The latest G/FL news for you

In this month’s edition of the G/FL Economic Recovery Series, we are featuring some funding opportunities as well as upcoming webinars around the region.

G/FLRPC Executive Director Announcement

The Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council is pleased to announce that Paul J Gavin has accepted the Full time position of Executive Director for the RPC and will begin his new position on October 4,2021.

A nationwide search and then vetting of candidates resulted in approximately 10 preliminary interviews via Zoom and then 6 semi-finalists were culled down to 3 finalists who had face to face interviews with members of the G/FL Executive Committee who recommended Paul Gavin to the Full G/FL Council of 40 members; a quorum of the full Council voted unanimously to offer the position to Mr. Gavin which he has accepted.

Paul will be coming back to the FL/WNY Region (he is a native of Dunkirk) with his family, with 30 years of public and private sector work experience including his most recent job as Executive Director at the Gulf Coast Regional Planning Commission in Biloxi, MS where he has been since May 2018.

Paul has degrees from the US Merchant Marine Academy and an MBA from St Bonaventure University. He has served his country in the US Merchant Marine AND US Naval Reserve.

Apply for the Hometown Grants Program

In partnership with Main Street America and Smart Growth America, T-Mobile is committing $25 million toward small town grants over the next five years through its Hometown Grants program. The program will award up to 100 towns per year with project funding grants of up to $50,000 each. The program will focus on revitalizing community spaces in towns with 50,000 people or less. Main Street programs are encouraged to apply.

For more information and to apply, click here

Do you have a fossil fuel plant in your community? The Just Transition Program can help

As part of New York State’s Community Leadership Community Protection Act (Climate Act), NYSERDA is supporting activities associated with site reuse planning to ensure a just transition away from the state’s conventional energy infrastructure.

The purpose of the Just Transition Site Reuse Planning Program is to mitigate the negative impacts of fossil fuel power plant site closures. NYSERDA’s Just Transition Site Reuse Planning Program (PON 4563) is offering planning assistance to municipalities that house closed or closing fossil fuel power plant facilities. Under this program, NYSERDA will provide 100% of the site reuse planning costs as defined in PON 4563, with no cost share required by the municipal applicant.

To learn more, click here

NYSERDA Clean Fleets Initiative webinar

Learn more about the Clean Fleets Initiative within NYSERDA's Clean Energy Communities Program. There will be discussions on the NYS Electric Vehicle incentives that are helping communities convert their fleets and advance the adoption of electric vehicles.

Upcoming HeatSmart Webinar!

Heat Pumps are a proven technology for year-round household climate control with long-term energy savings. HeatSmart Finger Lakes North wants to help homeowners across the region assess their heating and cooling options and take advantage of financing opportunities and tax credits.

Join HeatSmart FLX on September 21, 2021, at 5:30 to learn about the benefits of heat pumps and how to get the right financing for a comfortable and affordable home.

Please Join us on Zoom

Community Highlight - the Town of Mount Morris

Check out how the community of Mt. Morris is taking full advantage of Solar Initiatives to create jobs & enrich the school district while transitioning to 100% Renewable Energy.

Click to read the article

Training Opportunities

Regional Code Enforcement Training

2021 Code Enforcement Training Information:

November 2nd, 2021 - 8am-5pm - Training Session at the Batavia EMS. Click here to register for this training session and for more information.

November 15th, 2021 - 8am-5pm - Training Session at the Penfield Town Hall. Click here to register for this training session and for more information.

An Additional training session will be forthcoming in Lima. More information to come.

Click for more information

Fall Local Government Workshop Sessions

The Fall Local Government Workshop (LGW) is right around the corner. Remember to save the dates, October 18 through November 5. We will kick off the LGW with a special "meet GFL" session where you can hear from each of the staff members on our backgrounds and what we're working on, meet the new director, and chat with all of us (online).