$4.5 million NY Forward grant will move Groton ahead

NY Forward (NYF) was launched in 2022 to support a more equitable downtown recovery for New York state’s smaller communities, with a focus on hamlets, villages and neighborhood-scale commercial centers. Many in Groton are aware that the village of Groton applied for a NYF grant in the fall of 2023 and was awarded $4.5 million in early 2024.

Once the grant was awarded, a local planning committee (LPC) was formed to provide direction on planning efforts, provide feedback to its consultant team and the state, review documents and assist with community engagement and outreach.

The LPC co-chairs were village of Groton Mayor Chris Neville and Heather McDaniel, president of the Ithaca Area Economic Development Committee. LPC members were Florence (Flo) Allen, Christine Brennan, Leon Brockway, Kris Buchan, Frank Heine, Margo Martin, Jesse Norton, Gabe Petrella, Charles (Chuck) Rankin and Crystal Young.

The LPC has worked very hard, holding a combination of public and closed planning meetings to ultimately scale down over $14 million in projects submitted to $8.5 million that aligned with the criteria of transformative and beautification-focused projects to roughly $6 million, which was submitted to the state after the LPC’s final meeting in early November.

Some of the LPC members reflected on their experience serving the community in this way. As we all wait to find out which projects will be granted final approval from the state sometime in early 2025, the following are some of their thoughts.  

Brennan, owner of The Benn Conger Inn and The Groton Hotel, said that she and her nephew, Drew Clare, were part of the original, smaller committee that formed to pursue the grant and they were “delighted to join a great, diverse team who put in the hard work that resulted in Groton being granted one of only two awards in our region in 2024.”

“The goal of the new committee [LPC] was to communicate the program and obtain applications from both the private and public sectors,” Brennan explained. “We were over the moon when we received 42 applications for the grant, a record high number for this program, and I was in awe of all the great businesses and community programs we have in Groton.”

“Being a part of the committee afforded me the opportunity to continue to build relationships between the school and community,” said Martin, superintendent of the Groton Central School District. “Seeing the level of excitement about the award here in Groton, as evidenced by the number of projects that were submitted for review, shows that there are great things going on here. It is awesome to see the community coming together today to help build the Groton of tomorrow.”

Norton, owner of Pinnacle Building and Remodeling, said, “The committee was an interesting experience that I am happy I was able to be a part of. The slate of projects was in line with my own vision of potential improvements the village could use. I was disappointed that we could not accommodate everybody but feel that overall, everyone will benefit.”

“I am honored to have been a part of this very important committee,” said Young, who is a member of the Groton Town Board. “Everyone worked very hard to be sure the amount awarded was maximized for all projects that were submitted and met the criteria. I believe [the NYF grant] has brought hope to people who have spent their lives here and remember what a vibrant Main Street we had in the past. We all look forward to seeing the restoration of its historic buildings, along with many improvements for the future.”

Brockway, who said he felt that it was an honor and privilege to take part in an impactful program for small rural communities like Groton, noted, “It is a great way to encourage pride, involvement, and excitement for our community, while investing in transformative projects” and that he “specifically found value and reward in bringing some New York state tax funds back to Groton.”

“I felt the committee members were exceptional, and each brought unique perspectives and value to the process, representing a multitude of Groton’s interests,” Brockway added. “The level of participation from the committee and the public was refreshing. It demonstrated a shared sense of Groton pride for our past and a look toward what a future Groton might be, in keeping with our historic values.

Brockway also said, “The community generated a vision that embodies our culture of small-town family living built to thrive. We tried to select projects that were best suited for that vision. I’m excited to see where the funds ultimately go following the state review and to see what public and private projects might spring up as we continue to ‘make it happen’ in Groton.

“The hard work was narrowing down the list and putting forward those that were truly transformational within the financial limits provided by the state,” Brennan said. “We engaged the community every step of the way, along with the project sponsors. With the support of the state team, we achieved our goal and made our submissions. The state will now guide the process to its conclusion, but we learned about a number of other grants as part of this process. We have communicated that to relevant project sponsors who may not have been selected for the NYF grant. I am very excited to see the final results of these transformative projects that support our continued efforts to make Groton a great place to live, work and play.” 

For more detailed information on Groton’s NYF grant, visit GrotonNYF.com and look for updates right here in this column in early 2025, once the grant funding has been finalized.

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at 607227-4922. 

In brief:

Groton Holiday Tour

It’s not too late to plan to take the Groton Community and Business Association’s Groton Holiday Tour, which will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Tickets are $10 for adults, free for 12 and under, and are available at https://holidayhousetour.ticketleap.com. Tickets may also be purchased the day of the event at The Benn Conger Inn, 206 W. Cortland St., where the tour begins.

Ridge Runners spaghetti supper

The Groton Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club will hold a spaghetti supper from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 at its clubhouse, 748 Salt Rd. Meals include spaghetti and meatballs and a side salad. The cost is $14 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and $10 for children aged 5-12. Children 4 and under may eat for free. Take-out dinners are also available.

Want exercise?

Groton Recreation sponsors adult volleyball every Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Groton High School gym, 400 Peru Rd. No registration is required, and it’s free!