The Village of Gouverneur and its NY Forward Local Planning Committee (LPC) invite residents, business owners, and community stakeholders to participate in a Public Open House to explore and provide feedback on potential downtown improvement projects through the NY Forward Program.
The Public Open House will take place on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Gouverneur Community Center, 4673 NY-58, Gouverneur. This interactive event will present potential projects and gather input to help the LPC identify the most impactful opportunities to recommend to New York State for funding consideration. All community members are encouraged to attend and share their perspectives. Family-friendly activities, including a kid’s table, will be available.
This is the second open house hosted by the Village as part of the NY Forward planning process. Community feedback is essential in shaping a vision for a stronger, more vibrant downtown. The LPC has been evaluating a number of project proposals for potential NY Forward funding consideration based on a series of evaluation criteria. The open house will be an opportunity for the public to review the proposed projects and provide feedback.
In addition, the LPC will hold what is anticipated to be its final meeting the next day, on Thursday, September 25, from 12:00 to 2:00 PM at the Gouverneur Community Center. This fifth meeting will focus on developing a final slate of projects for recommendation to New York State. The meeting is open to the public and will include an opportunity for public comments at the start.
For more information, please visit the Gouverneur NY Forward website at www.GouverneurNyForward.com.
NY Forward is a central component of the State’s economic development efforts, working together with the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), to accelerate and expand the revitalization of New York’s downtowns. NY Forward serves smaller communities with historic character that distinguishes them from the larger, more urban central business districts typically funded through DRI. NY Forward communities are walkable, less dense areas that serve the immediate local community, and are more local in nature - focusing on the immediately surrounding residential or rural agricultural centric development. Governor Kathy Hochul has committed $100 million for the third round of the NY Forward program. Each of the State’s ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) recommended two communities for NY Forward awards. In the North Country Region, Gouverneur and Keeseville were each the recipients of a $4.5 million award.
NY Forward 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 Local Planning Committee (LPC) includes local and regional leaders, stakeholders, and community representatives. LPC members attend meetings at which they are asked to brainstorm ideas, provide direction to consultants, review planning products, prioritize actions, and evaluate potential projects. Village Mayor Ronald McDougall and Zvi Szafran, President of SUNY Canton and North Country Regional Economic Development Council member, are the Gouverneur LPC Co-Chairs.
The NY Forward process is being facilitated by a consultant team led by M.J. Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Land Surveying, P.C. and supported by Andropogon, Hamlin Design Group, E.M. Pemrick & Company, and Captain Consulting.