FALCONER – Village officials feel positive they may hear good news after a recent grant interview with state officials for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant and the NY Forward grant.

Village Trustee Alan Gustafson Jr. discussed the interview at the meeting. Gustafson stated that those in attendance included himself, Mrs. Gustafson, Mayor James Jaroszynski, and West Main Mercantile owner Ange Marra. Gustafson stated at the meeting that he felt that this was the best interview that officials have been to yet.

While this is the village’s first time applying for the DRI grant, the village has previously applied for the NY Forward grant for the past three years. Gustafson noted many productive questions from the committee, and mentioned the hope of positive results come March 2026.

Jaroszynski elaborated further on the officials excitement following the meeting. Jaroszynski stated that the village has been heavily encouraged to complete both applications by the county and Empire State Development, the organization behind the grant distribution. The officials from Empire State Development seem to have taken a great deal of interest in the happenings of the village as well. Jaroszynski stated that the group has been incredibly involved in the villages’ application process, even having completed multiple visits to the village. Of these people that have taken tours, Western New York Director Karen Utz has been repeatedly present. On top of that, numerous other members of the board have also come along to explore the village in person, said Jaroszynski.

During tours of the village, Jaroszynski explained to the board member that, despite a relatively small size, Falconer is a booming village full of business and opportunity. While the village is only about one square mile in area, there are between 800 and 1,000 manufacturing jobs located there at a given time. The variety of production-based jobs come from a range of village organizations including SKF, Stuart Tool and Die, Ellison Bronze, Fancher Chair Co., Hanson Signs Co., and many more. The presence of manufacturing is so strong in the village that each October it is celebrated with the Made in Falconer day, which commemorates the manufacturing within the village.

Decisions on what municipalities will be awarded are expected to be released in March, 2026. The village officials eagerly wait in anticipation for now, hoping that Empire State Development will recognize the many possibilities that these grants could open up for the village.