Mid-Hudson Region Secures Nearly $85 Million In State Funding for 113 Projects Regionwide
John Jordan | December 13, 2017
ALBANY—Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Dec. 13 that the Mid-Hudson region was selected as top performer among the state’s 10 regional economic development councils, landing a total of $84.8 million in state funding for 113 projects.
More than $755 million in economic and community development funding was awarded through Round VII of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative. The Mid-Hudson region was one of five top performers selected by Empire State Development and follows its top performer selection last year in the state’s Consolidated Funding Application competition. In 2016, the state awarded the Mid-Hudson $83.3 million to support a total of 105 economic development projects.
“These awards are critical to building the foundations for New York’s future and ensuring that our economic momentum continues. I congratulate each of the councils on their awards and look forward to continuing to partner to keep our communities vibrant and thriving for years to come,” Gov. Cuomo said.
Some of the major projects to receive funding in the Mid-Hudson region include a major project in Ulster County. JM Development Group LLC, in partnership with Kingston-based Herzog Supply Co., has been awarded $2 million from Empire State Development for The Kingstonian Uptown Revitalization Project, a mixed-use development project in the up-and-coming urban center of Uptown Kingston. The approximately $48 million mixed-use development project will serve as a cornerstone to the city’s historic Stockade District, complementing other area businesses and providing valuable parking spaces desperately needed in this fast-growing section of the city, state officials note.
USAI, which creates custom LED products balancing color and optics to maximize circadian rhythms for performance, health, and well-being, has been awarded $1.02 million from Empire State Development to support a $3.8-million project in New Windsor that will attract clients from around the world to train and develop products specific to their needs in Orange County. Clients will also experience the benefits of working in a curated lighting environment through the creation of a working laboratory, new engineering lab and expanding office space, ESD officials said.
The Walkway Over the Hudson’s East Entrance Visitor Center Project, which will be called the Dutchess Welcome Center, was awarded $405,000 from the Office of Parks and Historic Preservation to build a $3.1-million multi-purpose facility at the busy entryway to the park. Located in the City of Poughkeepsie, the Welcome Center will feature permanent rest rooms with running water and sewage connections, a covered gathering area able to accommodate up to 40 visitors, water fountains, vendor pads with electric access, benches, lighting, landscaping and other amenities suitable to accommodate the more than 500,000 visitors Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park hosts annually.
A total of 21 projects within Orange County were awarded approximately $9.6 million in the CFA awards.
“These funds are positive investments into Orange County and are greatly appreciated,” Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said in a statement. “The overall awards are a testament to Orange County’s commitment to economic development and I’m proud of the applicants that received funding. The projects awarded by Governor Cuomo represent some of the most innovative and visionary in our region.”
Rockland County landed 10 project funding awards as well as $1 million for the Tuxedo Sloatsburg Corridor revitalization project on the border of Rockland and Orange counties, as well as funds for the Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails Improvement project, also centered in both Orange and Rockland counties.
Putnam County landed funding for three projects, including nearly $1.15 million for the critical Southeast Sewer and Water Infrastructure initiative that will extend centralized sewer and water lines 3.5 miles from the westerly border of Brewster through the Town of Southeast to the Connecticut line in the Route 6 corridor.
Westchester County landed funding for 22 projects including $1 million in ESD grants for a new Green Parking Garage that could accommodate 400 vehicles at 25 Maple Ave. in New Rochelle and $1 million for the restoration of the former Glenwood Power Plant in Yonkers into a mixed-use complex called The Power Plant. Other notable projects securing funding were: $2 million for The Bowery Brewery project in Port Chester; $1.25 million for the Biotechnology Incubator at New York Medical College; $824,000 for the Westchester Children’s Museum at Rye Playland and nearly $1.17 million for the Byram River Bulkhead Replacement project in Port Chester;
The CFA funding competition, since the initiative’s inception in 2011, has awarded more than $5.4 billion to more than 6,300 projects that are projected to create and retain more than 220,000 jobs statewide.
The other top performer awardees were: Central New York: $86.4 million supporting 112 projects; Mohawk Valley: $85.5 million supporting 101 projects; Capital Region: $85.0 million supporting 110 projects and Long Island: $84.3 million supporting 98 projects.
New York City will receive $64.8 million to support 121 economic development projects. The rest of the awardees were: Western New York: $68.8 million supporting 112 projects; Finger Lakes: $63.9 million supporting 110 projects; Southern Tier: $67.3 million supporting 83 projects and North Country: $64.9 million supporting 81 projects.
In 2017, all 10 REDCs competed for designation as a “Top Performer.” The five Top Performers will receive up to $20 million in additional Empire State Development grant funding to support priority projects, with the remaining five regions receiving up to $10 million. Additionally, each region is eligible for up to an additional $75 million in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits to help attract and grow businesses in the region.
According to state figures, after seven rounds of the Regional Economic Development Council competition: the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council has delivered $560.7 million for 687 projects.
Editor, Real Estate In-Depth