Empire State Development meetings
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Press Release
Friday, October 22, 2021 - 11:12am
Project is Designed to Calm Traffic and Increase Walkability in the City
Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the completion of construction for the Walkable Olean Phase II project. The nearly $1.5 million dollar project quiets traffic and encourages safe pedestrian travel in the City’s downtown area, bolstering the local economy by providing easier access to businesses.
"A vibrant downtown is vital to transforming communities into great destinations to work, play and raise a family,” said Empire State Development Chief Operating Officer and Executive Deputy Commissioner Kevin Younis. "ESD’s investment in the Walkable Olean Phase II project will help generate economic activity by increasing pedestrian traffic and opening up new opportunities for businesses.”
The public works project extended the previously completed Walkable Olean initiative, which renovated North Union Street from State Street to Main Street. Through Phase II, Main Street was reconstructed from North Union to Olean General Hospital, and also included improvements on Front Street from the North Union Street Extension to First Avenue. The project was supported by business owners, the Beautification Committee, Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce and passionate residents who embraced the opportunity to improve the business district in the City of Olean by making it more user friendly.
The Walkable Olean Phase II project includes the following elements:
Two raised median islands along North Barry Street to aid in pedestrian crossing.
A10-foot, shared-use sidewalk on the east side of Main Street from North Union to the bridge over Olean Creek with a southbound bicycle lane.
A median with grass and trees on Front Street between North Union Street Extension and Main Street to calm traffic by reducing the four-lane street to a two-lane street with a left turning lane on each end.
Milling and resurfacing the streets and improvements of pedestrian crossings.
Bollard and traditional street lighting throughout the area.
Funding includes a $285,964 grant from Empire State Development Regional Economic Development Council’s Regional Council Fund (Round I) and $541,913 from the state Transportation Alternatives Program, as well as part of the city’s annual state Consolidated Street and Highway Improvement Program. National Grid contributed $100,000 toward lighting on the project. The City of Olean contributed $493,000.
State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “The State Department of Transportation is proud to support and invest in the Walkable Olean Phase II project, which will help stimulate the local economy and benefit the larger community. With raised medians, a new sidewalk, and other traffic calming measures, this project will allow pedestrians to safely experience, patronize and enjoy all that downtown Olean has to offer.”
The City is continuing this would through a Third Phase valued at $1.6 million that will include reconstruction of East State Street, focused on the section of the street near the Olean Municipal Building. That project will be primarily funded by the City’s 2017 New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative award.
The Walkable Olean initiative is aligned with, the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council’s emphasis on smart growth and downtown redevelopment as core economic goals in its Strategy for Prosperity. By creating vibrant, walkable downtowns built on the principles of smart growth the WNY REDC seeks to create attractive places for people to want to live, work, and raise a family, and in turn create attractive environments for businesses to locate. Investments in existing downtowns have also been found to reduce local infrastructure and municipal service costs, helping to ease fiscal difficulties.
Senator George Borrello said, “These latest investments in Olean’s downtown will produce returns many times over in terms of increased economic activity and quality of life, which is why I was a strong supporter of this project. Mayor Aiello and local officials have been the force behind downtown's ongoing transformation, and they deserve kudos for pursuing their vision. I would also like to thank Empire State Development, the Department of Transportation and all of the state and local partners who have made these wonderful improvements possible and set the stage for a bright future for this community.”
Assembly Member Joseph Giglio said, “Phase II of the Walkable Olean project continues the commitment of the City and its partners to make Olean's downtown more pedestrian-friendly. These improvements will further enhance the economic climate and make Olean more attractive for businesses that cater to foot traffic. Safer streets are always very good for the community, and we thank Empire State Development for the funding that helped make this project possible for the City of Olean. The hard work of the mayor, other local government officials, concerned citizens, and business owners to gather support, create a plan, and bring it to life should be commended. It is wonderful to see the results of their efforts in the completion of Phase II of the Walkable Olean Project.”
