State awards $300 million to CNY, Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, and North Country for REDC projects

New York State awarded Central New York, Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, and the North Country a total of more than $304 million in the seventh round of the regional economic-development council (REDC) initiative.

The state allocated Central New York $86.4 million for 112 projects; the Mohawk Valley $85.5 million for 101 projects; the Southern Tier $67.3 million for 83 projects; and the North Country $64.9 million for 81 projects.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the funding awards during an event held Wednesday in Albany.

The regional awards were part of a total of $755 million distributed in the seventh round of REDC initiative.

Robert Simpson and Dr. Danielle Laraque-Arena, co-chairs of the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council, on Thursday issued a statement about the latest round of REDC awards.

“Over seven rounds, investments made through the regional council and the Upstate Revitalization Initiative have helped to transform the CNY region and its economy. The projects supported by today’s awards will further our progress by creating jobs, encouraging innovative business growth, and driving greater opportunity across all segments of our community. We are incredibly proud to have been awarded the largest total investment of any region today, and throughout all seven years of this process, which we believe is validation of our strong track record of advocating for projects that align with the region’s assets and strengths while leveraging investments for the greatest [return on investment] and chance for project success,” the co-chairs said.

Simpson is president and CEO of CenterState CEO, while Laraque-Arena is president of SUNY Upstate Medical University. Randy Wolken, president and CEO of the Manufacturers Association of Central New York, will replace Simpson as one of the co-chairs beginning in 2018.

Cuomo in 2011 established 10 regional councils to develop long-term “strategic” plans for economic growth for their regions. The councils are public-private partnerships that include local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations.

A news release from Cuomo’s office provided a few examples of the projects in each region that will benefit from the funding awards.

Central New York

Marquardt Switches Inc., a manufacturer of electro-mechanical switches and control systems, will use a $600,000 award to complete the $3.1 million second phase of its global technology center. The firm’s North American headquarters are located in Cazenovia.

The state also awarded Pulaski–based Fulton Group NA, Inc. and affiliates $2.5 million to support an $11.25 million project, including the purchase of a facility in East Syracuse; renovations to facilities in Pulaski, East Syracuse, and Syracuse; the purchase and installation of machinery and equipment; and research and development activities to develop new products offerings.

Martens Companies, LLC of Port Byron will use a $1.18 million funding award to create a $4.7 million commercial food processing, packaging, and distribution center in Cayuga County, “focusing primarily on health-conscious foods,” according to Cuomo’s office. The project includes land acquisition and constructing and equipping a new 150,000-square-foot facility.

Mohawk Valley

The Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees will use an award of $248,000 to establish the One World Utica Welcome & Opportunity Center, which seeks to “foster and enhance the welcoming community climate in the Mohawk Valley and City of Utica.”

The state has awarded the Neighborhood Center $1.75 million to create the Soularium Addiction Treatment Center, a rehabilitation and healing facility for the treatment of addictions.

Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown will use a $525,000 Market NY grant for the Ommegang Hospitality Center “to draw more visitors, from a broader area, and to enable them to better serve those visitors throughout the year.”

Southern Tier

New York has awarded Beecher Emission Solution Technologies (BEST) of Elmira $800,000 to acquire the former Schweizer Aircraft Corporation manufacturing facility in the Town of Big Flats in Chemung County.

Golden Age Cheese Company Inc. in Steuben County will use a $2.1 million funding award to construct a new $10.7 million cheese production and development facility in the village of Painted Post. By increasing its need for local milk and adding jobs in cheese production, the project will help to fill a void in the market created by the recent transfer of the Kraft facility in Campbell to Upstate Niagara Cooperative Inc. in Buffalo, Cuomo’s office said.

North Country

Current Applications Inc. in Watertown will use a grant of $23,000 for a balancing-equipment purchase, which the firm will use in its custom-motor manufacturing facility. The $118,530 project will bring back operations currently outsourced to China, Cuomo’s office said.

General Composites Inc. of Willsboro in Essex County, which produces high-tech molding equipment for the aerospace and defense industries, will use a $93,000 award to support the purchase and installation of $465,000 in injection molding equipment.

New York has also awarded Bionique Testing Laboratories $300,000 to support its lab-equipment upgrade and purchase project. The $1.5 million project will provide the “most updated” technology for the lab’s mycoplasma testing procedures, Cuomo’s office said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com