The New York State Brownfield Opportunity Area Program is administered and managed through the New York State Department of State. The program provides financial and technical assistance to complete area-wide planning approaches to brownfield redevelopment and revitalization. The greatest aspect of the program is that it is not limited to brownfield sites – it recognizes the impacts that brownfields, perceived brownfields, underutilized properties, and vacant sites can have on a community. Thus, the program focuses on community and neighborhood-based economic development as it relates to improving overall conditions and enhancing opportunities for reinvestment and revitalization.

Additional information on the BOA Program can be found on the NYS DOS website here.

The goals of the project in North Tonawanda are to:

• Inventory and assess the full range of problems and issues associated with multiple brownfield, vacant, and underutilized sites;
• Develop a vision and community consensus on the future uses of strategic brownfield sites;
• Coordinate with local community members, regional partners, and state and federal agencies; and
• Develop public-private partnerships that will help North Tonawanda leverage investment in development projects that can revitalize sites within the boundary.

Benefits of participating in the program include:

• Establishment of a community vision and strategy for revitalization;
• Identification of a remediation strategy for catalyst sites;
• Development of a comprehensive site inventory to serve as the basis for redevelopment scenarios;
• Identification of realistic and appropriate future uses and businesses;
• Recognition of future direction desired by the community that clarifies opportunities for investors and developers;
• Improved environmental quality; and
• Increased competitiveness for other funding programs.