OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen The Village of Gowanda will hold its first meeting of the Local Planning Committee (LPC) on Wednesday at the Hollywood Theater, located at 39 West Main Street in Gowanda.

GOWANDA — The Village of Gowanda will hold its first meeting of the Local Planning Committee (LPC) on Wednesday regarding the Village’s NY Forward grant funding plans. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the Hollywood Theater, located at 39 W. Main St.

The Village of Gowanda is the recipient of a $4.5 million New York State NY Forward award for the Western New York region, which will be used to fund transformational projects in downtown Gowanda.

The Village was nominated for the award by the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council, and ultimately selected by New York State for the $4.5 million award because the Village demonstrated significant potential for new investment and economic revitalization.

The LPC will collaborate with State partners and a consultant team to develop a Strategic Investment Plan that will guide the implementation of catalytic projects that advance the community’s vision for revitalization.

The meeting will provide an overview of the NY Forward program, the Strategic Investment Plan components, and the Village’s NY Forward application. Additionally, the LPC will discuss the Open Call for Projects process, whereby projects can be submitted for funding consideration, and the public survey aimed at gathering community input.

The Village encourages and welcomes the participation of its residents, business owners, employers, and potential investors.

Wednesday’s meeting is open to the public and there will be an opportunity for public comments at the end. A series of public workshops and events will also be scheduled to provide residents with an opportunity to participate directly in the process.

For more information, please contact the Gowanda NYF lead planning consultant, Derik Kane, at (716) 551-6230 or at dkane@labellapc.com