Consultants Pitch 'Transformational' Funding Opportunities for Albion Revitalization
Village Board met with grant consultants to explore potential funding through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward programs, aiming to secure state dollars for future community projects.
●Board met with G&G Municipal Consulting to discuss DRI Round 9 and NY Forward Round 4 grants.
●Special meeting called to order at 6:11 p.m. by Deputy Mayor William Gabalski.
●Mayor Angel Javier Jr. and Trustee Greg Bennett were absent from the brief session.
●Meeting adjourned at 6:43 p.m.
ALBION — With an eye toward securing major state funding for future improvements, the Village Board met Tuesday evening to discuss potential grant opportunities that could shape the municipality's future.
During a special session held at Village Hall, board members listened to a presentation from consulting firm G&G Municipal Consulting & Grant Writing regarding two significant funding streams: the ninth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and the fourth round of the NY Forward (NYF) program.
Representatives Heather Grant and Scott Barto led the discussion, outlining how the Village of Albion could leverage these state programs. While the minutes do not detail specific projects proposed for funding, the DRI and NYF programs are typically used by New York State to invest in the vitality of downtown areas and smaller, walkable neighborhoods.
For Albion, which sits along the Erie Canal and boasts a rich collection of 19th-century architecture, these grants often focus on revitalizing historic business districts and improving public infrastructure.
The board's discussion with consultants comes as the village continues to navigate economic development and infrastructure needs. Earlier in the year, the board addressed issues ranging from ground leases to energy efficiency and personnel matters. However, Tuesday's meeting was strictly focused on information gathering regarding the grants.
Deputy Mayor William Gabalski presided over the meeting, as Mayor Angel Javier Jr. was absent. Trustee Greg Bennett was also excused. The session, which lasted just over 30 minutes, was adjourned shortly after the presentation concluded.
No decisions were made Tuesday, as the meeting was intended to allow the board to gather information from the consultants. The village will likely need to decide whether to formally apply for the grants in the coming months.
**Attendance Record**
* **Present:** Deputy Mayor William Gabalski, Trustee Joyce Riley, Trustee Tim McMurray.
* **Absent:** Mayor Angel Javier Jr.
* **Excused:** Trustee Greg Bennett.
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Coverage of the Board of Trustees meeting on 2025-09-23,
Village of Albion, NY.
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This article was drafted by AI (claude-sonnet-4-20250514) from the official meeting transcript and reviewed by a human editor.
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