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Aerial view of downtown Victor
NY Forward Program
NY Forward Program

Revitalizing
Downtown Victor

The Village of Victor has been selected to receive $4.5 million through New York State's NY Forward program to plan and implement a series of projects that will revitalize downtown.

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About the Program

What is NY Forward?

NY Forward is a New York State program designed to help small communities revitalize their downtowns through strategic, community-driven investment.

NY Forward provides grant funding to support capital improvement projects that revitalize downtown areas across New York State. The Village of Victor was selected to receive $4.5 million in funding, which is available to business owners, property owners, and public entities for eligible projects within the NY Forward Study Area.

The planning process is guided by a Local Planning Committee (LPC) — a group of community members who work with a professional planning team to review project applications and identify investments with the greatest potential to benefit downtown Victor.

Community input is central to the process. Residents are encouraged to attend public events, submit project applications, and share feedback to help shape the future of downtown.

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State-Funded
Administered by NYS DOS, ESD, and HCR — with final funding decisions made by New York State.
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Downtown-Focused
All funded projects must be located within the defined NY Forward Study Area in downtown Victor.
🤝
Community-Driven
A Local Planning Committee of Victor residents and stakeholders guides project selection throughout the process.
Program Timeline
1
June 2026
Program Begins
Planning process begins.
2
Summer 2026
Open Call for Projects
Community members submit project applications.
3
Sept–Dec 2026
LPC Evaluation
Project applications reviewed and evaluated by the LPC.
We Are Here
4
Early 2027
Projects Submitted to NYS
LPC recommends select projects for consideration by NYS.
5
Summer 2027+
Awards & Implementation
Winning projects are announced; project work begins.
NY Forward Study Area

Downtown Victor Study Area

All NY Forward projects must be located within the Study Area boundary shown below.
You may propose a project outside the boundary if you provide justification for how the project benefits downtown.

Upcoming Events

Get Involved

All public meetings are open to Victor residents and stakeholders. Your participation helps shape the future of downtown.

On the Calendar
🔔
Stay Informed
Sign Up for Meeting Updates
✓ You're signed up!
Past Meetings
LPC Meeting 2
Finalize vision and goals, and review key findings from the Downtown Assessment and Market Analysis.
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
⬇ Presentation Meeting Summary Coming Soon
Public Workshop 1 and Project Application Information Session
Basics of the NY Forward program and how to submit a project application.
Thursday, August 6, 2026
⬇ Presentation Meeting Summary Coming Soon
LPC Meeting 1
Introduction to the NY Forward program.
Thursday, July 16, 2026
⬇ Presentation Meeting Summary Coming Soon
Proposed Projects

Project Applications Are Closed

The open call for projects has ended. Submitted applications are now being reviewed by the Local Planning Committee — see below for eligibility details and what happens next.

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Applications Status
Applications Now Under Review by the Local Planning Committee
SUBMISSION CLOSED
August 31
Important Things to Know

A few things worth understanding about project eligibility and funding requirements.

✅ Eligible Project Types

  • New construction or rehab — mixed-use, commercial, or public uses
  • Public improvements — parks, streetscapes, and public spaces
  • Downtown branding — signage and materials that promote downtown Victor
Ineligible Costs
Planning activities, operations and maintenance, property acquisition, existing programs, and costs already incurred are not eligible for funding.
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Reimbursement Program
Grant funds are released after the full project scope is completed. Applicants should plan for bridge financing through a loan, owner equity, or other mechanism.
⏳
Timing of Eligible Costs
Grant funding can only be used for project activities completed after the announcement of winning projects in Summer 2027. Any project activities completed before then cannot be reimbursed.
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No Guarantee of Funding
Not all submitted applications will be recommended or funded. Final funding decisions are made by New York State.
Informational Resources for Project Sponsors

New York State is offering several free webinars for project sponsors interested in learning more about specific topics, such as sustainability and historic preservation.

🌱
Decarbonization 101 Webinar
Are you interested in making your building more sustainable? Join this webinar to learn about decarbonization strategies that can help improve energy efficiency and reduce your costs.
Upcoming Session
September 10th at 1 PM
Register →
Past Webinar Recordings
Decarbonization 101 Webinar: Session 1
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
⬇ Presentation ▶ Webinar Recording
Historic Preservation Webinar
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Presentation Coming Soon ▶ Webinar Recording
Documents & Resources

Planning Library

Browse materials related to the Victor NY Forward process. New documents will be added as the planning process progresses.

