Southern Tier Economic Project Land Near Bottom of Funding List
More than 1,000 companies and community projects around New York State will share more than $763 million in economic development funding under the latest round of state incentive funding.
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, joined state and local leaders in Albany on December 18 to announce the winning amounts in the economic development competition.
The money is part of Governor Andrew Cuomo's regional economic development initiative that has been dubbed “The Hunger Games.” The idea is to use targeted funding to leverage the economic strengths of each of the state's 10 economic regions. This is the eighth year of the competition.
Central New York was the year's biggest winner this round, securing over $88 million.
The Southern Tier Region, including Broome, Chenango, Tioga and Delaware Counties, is getting $65.4 million, which is the second lowest amount divvied up among the ten regions in the state.
In Broome County, funding will go to the LUMA projection festival plans for “Waterways Mist Projection”, renovation and re-imagining of the Johnson City Village core, a veterans’ complex in Conklin and a study into issues at the Endicott Water Pollution Control Plant. Waste water is also getting attention in Tioga County. Technology improvements for several municipalities in the county are also winners. Chenango County’s award will help with the expansion of an organic feed mill and improve the Town of Pitcher’s highway department facilities. $600,000 is on the list to go toward Hancock and Sidney for infrastructure and development along the Susquehanna River.
Other projects around the state receiving funding include a grape juice plant expansion in Fredonia, upgrades at a life science lab in Rochester and a new workforce development program in Queens.