Mayor William Aiello said, “Walkable Olean Phase II is a pleasant addition to Olean’s downtown district. It is pedestrian friendly in a park-like setting and very welcoming. Special attention was paid to the lighting which offers both bollard pathway lights for those walking and traditional streetlights for traffic. In addition, new pedestrian traffic signals were installed at the intersection of Front and Main Streets, one of Olean’s busiest corners. The new signals benefit both the pedestrian and traffic flow. I am very appreciative of the funding that the City received from New York State Department of Transportation, Empire State Development, and National Grid as well as the support from the Olean Common Council.”
About Empire State Development
Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency. The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing Governor Kathy Hochul’s Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NY” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.
Contact:
Pamm Lent (Governor’s Office) | [email protected] | (716) 846-8309
Laura Magee (ECHDC) | [email protected] | (716) 846-8239
Press Release
Thursday, October 21, 2021 - 4:10pm
New Training and Lab Space will Support the Growing Demand for Occupational and Physical Therapists and Nurses
Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the completion of Utica College’s new $12.5 million Gordon Science Center Annex, a 23,300-square-foot building that will house state-of-the-art laboratory and teaching spaces. The Annex will support the college’s allied health professions programs, including occupational therapy, physical therapy, and nursing, which are some of the College’s most popular courses. The project was supported by a $1 million ESD grant, which will advance regional workforce development strategies by establishing a pipeline of well-trained professionals for in-demand healthcare industries.
Empire State Development Chief Operating Officer and Executive Deputy Commissioner Kevin Younis said, “When we invest in our workforce, especially in industries that are in high demand throughout the state and the nation, we create economic prosperity for communities by providing a pipeline of skilled workers which attracts residents and businesses to the area. Utica College’s Gordon Science Center Annex will provide the resources and training to develop our healthcare workforce in the Mohawk Valley, setting the stage for continued growth and success in the region.”
President of Utica College, Dr. Laura M. Casamento said, “It’s fitting that this new Science Center, made possible with the support from Empire State Development, opened its doors the same year we celebrate Utica College’s milestone 75th anniversary. There’s no better way to represent just how far we’ve come. Back in the late 1940s, it’s unlikely that even the most forward-thinking student could have imagined a campus facility like this one, with its cutting-edge tools and technology, and the limitless opportunities it provides. Today, in these classrooms and labs, students have the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge for careers in science and medicine as well as the power to make discoveries that transform our world.”
The new teaching laboratories includes spaces for genetics and molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry, animal physiology and animal behavior, and human anatomy and physiology. The annex also has a GIS computing laboratory and classroom, as well as an active-learning classroom space to integrate lecture and laboratory for physics and other science classes for non-majors. Other spaces include a new vivarium with two procedure rooms, four climate-controlled housing rooms, a microscopy room, a clean molecular lab, a cell culture lab, as well as other flexible laboratory spaces for faculty-student research.
The Gordon Science Center Annex is located on the main Utica College campus. The Center and the Annex are connected to F. Eugene Romano Hall, the academic building that houses classrooms and laboratories for the upper level health professions courses. The new, advanced teaching laboratories and spaces in the Annex will support innovative educational approaches that result in improved learning. By co-locating next to the existing science and allied health buildings, the Gordon Science Center Annex will become the on-campus hub of Utica College’s life and physical science and healthcare programs.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that there will be a shortage of 1.13 million nurses nationwide by 2024, and an estimated shortage of 26,560 physical therapists nationwide by 2027. Also, BLS estimates occupational therapist jobs will increase by 33.6% by 2024. All three professions have high turnover rate: between 17-19% for nurses, 16% for physical therapists, and nearly 35% for occupational therapists.
The new Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) Regional Medical Center, currently under construction, will be more than 700,000-square-feet facility with nearly 400 patient beds, and will provide expanded health care services across many of their current service lines. Two of MVHS's most significant areas of need will be for qualified nursing and physical therapists, placing an even higher demand for these specialties.
Senator Joseph A. Griffo said, “I am pleased that the Utica College Gordon Science Annex will be training the next generation of skilled healthcare workers in the Mohawk Valley. We have seen a high demand for nurses and other healthcare practitioners since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and being prepared for the future will keep the Mohawk Valley well placed for growth.”
Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon said, “The expansion of this annex is crucial to meeting the needs of our future medical fields. Creating an academic, as well as, clinical experience for the students provides a state of the art approach to learning. I want to thank ESD and the Utica College leadership for their innovative and resourceful approach to meeting our needs.”
“The need for medical professionals in Oneida County and across this nation has never been greater,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “This has been made even more evident by the COVID-19 pandemic and the certainty that we will face similar crises in the future. With the enormous upgrade we are currently undergoing to our area healthcare in the form of MVHS’s new Wynn Hospital, this essential new training pipeline at Utica College couldn’t come at a better time. The Gordon Science Center Annex will prove to be an asset to this region for years to come, and I thank all involved for bringing it to fruition.”
City of Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri said, “Utica College is a tremendous asset to our community and the completion of the new Gordon Science Center Annex will provide state-of-the-art laboratory and teaching spaces to support Utica College’s extensive programs. This project could not have come to fruition without collaborative partnerships and investment from Empire State Development (ESD). I thank ESD for its continued support of substantive and transformational projects in the City of Utica.”
About Empire State Development
Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency. The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing Governor Hochul’s Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NY” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.
Contact:
Kristin Devoe (ESD): [email protected] | (518) 414-1087
ESD Press Office: [email protected] | (800) 260-7313
Board Meeting
Thursday, October 21, 2021 - 9:30am
In accordance with recently passed Legislation, this meeting will be conducted via video conference and teleconference.
The public may view and listen to the meeting via webcast by clicking the link below.
Members of the public may submit comments on the Agenda items in writing to [email protected] by 4:30 pm on Wednesday, October 20, 2021.
Board Meeting
Wednesday, October 20, 2021 - 2:00pm
In accordance with recently passed Legislation, this meeting will be conducted via teleconference.
The public may listen to the meeting via webcast by clicking the link below.
Members of the public may submit comments on the Agenda items in writing to [email protected]y.gov by 4:30 pm on Tuesday, October 19, 2021.
Press Release
Wednesday, October 20, 2021 - 1:53pm
$290 Million Electricity Substation and Green Hydrogen Fuel Production Facility in Genesee County
Significant Investment in Green Hydrogen to Support State's Clean Energy Goals, Will Create up to 68 Jobs at State-of-the-Art Facility
Project Represents First Build at the Western New York Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park in the Town of Alabama
Investment Complements "Finger Lakes Forward" - The Region's Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that leading alternative energy technology provider Plug Power has begun construction on a $290 million electricity substation and state-of-the-art green hydrogen fuel production facility at the Western New York Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park located in the Town of Alabama, Genesee County. Plug Power, the first tenant at the new manufacturing park, is also funding the construction of a 450-megawatt electricity substation that will support its hydrogen projection facility and future growth opportunities at STAMP. As North America's largest green hydrogen production facility, the plant will produce 45 metric tons of green liquid hydrogen daily servicing the Northeast region. When fully built, the facility will offer the company's transportation fuel customers pricing competitive to diesel, leading the way to decarbonizing freight-transportation and logistics supporting New York's path to achieving carbon-neutrality by 2050. Additionally, the company has committed to creating up to 68 new jobs.
"This groundbreaking is incredibly significant for the economies of the Finger Lakes and Western New York, providing new jobs and establishing the region as a prime destination for large manufacturers moving forward," Governor Hochul said. "Plug Power's new facility will be the largest plant in North America producing green hydrogen, advancing our ambitious green energy goals as we work toward a cleaner future."
Read the full press release here.
Report
Monday, October 18, 2021 - 5:51pm
As required by statute, these reports contain the status of economic development programs administered by Empire State Development. Funding for the projects listed herein was approved by ESD during Fiscal Year 2021-22.
Quarterly Status Report - First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2021-2022
Board Meeting
Thursday, October 14, 2021 - 2:00pm
In accordance with recently passed Legislation, this meeting will be conducted via teleconference.
The public may listen to the meeting via webcast by clicking the link below.
Members of the public may submit comments on the Agenda items in writing to [email protected] by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 13, 2021.