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Victor's NY Forward Application
The Village of Victor was selected as one of two Finger Lakes communities to receive NY Forward funding in 2026. The Village's application for funding included preliminary project ideas. Additional projects will be identified during the upcoming planning process.
⬇ Download
📋
NY Forward Program Website
New York State's home for all things NY Forward, including process overview, participating communities, and past projects.
↗ Visit Site
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NY Forward Guidebook
Official guidebook for the NY Forward program, outlining key activities of the process including public engagement, downtown assessment, and project identification and implementation.
⬇ Download
📊
Public Workshop 1 and Project Application Information Session Presentation
Basics of the NY Forward program and a step-by-step walkthrough of how to submit a project application to be considered for potential funding.
⬇ Download
📊
LPC Meeting 1 Presentation
Introduction to the NY Forward program and the roles and responsibilities of the Local Planning Committee.
⬇ Download
📊
LPC Meeting 2 Presentation
Finalize vision and goals, and review key findings from the Downtown Assessment and Market Analysis.
⬇ Download
Frequently Asked Questions

Have Questions?

Everything you need to know about the Victor NY Forward process.

What is NY Forward? ⌄
NY Forward is a New York State grant program that provides $4.5 million to selected communities to fund capital improvement projects in downtown areas. Victor was selected as a winning community for this round of funding.
Who decides which projects get funded? ⌄
A Local Planning Committee (LPC) made up of Victor residents and stakeholders reviews applications and recommends projects to New York State for potential funding consideration. The final funding decisions are made by New York State.
Do I have to own property in downtown Victor to apply? ⌄
Eligible applicants include property owners, business owners, and public entities with projects located within the NY Forward Study Area. Use the address search tool on the map to check if your project is located within the Study Area boundary.
Can I apply if my property is just outside the Study Area? ⌄
The LPC may consider projects located just outside the Study Area if those projects are likely to have a transformative impact on downtown Victor. If your project is located outside the Study Area, you will be asked to provide a justification for why it should be considered in your application.
What types of projects are eligible? ⌄
New construction or rehabilitation of mixed-use, commercial, or public buildings; public improvements like parks, streetscapes, and plazas; and branding materials for downtown Victor such as signage or wayfinding.
What types of projects are NOT eligible? ⌄
Certain project activities such as planning, operations and maintenance, property acquisition, existing programs, and costs already incurred are not eligible for funding.
Is this a loan or a grant? ⌄
The NY Forward program provides matching grants to project sponsors. Match amounts will be determined by the LPC early in the planning process. It is also important to remember that NY Forward is a reimbursement program, meaning funds are released after the full project scope is completed. You'll need to plan for upfront financing (a loan, owner equity, or similar).
Is there a deadline to submit a project application? ⌄
Yes — completed applications were due on August 31.
I submitted an application, now what? ⌄
The LPC reviews and evaluates all applications, then recommends select projects to New York State for potential funding. NYS makes final award decisions. Not all submitted projects will be funded.
How can I get involved if I don't have a project to submit? ⌄
Attend public LPC meetings, submit feedback through this website, and sign up for meeting updates. Community input is an important element of this process even if you don't plan on submitting a project application.
How was the Study Area boundary determined? ⌄
The Village of Victor determined the Study Area boundary based on the locations of project ideas received while preparing its application for NY Forward funding. The boundary also aligns with the Central Business District and the Urban Renewal Area, and follows New York State's criteria requiring the area to be compact and walkable.
How was the Local Planning Committee selected? ⌄
The Local Planning Committee was established by New York State in collaboration with the Village of Victor. It's intended to provide a broad representation of the community, with members including residents, business owners, local organizations, and Village officials. LPC members volunteer their time and are not compensated for their participation in the NY Forward process.
How are conflicts of interest handled? ⌄
All LPC members are required to comply with the NY Forward program's Code of Conduct, as established by New York State. Members who have a conflict of interest with a proposed project are required to recuse themselves from advocating for or voting on that project.
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