With a deadline looming to submit an application for a downtown revitalization grant, Town of Crawford officials have decided to wait until next year.

That decision came at last week’s town board meeting where, after much discussion amongst the board and the attendees, it was felt that it may not be feasible to apply this year and may be better off trying to apply for the grant next year. Earlier, the town had submitted a letter of intent to participate in the Application process for local projects in the Pine Bush Hamlet area under the Downtown Revitalization Initiative Program, (NY-Forward).

Last month, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the creation of the NY Forward program to invigorate and enliven downtowns in New York’s smaller and rural communities—the type of downtowns found in villages, hamlets and other small, neighborhood-scale municipal centers. The State has allocated $100 million for the first round of NY Forward. Each of the State’s ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) will have the option of recommending two communities for $4.5 million NY Forward awards or three communities one of which will receive $4.5 million and two will be awarded $2.25 million.