WADDINGTON — The Village of Waddington has received $2.25 million as part of the NY Forward grant program.

NY Forward, similar to the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, aims to assist smaller and rural communities with “equitable downtown recovery.”

"The NY Forward award will be a game changer for Waddington, and build on the incredible work that local residents and business owners have done for years. As Mayor of Waddington, I am grateful to Governor Hochul and her clear commitment to rebuilding and strengthening the economy not only in Waddington but throughout the North Country. Our successful application would not have been possible without the hard work of the small committee of local residents who created the draft. Their commitment to community, innovative thought, and cooperative work in completing this application is just one example of the generosity and volunteerism that makes Waddington such a special place,” Mayor Mike Zagrobelny said.

The funds, which were announced with the $100 million program on Jan. 23, will allow the village to revitalize the downtown area.

A local planning committee made up of municipal representatives, community leaders and other stakeholders will work with state planners to develop a strategy to assess local opportunities and projects for investment.

Funding will be awarded to projects that the LPC and state officials feel will “jumpstart revitalization” and generate long-term growth.

Waddington also recently applied for a RESTORE NY grant to restore the Clark House on Main St.

The Clark House was opened as a public house on Main Street in Waddington in 1831.

After a fire in 1887, it was rebuilt as the brick structure we see today, and served the public well into the 1900s.

After years as a vacant structure, the Clark House was saved from demolition in 2002 by Clark House Preservation, Inc.

Clark House Preservation Inc. has stabilized the structure, including demolition of the south wing, installation of foundation walls, basement floor slab, structural steel support columns, etc. Other investments include a new roof, new heating system, energy-efficient windows, fully-accessible bathroom, ceiling, and more.