Dryden village secures $4.5 million NY Forward grant 

The Village of Dryden has applied to the NY Forward grant program three times in the hopes of receiving much-needed funding for improvements to downtown.

Officials and community members convened to submit the village’s name for funding consideration the past couple of years, but fell short to other municipalities.

Finally, after two attempts, the third time was the charm. The village was awarded $4.5 million in grant funding through the third round of the NY Forward program.

“We are incredibly excited and grateful to announce that the Village of Dryden has been awarded (grant funding),” Mayor Mike Murphy said. “This achievement represents the culmination of a collaborative effort between the village board (of trustees), our dedicated staff, the Dryden Business Association and passionate community members.”

Spearheaded by Gov. Kathy Hochul, the NY Forward program was created “to invigorate and enliven downtowns in New York’s smaller and rural communities, the type of downtowns found in villages, hamlets and other small, neighborhood-scale municipal centers,” according to the state’s website.

NY Forward was formed from the success of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). Both programs have brought the total amount of funding allocated to $1.2 billion.

Dryden is one of three municipalities within the Southern Tier region to receive grant funding. The Village of Bath also was awarded $4.5 million in NY Forward funding, while the City of Binghamton is getting $10 million from the DRI program.

“By investing in the future of these Southern Tier communities, this funding will revitalize their downtown areas by building vibrant and thriving destinations where businesses, families and visitors can flourish,” Gov. Hochul said in a release. “With our Pro-Housing Communities initiative, we’re giving local leaders the tools to transform their cities, towns and villages into hubs of opportunity, culture and affordable living. This is how we build stronger, more connected communities that work for everyone across New York.”

Village officials provided a collected statement after being selected for grant funding:

“In 2022, we actively sought input from our residents, gathering over 100 responses through questionnaires and hosting a community meeting that brought together more than 60 individuals. The insights and ideas shared during these engagements were instrumental in shaping our initial application for funding. Although we weren’t selected in our first attempt, we remained determined and refused to be discouraged. In 2023, we took proactive steps by hiring Thoma Development Consultants (in Cortland) to strengthen our proposal. Our dedication paid off when we were named finalists, which motivated us to enhance our application further for 2024.  

“Additionally, we secured several grants that underscore our commitment to increasing housing, improving infrastructure and fostering a vibrant downtown area. With the combined support of state and private funding, the Village of Dryden is poised to transform into a thriving destination for new businesses and families. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Gov. Kathy Hochul for this incredible program and for recognizing the potential of the Village of Dryden. Together, we are building a brighter future for our residents and businesses.”

In the announcement, the Governor’s office sang the praises of Dryden, calling the village an ideal place for young families to grow and for older generations to age.”

“Home to just over 2,000 residents, Dryden has developed over time as a small bedroom community to the nearby cities and universities and as an extremely high traveled and visited community,” the release noted. “With median home values and rents that are affordable to all, Dryden’s parks, tree-lined sidewalks and friendly neighborhoods make it a desirable small community to live in, promoting a high quality of life. Dryden seeks to reinvest in its historic downtown by continuing to support an attractive and inviting Main Street with a robust mix of shopping, dining and residential spaces to foster a high quality of life for its residents. The village will foster a welcoming and walkable downtown community where residents can live a sustainable lifestyle in friendly neighborhoods with convenient access to goods and services.”

“I was thrilled to learn of this award and excited for all the creative and thoughtful initiatives the Village of Dryden will invest in with this grant award,” State Assemblymember Anna Kelles said. “These much-needed funds will play a key role in revitalizing the village’s original business section on West Main Street, an area rich with history. By restoring and enhancing this district, the grant will not only preserve the village’s heritage, but also foster economic growth by attracting new businesses and visitors to support a vibrant walkable downtown. Additionally, these improvements will foster a strong pedestrian-friendly hub, encouraging community engagement and making Dryden an even more welcoming place to live, work and explore.”

Details on how Dryden plans to use its state grant funding has yet to be determined.

“It is exciting to see continued investments in our downtowns, which are integral in community development,” State Senator Lea Webb said. “I am thrilled to see the Village of Dryden receive this transformative funding, which will help reenergize the downtown, support long-term growth and economic prosperity.”

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.