Aiming at ‘investment’
Falconer committee begins piecing together $4.5M plan
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FALCONER – The Village of Falconer is seeking its piece of a $4.5 million grant from New York State.
Members of the Falconer Local Planning Commission (FLPC) met at the Village Fire Hall Training Center, located at 115 Davis St., on Wednesday to better understand how to tap into a $4.5 million grant issued through a state program called NY Forward (NYF).
Committee members include James Jaroszynski, mayor; Shane Marcheson, Western New York Economic Development Council; Brenda Cavallaro, village historian (Falconer); P.J. Degnan, owner of Stuart Tool and Die; Dr. Mary Fales, owner of Falconer Veterinary Clinic; Nina Gustafson, area retail manager for a local bank; Elixabeth Jones, community impact officer for the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation; Josiah Lamp, program manager, Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth; Angelo Marra, co-owner of West Main Mercantile; Joseph Sanfilippo, owner of Sanfilippo Solutions; Christopher Schrader, director of Falconer Park and Summer Recreation Program; Ed Sullivan, president and CEO, Hanson Sign Company and Ro Woodard, board member of Falconer Central School Distict Board of Education.
Project Manager Joshua Greene of LaBella Associates hosted the two-hour meeting and guided the committee members through the processes required to secure project funding.
"In our first meeting, held on July 29th, we covered the state, LPC, and consultant team introductions, an overview of the NYF program and timeline, confirmation of the NYF boundary, and the Falconer Village application review and a visioning exercise," said Greene. "In this meeting we will cover planning and process and community engagement updates, review past plans and recent investments, vision, goals and strategies, the characteristics of a strong project and local evaluation criteria, and an open call for project overview and reach.”
Greene explained that as of Aug. 12 the project website was live, and the site had 124 unique visitors and 10 community members; a public survey which went live on Aug. 13 will close at the end of September – to date 32 surveys had been submitted; there is currently an open call for project infro session scheudled to take place Sept. 1 at 5:30 p.m. at the Falconer Public Library (101 W Main St.)
"We will also be setting up a table at the Falconer School District Back to School Bash on Sept. 3, and we will host engagement activities at the Chamber of Commerce Made in Falconer Event scheduled for Sept. 9," he said.
Additionally, Greene highlighted some of the public and private investments the Falconer area has received in the past.
“The Village of Falconer and the surrounding area have experienced more than $101 million of private and public investments,” he said. "Falconer Central Schools received $18,650,00 since 2021 for a three-phase capital improvement project for the whole campus; Prevention Works Inc, which relocated to the heart of Falconer, received $425,000 to help better facilitate access to programs and services offered; and the Falconer Fire Department received a grant in 2024 to purchase and upgrade new equipment for $325,000.
Greene said part of the goals and strategies included the revitalization of the Falconer central business district and Welcoming Village Center to include: investing in accessible, pedestrian-safety improvements and streetscape amenities, such as crosswalks, signals, seating, landscaping and trash receptacles to increase walkability and support street-level activities; Expanding transportation choices by supporting multi-modal infrastructure; commissioning public art installations which enliven spaces and celebrate Falconer's history and culture; Coordinate incentives, technical assistance and public and private investment to improve building facades that make the area more attractive and inviting.
The committee voted unanimously to pass the LPC’s vision statement and requested only a minor change to the goals and strategies section.
"Buildings where the bottom-level is used for commercial purposes, and the upper-level is residential, are one area that should be looked at for investment," he said.
Greene added the next meeting, scheduled for Sept. 30, will review all project application submissions; remove projects from consideration as necessary; and amend the NY Forward boundary as necessary. The fourth meeting, scheduled for Oct. 28, will review project profiles 1.0; request additional information from projects, as necessary; and remove projects from consideration or request project modifications, as necessary. A fifth meeting is scheduled for Nov. 18 and will cover reviewing project profiles 2.0; reviewing LPC and public evaluation results; and removing projects or requesting additional information from projects as necessary. A final meeting is scheduled for Dec. 19, where a final vote will be taken on a slate of projects to be recommended for approval. Locations for the upcoming meetings are yet to be determined.
For more information on the Falconer NY Forward program or to complete a survey, visit www.falconerny.gov/ and click the Take A Survey button.