Applications now open for round 9 Restore New York funding; letters of intent due October 23

ALBANY, NY- Governor Kathy Hochul says that applications for the $50 million Round 9 of the Restore New York Communities Initiative grant program launched on Monday.

The funding, which was included as part of the FY25 Enacted Budget, supports municipalities’ efforts to demolish, rehabilitate, and restore blighted structures and transform them into vibrant residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments.

“We are revitalizing communities across New York State through the Restore New York Communities Initiative – giving towns and cities the chance to build a future that is safer, more affordable, and more livable,” Governor Hochul said.

“With Upstate municipalities still working to recover from major damage caused by July’s extreme weather, we’re prioritizing those projects and looking to other transformational opportunities that will better the lives of residents and businesses everywhere.”

The program is administered by Empire State Development (ESD) and, in this round, priority will be given to projects designed to address recovery efforts related to tornado and storm damage that occurred on July 15-16, 2024. A letter of intent to apply must be received by ESD by Wednesday, October 23.

Eligibility and application details here.

Restore New York grants can be used for vacant, abandoned, condemned, or surplus buildings and these properties can be demolished, deconstructed, rehabilitated, or reconstructed.

Emphasis will be placed on projects in economically distressed communities, projects that leverage other state or federal redevelopment funds, and the project's feasibility and readiness.

Eligible applicants include counties, cities, towns, and villages within New York State based on the following criteria:

• Cities with populations over 100,000 may apply for up to $2 million for one project. However, cities with populations exceeding one million residents and counties therein must apply for projects in a distressed area of the city.
• Cities and villages with populations between 40,000 and 99,999 may apply for one project up to $1.5 million.
• All other municipalities may apply for one project, up to $1 million.
• The amount for which a county is eligible to apply is based upon the municipality within which the project is located.

Image via the Office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul.