Cattaraugus Downtown Revitalization Seeks Public Input for $10M Project
Cattaraugus Downtown Revitalization Seeks Public Input for $10M Project
Community Input Sought at June Events to Shape Strategic Plan for Village Revitalization and Economic Growth
CATTARAUGUS - Representatives from the Village of Cattaraugus Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) will be present at the Community Day Event being held at the Cattaraugus-Little Valley Schools on Saturday, June 14th from 10:00am-1:00pm. Members of the community are encouraged to stop by the DRI table to learn more about the program, provide input on community priorities and potential projects, and complete a public survey. The survey will be open until August 1, 2025.
In addition, the first Public Workshop for the Village of Cattaraugus DRI will be held on Wednesday, June 18th from 5:30-7:00pm in the Cattaraugus-Little Valley School Cafeteria. The workshop will include a brief presentation on the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and the Village’s DRI application followed by interactive exercises to gather feedback on community issues, opportunities, and needs as well as the vision, goals, and strategies for revitalization. Copies of the public survey will be available to complete during the workshop, or it can be completed online.
The public is also encouraged to attend the second Cattaraugus DRI Local Planning Committee (LPC) meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 25th from 5:30-7:30pm in the Cattaraugus-Little Valley School Cafeteria. The meeting will include a recap of recent public engagement activities; a summary of past plans and recent investments in the community; a review of proposed changes to the DRI boundary area; a discussion of the vision, goals, and strategies for the DRI area; and an overview of the process for soliciting and evaluating projects to be considered for inclusion in the Cattaraugus DRI Strategic Investment Plan. This is a working meeting of the LPC but there will be an opportunity for public comments at the end.
Public input is critical to the DRI program. The public survey is available online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cattaraugusdri and will soon be available in hard copy with drop-boxes for submission at locations around the Village including Village Hall and other locations to be determined.
About the DRI Program: New York State's Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) is a cornerstone of the State's economic development program. The DRI transforms downtown neighborhoods and business districts into vibrant centers that offer a high quality of life and are magnets for redevelopment, business, job creation, and economic and housing diversity. The DRI is led by the Department of State, in close partnership with Empire State Development, NYS Homes and Community Renewal and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
The Village of Cattaraugus was nominated by the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council and selected by the State to receive a $10 million award through the DRI program. The DRI investment will allow Cattaraugus to develop a Strategic Investment Plan and implement key catalytic projects that advance Cattaraugus’s vision for revitalization of the Village. Projects selected for DRI funding will transform the community and support a vibrant local economy. The DRI planning process is guided by a Local Planning Committee comprising diverse community stakeholders. For more information, visit www.CattaraugusDRI.com.