Town of Oneonta Moves Forward with Strategic Vision Plan for West End Corridor

By JOSHUA YOUNGQUIST ONEONTA

The Town of Oneonta is taking its first major steps toward shaping the future of the West End corridor, launching a Strategic Vision Plan that aims to blend community priorities, economic development and long‑term infrastructure needs.

The effort—led by Town Supervisor Will Rivera in partnership with SUNY Oneonta—is rooted in a simple premise: The people who live, work and spend time in the West End should define what comes next.

The initiative began when the town became aware of an opportunity from Empire State Development to apply for feasibility funding. 

“This came about because we received an ask from New York State ESD to apply for this feasibility funding opportunity,” Rivera said.

 He noted that the application was submitted under the previous town board, in collaboration with SUNY Oneonta, to secure funding for a comprehensive study of the corridor.

SUNY Oneonta’s role has been hands‑on from the beginning.

“We applied together for this funding…working in collaboration and providing support in applying, writing the grants, getting things ready for it,” Rivera explained.

Today, Rivera, along with Caroline Williams from SUNY Oneonta, serves as part of the executive core team guiding the study.