more future neighborhood-driven work in Binghamton

City of White Plains
County: Westchester County
Population: 50,000 +
City Hall: (914) 422-1200

The White Plains Education & Training Center (WPETC) is a 13,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility which provides comprehensive workforce development while at the same time strengthening the city’s economic development strategy by offering employers a well-trained and skilled workforce. The WPETC is operated and managed by the City of White Plains. The WPETC employs a unique collaboration between government and the private sector in order to provide real-time training for high demand jobs and skills development in an easily accessible manner and location. WPETC is supporting the employment needs of regional, high growth industries including: culinary and hospitality, medical and health care, technology, and entrepreneurship.

Village of Upper Brookville
County: Nassau County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (516) 624-7715

Upper Brookville previously delayed rebuilding and resurfacing roads until they were close to the end of their useful life and the only solution was costly reconstruction. In July 2016, the Board of Upper Brookville resolved to (a) repave the rest of the village’s roads at a cost of $2.3 million over two years, and (b) issue 15-year bonds to cover the cost. Issuing bonds would finance the repaving of all needy roads while lowering the annual road expense from $450,000 to $200,000 per year.

City of Olean (Winner)
County: Cattaraugus County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
City Hall: (716) 376-5615

The North Union Complete Street Transformation converted a four-lane automobile-oriented arterial roadway into a two-lane “complete street.” The “Walkable Olean” streetscape design evolved through an understanding of history and assessment of existing conditions, community participation including open forums, a study of street precedents, consideration of best practices in Main Street design, and creative engineering and urban design. The transformed street supports economic vitality, addresses water quality concerns with innovative stormwater treatment, and improves mobility, safety and accessibility for all users. The completed project includes five roundabouts, bicycle lanes and permeable pavers and landscaped “rain gardens” to treat stormwater runoff.

Village of Cooperstown
County: Otsego County
Population: Less Than 5,000
City Hall: (607) 547-2411

The Village of Cooperstown utilized GIGP funding through a grant award from the NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation to retrofit Main Street with permeable pavement, permeable sidewalk pavers, bioretention and stormwater street trees. This green street project has helped to revitalize downtown by improving walkability along Main Street, as well as to improve water quality in the Willow Brook and Otsego Lake.

City of Peekskill (Winner)
County: Westchester County
Population: 10,000 to 50,000
City Hall: (914) 737-3400

In 1998, Scenic Hudson and the City of Peekskill partnered to acquire a vacant, underutilized 4.4 acre industrial waterfront property. The NYS Brownfields Program funded environmental remediation and shoreline stabilization of this property, locally known as Peekskill Landing. Then in 2009, Peekskill completed a Waterfront Park and Trail Master Plan with extensive public input and funding assistance from NYS Department of State and Ginsburg Development Companies. The public was engaged in park and trail design through the charrettes process, and the City was awarded grants from Empire State Development (ESD), Department of State, and the Office of Parks and Recreation to construct and open the beautifully landscaped ADA accessible “Scenic Hudson Park at Peekskill Landing” in 2014. In 2015, the second phase of the ESD grant was used to implement the Waterfront Master Plan, by constructing a mile-long ADA accessible multi-use waterfront trail and three-acre Riverfront Green South Park. This trail provides pedestrian access between two existing heavily used parks, and links them with the adjacent Metro North train station.

Village of Goshen (Winner)
County: Orange County
Population: Less than 10,000
Village Hall: (845) 294-6750

In 2003, the Village of Goshen oversaw the construction of a new Waste Water Treatment Plant. Part of this process required the excavation and removal of an old Village landfill. This landfill material was put on trucks and moved to a Village owned parcel on the outskirts of the Village. This was a temporary solution. Beginning in 2009, the Village worked to have the landfill removed and used for a discounted "beneficial reuse" price at multiple landfills. After this was concluded, the Village and its consultants worked with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to complete required testing to verify that proper remediation had taken place. After it was clear that the property was environmentally safe, the Village used various strategies to market the property and ultimately the property was purchased by an international brewery, Kikkerfrosch, LLC. Kikkerfrosch and the Village negotiated a $1.7M sale price and the property will be coming back on the tax rolls.

