The City of Utica is putting out an open call for project proposals to be considered by the NY Forward Local Planning Committee for potential inclusion in the City’s NY Forward Strategic Investment Plan.
Eligible project types include public improvement projects, new development or rehabilitation of Uptown Utica buildings, facade enhancements or small-scale building renovations, and branding and marketing initiatives for Uptown.
Proposed projects must be located within the city of Utica’s NY Forward boundary, be able to break ground within two years of contract execution, have financing largely in place, and be sponsored by a public, non-profit, or private entity with the legal authority to undertake the project.
Proposed projects located near or adjacent to the Uptown Utica NY Forward boundary will also be considered if a statement of justification is provided. The Open Call for Project Proposals will open on Aug. 25, and will close on Oct. 9, at 4 p.m.
The application form will be available online as a fillable PDF, as well as an online form, at www.uptownuticaforward.org. Hard copies of the application will also be available for pickup in the first-floor lobby of City Hall, located at 1 Kennedy Plaza, Utica, NY 13502.
Completed hard copy applications can be delivered to the same pick-up location or mailed to Brian Thomas, Commissioner, Department of Urban & Economic Development at 1 Kennedy Plaza, Utica, NY 13502. Mailed applications must be postmarked on or before Oct. 9, to be considered.
The NY Forward Consultant Team will hold office hours in September to assist prospective project sponsors with their applications. Dates, times, and other details will be announced in the coming weeks. Additional information sessions will also be scheduled for project sponsors and community members interested in learning more about the NY Forward program and the Open Call for Project Proposals.
All meeting and office-hour details will be posted at www.uptownuticaforward.org. The Open Call for Project Proposals is part of the NY Forward program, which awarded the City of Utica $4.5 million from Gov. Kathy Hochul for investments in the NY Forward Area, which was selected for its potential to advance the community’s vision for catalytic private and public improvements. Projects selected for funding will transform the community and support a vibrant local economy.
Selected projects will be included in the Strategic Investment Plan and be considered for funding by New York State Department of State.
More information can be found at www.uptownuticaforward.org NY Forward was launched in 2022 to support a more equitable recovery for New York’s smaller communities, with a focus on neighborhood-scale commercial centers. NY Forward is led by DOS, in close partnership with Empire State Development, NYS Homes and Community Renewal, and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
For more information about the NY Forward program, visit www.ny.gov/programs/ny-forward.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Utica seeks project proposals for NY Forward planning committee
Reporting by Casey Pritchard, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Casey Pritchard, Utica Observer Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