Press Release
Wednesday, October 13, 2021 - 5:13pm
Empire State Development today announced the groundbreaking for the Fountainhead Group's $19 million, 195,000 square-foot warehouse and distribution center at the Schuyler Business Park in the Town of Schuyler, Herkimer County. A leader in global manufacturing, the Fountainhead Group recently celebrated its 133rd year in the Mohawk Valley, providing lawn and garden, and more recently, sanitation sprayer technology across the world.
Empire State Development Chief Operating Officer and Executive Deputy Commissioner Kevin Younis said, “Manufacturing is essential to the success of the State’s economy and the Fountainhead Group has been a part of the fabric of the Mohawk Valley for over 130 years. We are pleased that they are growing their footprint in Herkimer County and continuing to invest in the region, and we are proud to support their growth.”
Dan O’Toole, President of the Fountainhead Group said, “We would to thank Empire State Development for their assistance. The grant was instrumental to the overall capitalization of our warehouse expansion which will allow our company to continue to grow its business and employee base. “
Mohawk Valley REDC Co-Chair Dr. Marion Terenzio, SUNY Cobleskill President said, “The Fountainhead Group has a long and rich manufacturing history in the Mohawk Valley and on behalf of the Council, we are proud to support their expansion project so they can remain a valued member of the Region and continue to invest and give back to the community for many years to come.”
The Fountainhead Group will consolidate its warehouse distribution, currently operating out of three locations to one single location at Schuyler Business Park. The administrative offices will remain in New York Mills. Consolidating finished goods will allow for expanded manufacturing capabilities and will streamline operations at its New York Mills location. Empire State Development is supporting this project with a $2.4 million grant recommended by the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council during Round VIII of the Regional Council initiative. The Fountainhead Group will retain all 200 employees.
State Senator Peter Oberacker said, “Manufacturing and the Mohawk Valley go hand in hand and the expansion of the Fountainhead Group in Herkimer County is further proof that we have a bright future ahead. The Herkimer County IDA and our local government officials are to be commended for their vision and leadership in securing this public-private investment, adding to our growing economic portfolio. With an innovative, locally owned family company like the Fountainhead Group and Herkimer County we have a winning combination and Empire State Development’s stamp of approval reinforces that assertion.”
Assemblyman Brian Miller said, “I am excited to see the groundbreaking for the Fountainhead Group's $19 million, 200,000 square-foot warehouse and distribution center at the Schuyler Business Park. They have been a great employer in this community for over a century and continue to make tremendous strides in their industry. In addition, I would like to thank Empire State Development for their $2.4 million grant, supported by the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council.”
Chairman of the Herkimer County Legislature Vincent J. Bono said, “We are excited to welcome the Fountainhead Group into Herkimer County and the town of Schuyler. Their name has been synonymous with quality and excellence for many years and we are pleased that they will be carrying on that tradition here in Herkimer County. We are grateful for Fountainhead’s significant investment in our region - one that will help retain and create new jobs for our residents. Congratulations, welcome and thank you to the Romano family and the employees of Fountainhead.”
Town of Schuyler Supervisor Anthony Lucenti said, “The Town of Schuyler is very excited to welcome the Fountainhead Group to their new distribution center. It was truly a pleasure to work with such a professional and forward-thinking organization. I'm confident that they'll be satisfied with not only our community, but with the efforts of the entire Mohawk Valley in making this venture just one more move forward for the entire region.”
About Empire State Development
Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency. The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing Governor Hochul’s Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NY” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.
About the Fountainhead Group
Found on the shelves of nearly every retailer and wholesaler, both in the US and abroad, including Ace Hardware, Walmart, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Amazon, Tractor Supply, and Orgill Hardware, The Fountainhead Group is committed to innovation, manufacturing excellence, and above all, the local community. As a multi-generational, family-owned and operated company, the roots of the Romano family’s commitment to the Greater Utica Area can be felt across their vast portfolio of philanthropic activities, their devotion to the growth of our community and opportunities for the next generation, and their commitment to providing career opportunities for the diverse population of Utica. Currently, the Fountainhead Group employs over 200 employees in their New York Mills office, warehouse, and manufacturing facilities, encompassing more than 11 languages.