City of Ogdensburg (Winner)
County: St. Lawrence County
Population: More than 10,000
City Hall: (315) 393-1130

The City of Ogdensburg has developed and continues to implement a comprehensive Energy Conservation Program in an effort to reduce costs and promote green energy solutions. Ogdensburg developed a Local Climate Action Plan, and in 2010, conducted an Emissions Inventory and Forecast for which they received a 2011 Milestone Achievement Award from ICLEI-USA in recognition of the City’s leadership and tangible progress toward climate protection.

City of Yonkers (Winner)
County: Westchester County
Population: 50,000 +
Type: City
City Hall: (914) 377-6045

The City of Yonkers is replacing all 12,000 of its street lights with new, energy-efficient LED technology. The project will not only save a remarkable $1.834 million in energy costs annually, it is expected to cut the carbon footprint of city government operations by 3,400 tons, or nearly 10%. The amount of energy being saved is equivalent to 5,600 households cutting their electricity bills by 20%. The project is nearly complete with over three-quarters of the city's street lights already converted.

Village of Pawling
County: Dutchess County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (845) 855-1122

The Pawling Village Green Project was a creation of a central Green with new sidewalks and pathways in keeping with the vision of the Village's Comprehensive Plan. It was designed in a style reminiscent of a traditional New England village in order to attract new shoppers and tourists, to increase the economic well-being of businesses and residents and to form a beautiful center for community events.

City of Long Beach
County: Nassau County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
City Hall: (516) 431-1001

In 2012, the City of Long Beach's Boardwalk was destroyed from Super-storm Sandy. After the immediate and urgent infrastructure needs were being met, the City engaged in a full-scale public input process to determine the future of the boardwalk. In early 2013, the City commenced a 10-step process for Phase 1 construction of the new Long Beach Boardwalk.

City of Geneva (Winner)
County: Ontario County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
City Hall: (315) 789-2603

In 2008, Geneva's Office of Neighborhood Initiatives (ONI) launched a citywide revitalization approach based on strategic neighborhood initiatives and investments. After assisting several areas across the City with forming associations and defining neighborhood identities, ONI turned to the City's North End neighborhoods. Built around manufacturing and industrial uses, the North End neighborhoods face challenges of vacancy and disinvestment.

City of Norwich (Winner)
County: Chenango County
Population: 5,000 to 10,000
City Hall: (607) 334-1230

In late 2009, the City of Norwich was facing a problem: a dilapidated and burned-out house in a residential neighborhood of the City was creating a serious blight on surrounding homes. While City officials and staff wanted to solve the problem by demolishing the existing structure and constructing a new house in its place, they knew that it just wasn't financially feasible for the City to take on the project alone.

City of Hornell (Winner)
County: Steuben County
Population: 5,000 to 10,000
Contact: Heather Kaszynski, Planner, 607-324-7421

The Federation Lofts and Arts Center is one project in two adjacent buildings that will make downtown Hornell an attractive place in which to live and enjoy arts and culture. The Federation Building is an existing four-story, concrete building of approximately 29,000 gross square feet plus basement. The building was originally owned by St. Ann's' Catholic Church, who used the facility for educational and recreational purposes. In 2007, the City of Hornell took ownership of a restaurant located next door to the Federation building.

Village of Saranac Lake (Winner)
County: Franklin County
Population: 5,000 to 10,000
Village Hall: (518) 891-4150

In 2010, the Village of Saranac Lake seized upon an opportunity to implement a goal of its comprehensive economic development strategy of developing a biotech cluster where smaller bio-tech firms could share services and proximity, taking advantage of synergies, an available work force and the area's natural resource amenities.

Village of Scarsdale (Winner)
County: Westchester County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
Village Hall: (914) 722-1231

Scarsdale condemned two parcels totaling 1.6 acres in the Village Center for the purpose of providing public parking and ancillary uses in 1999. After developing preliminary plans for a publicly financed parking structure, which was ultimately tabled by vote of the Village Board, the Board issued a Request for Proposals for a mixed use development through a public/private partnership.

Village of Pittsford
County: Monroe County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (585) 586-4332

During the 1960s, a number of the Village of Pittsford's important historic buildings were threatened, and several were demolished. To prevent further erosion of the Village's character, citizens lobbied Village officials to enact a historic preservation ordinance. Adoption of the ordinance in 1971 halted demolitions. The Village was one of the first municipalities in western New York to enact a local preservation ordinance. Pittsford is also unique because it is the only municipality in New York where the local preservation district includes the entire corporate limits. For the last 40 years, Pittsford's preservation program has been carefully revised to meet new challenges and to ensure Village policies reflect current best practices in the preservation field and recent case law. Today, historic preservation remains a key policy of the Village of Pittsford. A successful preservation program is dependent on residents, business people and community members who understand both the value of preservation and the design review process.

