East Williamsburg just got a serious boost from Albany. On Wednesday, Governor Kathy Hochul said the neighborhood will receive $20 million in combined state grants to revive its downtown, expand affordable housing and give small businesses a lift. The package pairs $10 million from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative with $10 million from the NY Forward program, making East Williamsburg New York City’s pick in this latest funding round.
State Taps East Williamsburg For DRI And NY Forward Cash
According to Governor Kathy Hochul’s office, East Williamsburg was named the New York City winner in the ninth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and the fourth round of NY Forward, bringing a combined $20 million into the neighborhood. State officials say the money is aimed at projects that are ready to move, with the goal of strengthening the local economy and shoring up the housing stock.
“East Williamsburg is a neighborhood that embodies the ideals that make New York great, from family‑owned restaurants to small businesses that light up the community,” Hochul said in the release. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso called the award “a resounding victory for the generations of families, workers, small business owners and community organizations that have built East Williamsburg and stood by it through decades of change.” Governor Kathy Hochul’s office also includes additional statements and background on the programs.
Local Partners And Priorities
The application was led by Borough President Reynoso in partnership with the Graham Avenue BID and the Grand Street BID, with local business and civic groups set to help steer which projects get the green light. The neighborhood’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative materials flag likely priorities such as streetscape and public‑realm upgrades, storefront and façade rehab, small‑business support and workforce development. The East Williamsburg DRI website features a community survey and examples of potential projects on the table.
What Comes Next
Next up, East Williamsburg will craft a Strategic Investment Plan under a Local Planning Committee that includes community representatives, planners and state staff. That plan will decide how the $20 million gets divided among housing, business and public‑space projects. As reported by Brooklyn Eagle, the committee and state agencies are expected to hold public meetings so residents and merchants can weigh in on priorities. Local BIDs and community organizations say they are already doing outreach to collect proposals and highlight projects that are ready to move quickly into design or construction.
