Keeseville Hosts First Local Planning Committee Meeting and Public Engagement Events for NY Forward

Hamlet of Keeseville
Town of Ausable,
111 Ausable Street, Keeseville, NY 12944
&
Town of Chesterfield,
1 Vine Street, Keeseville, NY 12944

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  Contact: Tim Bresett
May 19, 2025                                                                             Phone: 518-834-9052

Keeseville Hosts First Local Planning Committee Meeting and Public Engagement Events for NY Forward

Keeseville, N.Y. – The Hamlet of Keeseville, along with its state partners, is pleased to announce the kick-off of the NY Forward planning process. The first Local Planning Committee (LPC) meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 12:00 PM in Ausable Town Hall, 111 Ausable Street, Keeseville, NY 12944. The meeting is open to the public and will include an opportunity for public comment at the conclusion of the meeting.

The Hamlet of Keeseville and its Local Planning Committee (LPC) also invite community members, business owners, and other stakeholders to participate in a Public Open House and Coffee with the Consultants. Public engagement is an essential part of the NY Forward process that helps shape the transformation of downtown Keeseville.

The Public Open House will be held on the same day as the LPC meeting, Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM at the Keeseville Elks Lodge #2072, 1 Elk Street, Keeseville, NY 12944. The Open House is an interactive engagement session that allows all attending community members and visitors to provide input to help the LPC formulate a final vision statement and a set of goals for the NY Forward process in Keeseville. Community members of all ages are encouraged to participate.

The following day, Friday, May 30, from 10:30AM – 12:00PM will be Coffee with the Consultants, where the consultant team can answer questions from community members and potential project sponsors. This event will be held at Village Roast Coffee Shop, 1725 Front St, Keeseville, NY 12944.

For more information, please visit the Keeseville NY Forward website at www.keesevillenyforward.com

NY Forward is a central component of the State’s economic development efforts, working together with the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), to accelerate and expand the revitalization of New York’s downtowns. NY Forward serves smaller communities with historic character that distinguishes them from the larger, more urban central business districts typically funded through DRI. NY Forward communities are walkable, less dense areas that serve the immediate local community, and are more local in nature – focusing on the immediately surrounding residential or rural agricultural centric development. Governor Kathy Hochul has committed $100 million for the third round of the NY Forward program. Each of the State’s ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) recommended two communities for NY Forward awards. In the North Country Region, Keeseville and Gouverneur were each the recipients of $4.5 million.

NY Forward is led by the Department of State, in close partnership with Empire State Development, NYS Homes and Community Renewal and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

The Local Planning Committee (LPC) includes local and regional leaders, stakeholders, and community representatives. LPC members will attend a variety of meetings at which they will be asked to brainstorm ideas, provide direction to consultants, review planning products, prioritize actions and evaluate potential projects. Town of Chesterfield Supervisor Clayton Barber, Town of Ausable Supervisor Tim Bresett, and Co-Chair of the North Country Regional Economic Development Council James McKenna, are the Keeseville LPC Co-Chairs.

Supervisor Clayton Barber, LPC Co-Chair said, “It’s wonderful to see Keeseville included in this round of the NY Forward Program. This is a valuable opportunity for Keeseville, and we’re eager to partner with the Local Planning Committee and residents to shape a shared vision for the future that supports local businesses, boosts the economy, and enhances everyday life in our community.”

Supervisor Tim Bresett, LPC Co-Chair said, “Being chosen for the NY Forward Program is a meaningful step forward for Keeseville. This investment brings new energy and possibilities, and we’re excited to work together with the community to build a stronger, more vibrant future for everyone who calls Keeseville home”.

James McKenna, Co-Chair of the North Country Regional Economic Development Council, and LPC Co-Chair said, “Keeseville’s selection for the NY Forward Program marks an exciting new chapter for the community. With the support of this initiative, we have a unique chance to turn local ideas into impactful projects that reflect the community’s spirit and set the stage for long-term growth and revitalization.”

Public engagement is a key component of the NY Forward planning process and fundamental to the success of NY Forward. The objective of public engagement is to ensure that all stakeholders have ample opportunity to be informed about the NY Forward process and its intended outcomes; to comment on the process as it progresses; to express their concerns and contribute ideas; and to participate in building a consensus about the vision for the downtown and other outcomes, culminating in a locally supported NY Forward Strategic Investment Plan. Public workshops and engagement activities will be scheduled throughout the effort to allow opportunity for public input. More information about NY Forward can be found at https://www.ny.gov/programs/ny-forward.  

The NY Forward process is being facilitated by a consultant team led by M.J. Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Land Surveying, P.C. and supported by Andropogon, E.M. Pemrick & Company, and Captain Consulting.

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