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.