New York State is sending another wave of downtown investment into the Finger Lakes. Governor Kathy Hochul announced 23 projects for Canandaigua, Brockport and Phelps through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward programs.
The project map
Canandaigua, a $10 million DRI winner, received 10 project awards. Brockport, a $4.5 million NY Forward winner, received six. Phelps, also a $4.5 million NY Forward winner, received seven.
The awards cover a broad downtown toolkit: small project grant funds, upper-floor apartments, streetscape upgrades, public gathering spaces, canal-front workforce housing, accessibility improvements, historic preservation and new event venues.
Why this matters beyond the Finger Lakes
These projects show how New York is using local downtowns as economic platforms. The same dollars can support housing supply, tourism, small business retention, public space, historic buildings and workforce attraction. That matters as regions compete for residents, visitors and employers.
For investors and local business owners, the most important signal is whether state grants unlock follow-on private activity: building renovations, new leases, food and beverage concepts, residential units and event programming that bring people into downtown outside traditional office hours.
Housing remains part of the strategy
The state says DRI and NY Forward communities must be certified under the Pro-Housing Communities Program to receive these awards. That links downtown revitalization with housing growth and puts pressure on local governments to treat housing as part of economic development.
Source: Governor Kathy Hochul, May 15, 2026. Read the official release.