If you have a great idea on how to improve Highland Falls, and you think it will fall within the parameters of the state’s NY Forward program, you’ve got to make it known by this Friday, August 9.

The ‘open call for projects’ ends this week.

The NY Forward program will provide $4.5 million in grants to help boost the Highland Falls economy, but it’s not just a blank check. Projects have to be submitted to the Local Planning Committee (LPC), then recommended to the state and vetted, and, if approved, awarded a certain amount of funds. Projects can range in both cost and size, from small improvements to large -scale construction projects.

While the designated boundary for the projects is from Main St. in front of Thayer Gate to the vicinity of Walgreens, it was also announced recently that “transformative projects outside the NY Forward boundary can be submitted and the LPC can consider boundary adjustments”.

It’s been said all along -- since the grant was announced in February -- that projects which are selected, whether public or private, will be subject to a 25% match in the overall cost. Mayor Joe D’Onofrio said recently that he has lobbied the state to reduce that amount to a 10% match to encourage local stakeholders to participate. Both he and members of the Chamber of Commerce have been going door-to-door.

Facelifts to Main St. buildings are one of the things that can be applied for with the grant.

The next LPC meetings is set for Wednesday, Sept. 18, from 5-7 p.m. at the Highland Falls Senior Center.

To learn more about the NY Forward program, or specifics to the Highland Falls grant, visit.highlandfallsnyf.com. To talk about the potential of projects, reach out to The Highland Falls NY Forward LPC members Mayor D’Onofrio, Michael Hauser, James Titolo, Gabe O’Connell, Stella Bailey, Dee Moreno, Bobbie Fallon, Jeff Gathers, George Biskup or Paula Holt. They are the community residents who serve on the LPC.