State awards millions in economic-development funding in latest round of REDC initiative

New York State  has awarded millions in funding to Central New York, Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, and the North Country as part of the regional economic-development council (REDC) initiative.

New York awarded Central New York $62.2 million; the Mohawk Valley $81.9 million as a “top performer;” the Southern Tier, $60.4 million; and the North Country $61.4 million.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivered remarks during the announcement of the funding awards during an event held Thursday in Albany.

The funding awards are part of more than $700 million in economic and community-development funding in round VI of the REDC initiative, Cuomo’s office said in a news release.

Central New York
Central New York’s award will support 77 projects, including $4 million for Steri-Pharma, LLC to expand its Syracuse operations.

Steri-Pharma, a manufacturer of antibiotics used internationally to treat complicated bacterial infections, will add a second sterile powder-filling line and increase its warehouse capacity.

The project will include the construction of new clean rooms, sterile production and filling areas, and a new 18,500 square foot building.

SB Lattimore Inc. will use nearly $1.2 million construct a new upscale, mid-range boutique lake-view hotel. It’ll include three buildings totaling 55 rooms, a bar and event facilities in the town of Fleming in Cayuga County.

The project will be located across from Owasco Lake and Emerson Park, adjacent to an existing 4,000 square-foot event center, The Point at Sand Beach, and will help to close a significant lodging gap in the area.

Clear Path for Veterans, Inc. will use $364,000 to build new facilities and make improvements to its campus in Sullivan in Madison County.

Mohawk Valley
The Mohawk Valley funding award supports 88 projects.

The economic-development agency Otsego Now will use $3 million transform a former vacant car-dealership building at 27-33 Market St. in Oneonta into the Susquehanna Regional Food and Beverage Hub.

NCI Group will use $2.4 million to expand its existing manufacturing facility in Westmoreland by enlarging its buildings, adding new machinery and equipment, and adding jobs. The expansion will allow NCI to capture additional market share in the pre-engineered metal buildings market in the Northeastern U.S. and Eastern Canada.

The Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) will use $1.7 million to purchase land adjacent to its headquarters at 507 Kent St. in Utica. CABVI will develop the land and construct a new building to house the Vision rehabilitation service center and Agency headquarters.

It’ll also reconfigure the vacated space in the Kent Street building into much needed manufacturing space for packaging and service employment for people who are legally blind.

Southern Tier
The Southern Tier award supports 63 projects.

They include $1.7 million for the Salvation Army’s North Side job training and support center in Binghamton.

In addition, Micatu Inc., an optical-sensor company in Horseheads, will use $1 million to purchase a facility located at 17 Aviation Dr. in Horseheads for its corporate headquarters.

The projects also include SUNY Broome Community College using $330,000 to renovate an existing mechanical building on its campus into the Calice Advanced Manufacturing Center.

North Country
The North Country funding award will support 77 projects.

Hemo Medica will use $1.6 million to create a new pharmaceutical business, purchasing new equipment and a vacant building. It plans to upgrade the building to a current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) production plant and lab in Massena in St. Lawrence County.

Hi-Lite Airfield Services will use $1.3 million to build its world headquarters in the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency’s new business park, adjacent to the Watertown International Airport.

In addition, Jeffords Steel will use $300,000 to expand its fabrication and manufacturing facility in Potsdam in St. Lawrence County. The expansion will allow Jeffords to add new equipment, including cranes and other fabrication related machinery, and enable Jeffords to increase production by re-configuring the flow of material.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com