All but two of the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council’s priority projects approved for funding last year in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s regional council initiative are progressing as planned, the council said today.
Of 26 priority projects, 24 are proceeding on time, according to the Central New York council. Applicants for the two remaining projects, the health insurer UnitedHealthcare and Huhtamaki, Inc., decided to decline state assistance.
Nine priority projects have started, by the council’s tally. Another four are scheduled to begin in July.
“The projects selected in the first round of the regional-council process are already making a significant impact on our communities by creating jobs and stimulating economic growth,” Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO and co-chair of the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council, said in a news release. “We are pleased with the progress to date, and the council will remain vigilant to ensure that these projects stay on track as we develop a pipeline of quality projects in the second round that are consistent with the [Central New York Regional Economic Development Council’s] strategic goals.”
The second round of the council initiative will offer up to $750 million in state aid to projects selected by 10 regional economic development councils across the state. It follows $785 million in state funding awarded to projects in 2011. Central New York was on the receiving end of the initiative’s largest funding award last year — a total of $103.7 million for 74 projects.
The region is also in line for $15 million in Excelsior Tax Credits this year because its council’s 2011 development plan was selected as one of the top plans in the state, according to Empire State Development.
Businesses interested in receiving state aid for a project must apply using New York’s Consolidated Funding Application, which is available online at https://apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/cfa/index.cfm. The submission deadline is July 16 at 4 p.m.
Contact Seltzer at rseltzer@cnybj.com