Wednesday will be an important night in mapping the future of a Western New York municipality. Residents of the village of Gowanda are invited to attend the first meeting of the Local Planning Committee regarding the 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.

Besides residents, business owners, employers and potential investors are invited to attend to be part of the discussion for new investment and economic revitalization.

In addition, there will be an opportunity for public comments at the end. A series of public workshops and events will be scheduled later to provide residents with an opportunity to participate directly in the process.