Village of Hamburg (Winner)
County: Erie County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
Village Hall: (716) 649-0200

This project involved road reconstruction and downtown revitalization through the two main streets of the business district in the Village of Hamburg. The New York State Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Village and its residents, developed a project scope that included pavement replacement, new sewer and water lines, drainage, streetscape improvements, curbs, sidewalks, street trees, street lighting, parking, and the reconstruction of a centrally located park. Through the assistance of the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), building interiors and facades were rehabilitated to address disinvestment in and deterioration of the downtown.

City of Hornell (Winner)
County: Steuben County
Population: 5,000 to 10,000
City Hall: (607) 324-7421

In 2007, the Southern Tier BOCES and the City of Hornell created a partnership that has proved to be an excellent tool for neighborhood revitalization. The City demolishes some of the worst homes in the community, and then commissions the BOCES Building Trade students to construct a new home, which, upon completion, is placed on the empty lot.

City of Glens Falls (Winner)
County: Warren County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
City Hall: (518) 761-3800

The City of Glens Falls completed the Glen and Bay Streets Highway Rehabilitation project to restore sufficient traffic capacity and operational characteristics at their five-corner intersection. Prior to this project, traffic in the City experienced long delays and failing levels of service at the previously signalized intersection. The accident rate at this particular five-corner intersection was three times the state-wide average for similar intersections.

Village of New York Mills (Winner)
County: Oneida County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (315) 736-9212

The Village of New York Mills transformed their former #2 Mill (1 of 3 Mills that gave the village its name) into low income senior housing and a much needed community center. The #2 Mill, which was on the national registry of historic places, was vacant for years, and was not only an eyesore, but also a major safety issue. With the help of community members and organizations, the Village was able to turn the former Mill #2 into a new complex that greatly resembles the former building. Bricks and stones from the former Mill are incorporated into the new building, bringing back some of its history.

City of Geneva (Winner)
County: Ontario County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
City Hall: (315) 828-6588

The Exchange Street Redevelopment Project (ESRP) was an initiative that allowed the City of Geneva to transform their downtown area in 2005 and 2006. This project dealt specifically with Exchange Street, a section of downtown Geneva that had fallen into a serious state of disrepair. Many of the buildings that filled this section of downtown were blighting, non-code compliant, and in desperate need of many costly repairs. The ESRP allowed the City of Geneva to purchase the buildings, tear them down, and clean up the sites. The project included a new 55-room Hampton Inn, a new branch of the Lyons National Bank, and a new Bicentennial Park that links the central business district with the Seneca Lake waterfront.

City of Hornell (Winner)
County: Steuben County
Population: 5,000 to 10,000
City Hall: (607) 324-7421

This initiative is a prime example of how communities can jointly capitalize on their individual assets to foster economic development. Wal-Mart had expressed an interest in locating in the Hornell area but was concerned about development costs and the need for municipal services. The City of Hornell had very little undeveloped property, but ample resources to provide utilities and police/fire protection. The Village of North Hornell had available property, but lacked the necessary infrastructure to develop it. Faced with the prospect that Wal-Mart would reconsider if no viable options were presented quickly, the City, Village, Town of Hornellsville and the City Industrial Development Agency (IDA) worked together to reach an agreement where the City was allowed to annex into the village the property (owned by the IDA) needed for the site.á In exchange, the Village and Town receive a specified percentage of the revenues received by the IDA, pursuant to a 20-year PILOT agreement. Once the PILOT expires, the City is required to annually share a specified portion of both the property tax and sales tax revenues with the Village and Town.

City of Rochester (Winner)
County: Monroe County
Population: 50,000 +
City Hall: (585) 428-7045

The City of Rochester's brownfield strategy through its Brownfield Assistance Program (BAP), was to act as a "one stop shop" for potential investors which included initial assessment, setting site priorities through community and business-based planning projects, site cleanup, and assistance through the permitting process. A unique feature of the program was that developers were required to repay assessment costs only if their project proceeded.  Total BAP grant costs for consultants, City program oversight, and expenses totaled $124K. The project has directly led to the retention of 548 jobs and 226 new jobs. Redevelopment investment to date for projects completed and underway is over $13 million, with an additional $14 million redevelopment anticipated at future sites.

