Gov. Andrew Cuomo last month announced $715.9 million in economic development grants Wednesday, including numerous awards to entities and projects in Saratoga County.
“We are transforming New York state into a top destination for companies from around the world to locate, invest and grow with initiatives like START-UP NY to provide tax-free areas and support to businesses,” Cuomo said. “These efforts have allowed the regional councils for the last three years to pursue economic development projects on the ground all across the state, from creating new technologies and supporting innovation to building hospitals and tourism destinations that will further our economic growth.
“The regional councils were empowered to change the face of economic development in their communities and they have accomplished just that,” he said.
“The council’s focus in 2013 includes investing in and expanding the local supply chain to the semi-conductor industry, technology training to generate employment opportunities and a continued investment in important redevelopment projects,” he said.
Ed Bartholomew, president of EDC Warren County, thanked the regional representatives who serve on the Capital Region Economic Development Council for their advocacy–Omar Usmani, Bill Hart, and Christine Edgerly–and also recognized the solid support that the area has received from state Sen. Betty Little and Assemblyman Dan Stec. He also thanked the governor.
The funding of these projects throughout Warren County and Washington County is the result of regional cooperation with county leaders, EDC Warren County, and the Adirondack Gateway Council, said the governor’s office.
As for the North Country REDC, which includes parts of Washington ad Warren counties, Cuomo said strategies reflected the region’s diversity with priorities including helping farmers and small business owners improve productivity, addressing the need for more hotel rooms in the region to take better advantage of the tourism economy, and growing jobs and investing in high-tech industries.
Among awards by North Country REDC is $6 million for infrastructure improvements to components of broadband to expand high speed, affordable service across the region. Projects awarded by the Capital Region REDC for the Glens Falls area include $2.5 million to Glens Falls Industrial Development Agency to aid in the construction of a 132,000-square-foot, six-story mixed-use commercial/residential building, along with a multi-story parking structure, estimated at $23 million. The project received $500,000 last year.
Also, $675,000 goes to the city of Glens Falls for renovations to Glens Falls Civic Center, as well as to help lure a new AHL franchise and other regional entertainment events. Other projects that received awards include:
• $60,000 to the town of Queensbury, which will use it as a state CDBG Small Business Assistance fund to assist with the start up of Glens Falls Brewing Co. LLC. The project proposes the creation of three full time jobs, of which two will benefit low and moderate income persons.
• $350,000 to the Town of Bolton to design and construct improvements to Rogers Memorial Park including a visitor/heritage center, an entry plaza, pedestrian connector, lake overlook, lower walkway, hillside erosion repair, water distribution system, rehabilitation of the north public dock, and stormwater management planning.
• $100,000 to the town of Lake George to design and construct streetscape improvements along the Route 9 gateway corridor from Birch Avenue south to the Route 9N junction, incorporating multi-modal enhancements and stormwater treatment measures.
• $200,000 to the village of Lake George to design and construct an interactive water feature and gateway signs at the Charles R. Wood Lake George Environmental Park.
• $553,500 for Warren County, working with the Towns of Hadley, Lake Luzerne and Stony Creek and the Sacandaga-Hudson Advisory County, to advance four projects to implement the intermunicipal First Wilderness Heritage Corridor Plan. Projects include construction of the first phase of a whitewater park on the Sacandaga River, upgrading of parking and restroom facilities at the Dean Farm Recreation Area, design of hamlet revitalization components in Stony Creek, and expansion and upgrading of teaching facilities at the Adirondack Folkschool.
• $800,000 to Washington County, Glens Falls and the towns of Queensbury and Moreau to cooperatively develop a comprehensive strategic action plan and implementation program to address regional wastewater capacity. This project will focus on the management and infrastructure needs to ensure capacity of the Glens Falls and Washington County Sewer District 2 wastewater treatment plants for service to neighboring communities.
• $30,000 to Glens Falls to complete an engineering report to address major sewer deficiencies along the Ridge Street sanitary sewer line within the city.
• $49,995 to Crandall Public Library of Glens Falls to train 54 long-term unemployed workers in basic computer skills, keyboarding and data entry, Microsoft Word 2007, Microsoft Excel 2007, Microsoft PowerPoint 2007, and Microsoft Publisher 2007.
• $17,003, also the Crandall Public Library to upgrade its 35mm projection unit to digital.
• $24,000 to the town of Warrensburg to complete an engineering report evaluating upgrades to increase capacity at the existing wastewater treatment plant.
• $100,000 for Warren, Washington and Albany Counties Chapter (WWARC) community kitchen and distribution center project, phase II, that calls for include fit-up of a distribution center and to provide training of staff and consumers at two locations in Warren and Albany counties.
• $482,050 for Warren County, in partnership with the membership of the Lake George Watershed Coalition, to pursue a systematic program of aquatic invasive species prevention, control and management, concentrating on research, prevention of introduction, early detection and aggressive control.
• $75,000 to GF Labels Development LLC for the purchase of land, construction of 6,000-square-foot facility, and purchase of two digital printers for expansion of the Washington County printing company.
• $200,000 to the Historic Salem Courthouse Preservation Association in Washington County for the ongoing rehabilitation of the courthouse roof and the bell tower.
• $195,000 to the Hudson Falls Main Street Revitalization Program Phase II to assist the owners of mixed-use buildings to complete commercial and residential renovation projects, and perform streetscape enhancements in the village.
• $30,000 for Washington County Sewer District 2 to complete an engineering report to evaluate improvements to the existing wastewater and stormwater sewer systems to correct sanitary sewer overflow issues.
$5,208 to the Slate Valley Museum to hire a SUNY or CUNY student to provide administrative support for the programs and activities associated with the 2014’s “Slate as Muse” exhibit.
Other Capital Region projects that impact Saratoga include:
• $65,000 — Center for Economic Growth (CEG) to assess the Capital Region’s creative economy and develop a strategic plan for expanding this sector’s contribution to economic growth.
• $150,000 — Upstate Marketing Strategy that is working on a New York Golf Trail as an extended marketing plan, encompassing six regions of the state and 12 counties, including Saratoga, that focuses on drawing golfers to the golf and lodging partners in New York state, thereby looking to increasing tourism in these areas.
• $100,000 — Lakes to Locks Passage Inc. to market the areas along the interconnected waterway from Albany to Rouses Point to national and international audiences, promoting authentic experiences and sustainable tourism.
• $82,500 for phase II of the Adirondack Park Recreation Web Portal Project. It involves creation of a comprehensive web portal, database, and app for tourism and recreation-related amenities and activities within the Adirondack Park. It will enhance the user experience and also look to employ a strategic marketing campaign to raise awareness to the end consumer and promote tourism through use of the website and app.