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Economic Recovery Series: Child Care
Child care is a vital but often overlooked component of regional economic development. Not only is this industry crucial to early childhood development, but it also supports labor force participation and workforce development. In fact, each G/FL community surveyed identified access to affordable child care as one of the most pressing issues they are facing. Attached is an informational “white paper” identifying two proven economic development strategies that have successfully mediated common issues of both home- and center-based care.
Funding Opportunities
Clean Energy Communities
Across the State, local governments are striving to create a healthy and sustainable environment by investing in future-focused clean energy solutions for their community, while at the same time facing unprecedented societal and financial challenges.

NYSERDA’s new Clean Energy Communities Leadership Round provides the resources and funding to help local governments successfully execute and achieve those goals.

The Leadership Round provides more opportunities for municipalities to improve their community, access increased grant funding, and earn recognition. With continued coordinator support and guidance for implementing high-impact clean energy actions, you have a clear path to building community-wide resiliency and economic opportunity.

Please join Rob Richardson, CEC Coordinator, and Jenny Loewenstein from the Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council (G/FLRPC) for this webinar to learn how your municipality can benefit from becoming a Clean Energy Community.

Please join the G/FL Region Roll-out Event on March 10th, 2021 at 6:30 pm. To register:
For more information on the CEC Program and/or the Regional Roll-out Event, please contact:

Rob Richardson
Clean Energy Communities Coordinator
Genesee / Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council
(585) 454-0190 x21
Northern Border Regional Commission
The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) State Economic & Infrastructure Development Investment Program provides federal funds for critical economic and community development projects throughout the northeast.

Click the button below for a summary one-pager on the NBRC Economic & Infrastructure Development Investment program. Full application materials will be released March 8th, 2021.

For more information on the program, please click on the map.
Other News
2021 Municipal Bootcamp Program
We are happy to announce a FREE training program to assist local governments, town officials, and planning and zoning boards to meet their annual training requirement.

In total, the program will include 10 hours of remote training designed to provide a comprehensive education that encompasses all aspects of municipal governance. Each program in the series will be provided remotely on the fourth Thursday of each month with subject matter experts and knowledgeable attorneys. Topics will be lively, useful and - potentially as important - qualify for the education requirements for members of Planning Boards and Zoning Boards of Appeals. 

The next session: Session 3: Your Role in State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) will provide a comprehensive overview of the SEQR act and critical elements for every board and staff member to understand. This session is scheduled for Thursday March 25th, 2021 from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm.

For more information on the municipal bootcamp, upcoming topics, and to register, please click the button below.
The Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act: What Municipalities Should Know
Please join us for this informational webinar series. The debate over legalizing marijuana for adult, recreational use in New York has been brewing for the last two years, but disagreements on the issue coupled with a global pandemic have kept it out of reach for lawmakers. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo came out with a proposal to legalize cannabis last year, called the Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act. Will 2021 be the year it is passed? And what does the legislation mean for your municipality?

The next session of this series will take place on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021 from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm. In this installment, we will discuss municipal planning and land use topic for cannabis-related businesses. Do you want it in your municipality? What steps to take to find out how your community feels? And what steps to take if your community is opposed?

Session Three: The Burn Zone…The zoning and land use implications of the Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act.
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