The Peru Gazette

Empire State Development’s (ESD) Board of Directors today approved more than $4.4 million to support six economic development projects in the Western New York, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, North Country and New York City regions. The funding will leverage more than $5.6 million in private and additional public investments to support businesses, improve important infrastructure and lay the groundwork for future economic growth and job creation.
“Under the leadership of Governor Cuomo, we are making targeted investments that are supporting major economic development projects across New York State,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams. “From supporting the creation of business parks and technology centers to advancing the manufacturing industry, these projects are creating jobs and building a solid foundation for future growth.”

The ESD Board approved the following Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) grants:

Plattsburgh Airport Water Infrastructure (North Country Region – Clinton County) – $200,000
Clinton County will use a grant of up to $200,000 for a portion of the cost of water supply infrastructure upgrades and improvements to the Plattsburgh International Airport. Clinton County has owned and operated the airport, formerly the U.S. Air force Base at Plattsburgh, as a full-service civilian airport and commercial-industrial complex. The airport’s 60-year-old water supply infrastructure desperately needed to be upgraded, as some areas had inadequate water supply to provide water service for commercial customers and fire protection services. Additionally, the existing mains have exceeded their design lifespan, resulting in frequent ruptures and increasing the financial burden to the taxpayers within the water district.

Elmira College (Southern Tier Region – Chemung County) – $2,250,000
Elmira College, a coeducational liberal arts college, will use a grant of up to $2,250,000 for a portion of the cost of construction for the renovation of its health sciences facility with modern infrastructure, new furniture, fixtures and lab equipment. The project focuses on providing expanded opportunities for training healthcare providers and strengthening the healthcare industry, while creating a healthier population throughout the region. The Health Sciences Center will address the demand for baccalaureate-prepared nursing students and other skilled health care professionals, whose job growth is projected to increase by 26% through 2020. By establishing a state-of-the-art center with innovative educational programs, the college will be able to enroll additional students and hire faculty and staff.

This is a Southern Tier REDC priority project and is aligned with its Strategic Plan and defined strategies, including Health Care 2020 and Economic Development Backbone to improve healthcare workforce development. As a result of the project, the college will retain 8 existing jobs and will create 11 new jobs.

Buffalo Center for the Arts and Technology– (Western New York Region – Erie County) – $800,000
The Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT), a not-for-profit corporation providing adult and youth educational services, will use a grant of up to $800,000 for a portion of the cost of renovating its facility to expand training opportunities. BCAT offers adult health sciences training to unemployed or underemployed Buffalo residents, and its youth programs are geared towards at-risk Buffalo teenagers, aiming to increase graduation rates and prepare them for real-life experiences following graduation. The project involves interior renovations of the 14,000-square-foot garden level and first floor of the Artspace Buffalo, mixed-use buildings which provide 60 units of affordable housing for artists and their families, and the acquisition and installation of furniture, fixtures and equipment necessary to establish the BCAT operation.

The completed BCAT facility will include classrooms, labs, work spaces, a meeting room, library and offices utilized for two co-located, scholarship-based, core programs: an After School Program and an Adult Training Program. The project is expected to provide training and life skills to over 350 Buffalo high school students and 150 underemployed or unemployed adults within three years of completion of the project.

Western New York Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park – (Finger Lakes Region – Genesee County) – $670,783
The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC), a public benefit corporation, will use grants of up to $500,000 and up to $170,783 for a portion of the costs for the purchase of additional land to create the Western New York Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP). STAMP has been designated a Priority Project by the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council, and the park will support the advanced technology and manufacturing industries in the region.

ESD has been involved in the STAMP project for five years, and has previously approved over $4.6 million in discretionary funding. ESD offered the new assistance due to the need to purchase additional parcels before purchase options expire. The project will position Western NYS as a hub for advanced technology manufacturing and spur significant regional economic growth, as it will potentially generate up to 1,200 jobs at the STAMP site by the end of 2016, and over 9,300 projected jobs at full build-out in 2032. GCEDC, in conjunction with other regional economic development organizations and ESD, has presented the case for attracting companies to STAMP at semi-conductor industry symposiums and trade shows across the United States.

Amsterdam IDA (Mohawk Valley Region – Montgomery County) – $225,000
The Amsterdam Industrial Development Agency (AIDA) will use a grant of up to $225,000 to be used for a portion of the cost of construction and renovation of two vacant buildings in Amsterdam’s central business district. In December 2012, AIDA and other state agencies (including the New York State Canal Corporation and the New York State Department of Transportation) targeted the City of Amsterdam’s Downtown Central Business District, which had been deteriorating for over 20 years, for extensive rehabilitation to make the area more accessible and attractive for visitors and residents. The District is the only federally designated Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Zone within the county of Montgomery.

AIDA sought to purchase and renovate a number of vacant buildings in the District that could not be restored by the private sector due to the low return on investment, identifying two adjacent buildings (44 and 46 East Main Street) formerly owned by the Montgomery County United Way that could serve as cornerstones in the downtown area. AIDA hoped to rehabilitate these buildings and rent them to new business tenants, but encountered a funding gap in their budget plan. AIDA applied through CFA Round 2 for support to bridge the funding gap in completing the rehabilitation of the buildings and was awarded funds from the Urban and Community Development Program, which targets highly distressed communities. Without ESD’s assistance, the rehabilitation of the buildings could not have taken place.

The project is consistent with the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council’s regional plan to foster an entrepreneurial spirit, renew communities, and reclaim the region’s urban landscape.

The County applied for ESD funding through the North Country REDC and was awarded $200,000 as the project is consistent with the North Country’s Strategic Plan, specifically to improve the quality of life and provide for health, safety and fire protection of North Country communities by insuring adequate water supply infrastructure.

The Board approved the following Urban and Community Development grant:

New York City Economic Development Corporation– (New York City Region – All NYC Counties) – $300,000
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), acting on behalf of New York City, will use a working capital grant of up to $300,000 for a portion of the cost of consultant fees related to the creation of a One-Stop Waterfront Permitting Resource website, which will streamline the permitting process for maritime businesses and waterfront property owners.

In New York City, maritime businesses and property owners trying to carry out waterfront construction grapple with a complex permitting process involving City, State and Federal agencies; applicants are often unaware of the type of permits required for construction or even how to apply for them in the first place. The One-Stop Waterfront Permitting Resource website will act as an “integrator” service for maritime businesses and waterfront developers seeking Federal, State, and City permits for waterfront construction work in New York City. The primary goal of the Website is to spur waterfront development by streamlining the permitting process from application through approval and providing comprehensive information and clear guidance to applicants online. The project will begin in April 2015 and be completed in April 2017.