Downtown Partnership Program

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

Livingston County, NY is located in the Finger Lakes Region of NY State and includes 17 towns and 9 villages. The county prides itself on its agricultural heritage and rural character. Years ago the downtowns thrived in the local villages, but as transportation to nearby cities became easier, the villages began to suffer. Recently there has been a resurgence in “living local”- supporting local business, buying local food and enjoying local entertainment. Livingston County Development recognized the need to address the revitalization of the local downtowns and this led to the creation of the Downtown Partnership Program in 2011. The mission of the Downtown Partnership is to develop unique, authentic and vibrant communities that will create sustainable economic growth for Livingston County. This innovative program brings the 9 villages together under a single revitalization umbrella. Livingston County Development coordinates a half-dozen state and local programs that provide grant money for physical improvements and technical assistance. The Partnership provides programs and assistance in downtown revitalization, community development, preservation, marketing, entrepreneurship development and recruitment of new business. Rather than villages applying on their own to state and federal resources, they work directly with the county to revitalize their downtowns in a comprehensive manner. The program has leveraged more than $7 million in public and private investment to improve 120 buildings over the last five years. New York State has taken notice of the success of the Livingston County program and plans to use it as a model to establish a statewide New York Main Street Development Center. The center would provide assistance to local governments across New York State seeking to revitalize their own downtowns. Livingston County is proud to be an innovator for downtown revitalization in the state of New York.