Village of Brockport
County: Monroe County
Population: 5,000 to 10,000
Village Hall: (585) 637-5300

Harvester Park was a simple and narrow park with steep grades and a wooden stairway that had fallen into disrepair. In addition, the canal wall in the park area provided only limited boat moorings and was very deteriorated. The Village of Brockport desired to improve the park area and turn it into an asset for the community by blending modern conveniences and amenities with the natural and historic beauty of the Canal.

City of Lockport (Winner)
County: Niagara County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
City Hall: (716) 439-6665

The City of Lockport, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and the NYS Dept. of Transportation, completed the rehabilitation of their downtown. The project included asphalt pavement replacement, storm sewer improvements, reconstruction of intersections, street light & traffic signal replacement, and timing improvements. Decorative and historic elements were combined to compliment the Erie Canal's enormous lock system. As a result of this project, new businesses are returning from the mall venues outside of the City, and a new "City Center" is nearing completion.

Village of Port Chester (Winner)
County: Westchester County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
Village Hall: (914) 939-5200

The Village of Port Chester entered into a redevelopment project with G&S Investors with a vision for the village's central business district. The redevelopment project included the construction of approximately 1⁄2 million square feet of new commercial space and the acquisition of 32 separate parcels of land. The project incorporated large footprint retail facilities in the center of an existing downtown. These facilities, typically located on outlying highway corridors or within strip malls, have been brought into the village's central business district.

Village of Frankfort (Winner)
County: Herkimer County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (315) 895-7651

The Village of Frankfort has instituted a public/private partnership with a local company to help spur local economic development, improve operational efficiency, and help insure competitive broadband pricing to its citizens. It was made possible by leveraging the municipal light department's electrical distribution assets and crew as a viable part of the network operations.  The private company funded the design, operations, and network equipment with the support of investors and grants such that the village has had no out-of-pocket expenses. The private company has provided local employment as it derives subscriber revenue from a service that saves the customer $20 per month over the broadband cable price.

City of Batavia
County: Genesee County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
City Hall: (585) 345-6300

In 1999 the City of Batavia and the New York State Department of Transportation entered into a partnering agreement to rebuild Main Street, known officially as New York State Route 5. The initial purpose of the project was addressing safety and capacity concerns, providing a structurally adequate driving surface, and improving accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists. After receiving business and citizen input, community leaders realized the enormous opportunity the reconstruction could provide. Main Street had the potential to once again become the center of Batavia's commercial district. The autonomy given in the partnering agreement allowed Batavia to structure the Main Street project to meet the needs of Batavia residents and businesses and focus on improving aesthetics and enhancing economic viability in the Main Street corridor.

City of White Plains (Winner)
County: Westchester County
Population: 50,000 +
City Hall: (914) 422-1200

Renaissance Plaza, a 21st Century water feature and open space incubator, serves as the centerpiece of the Downtown district of White Plains. The area of the water fountain prior to the construction of Renaissance Plaza was dangerous, unsightly, and discouraged pedestrian activity in the downtown. Renaissance Plaza creates open space linkages throughout the city and serves to unite different commercial areas, activating an area once barren and unsafe, and is home to a state of the art water feature with choreographed music, lights, and leaping fountains. The $3.5 million redesigned fountain and plaza was constructed with funds raised from public sources and private developer contributions, and is a stunning example of the power of public and private partnerships. Renaissance Plaza employed Urban Renewal Agency resources and private developer financing, which allowed for the development of the project without using local tax dollars.

Village of South Glens Falls
County: Saratoga County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (518) 793-1455

The Village of South Glens Falls lies in the middle of a very active tourism region, yet its economic climate had been weakening for the last several decades. In 2002, with financial assistance from the Small Cities Technical Assistance Program, the Village leaders agreed to coordinate a revitalization of the Village's waterfront and Main Street business district with a focus on the tourism industry.

Village of Pittsford
County: Monroe County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (585) 586-4332

In August of 2004, the village completed Phase III of its Erie Canal Waterfront Improvement Project. The project culminated a decade long effort by the village to transform its historic waterfront into a regional destination. Schoen Place, a narrow village street running parallel to the north bank of the Erie Canal, bisects the village's waterfront district.