Village of Westbury receives revitalization grant from state
The Village of Westbury’s revitalization efforts just got a helping hand to the sweet tune of $10 million dollars.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo stopped by the Space at Westbury on July 7, to announce that the Village was one of 10 statewide winners (and the only one Island-wide) to win a $10 million grant. The grant is part of the Governor’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, which allows local governments to partner with regional economic development councils, to voice what will work best for them in terms of creating vibrant, thriving downtown communities.
“The thrust is always economic development,” said Cuomo. “Economic development more and more happens [by region] around the state. Each region has different needs and assets and strategies. So we said to local governments, you tell us how to help you and what to do.”
The governor’s office held a competition, asking local governments to submit their best plans for downtown revitalization. One winner was selected from each region across the state and Cuomo commended the Village for “incorporating every strategy we know works.”
“It was really a job well done,” he said, noting that there were 122 applicants who applied for grants. “You use diversity as an asset, you have a transit-oriented plan, you have walking strategies. I believe this will be a great investment.”
Village of Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro said the funds will help generate long term growth for families and the community.
“As a mayor, I live and breathe making this community the best it can be. That means attracting talented people and bringing innovative companies to grow and expand here,” Cavallaro said. “There are scores of communities who wanted to be standing up here accepting this grant, and the Governor has placed in us to continue doing what we’ve been doing, and for that, we say thank you.”
