Empire State Development meetings

Hudson River Place, LLC Capital Project

Doubles Number of Cuisine Trails Across the State, Boosting the State's Growing Agritourism Industry Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of six new Cuisine Trails in the North Country, doubling the number of Cuisine Trails across New York. The new network of trails, featuring 83 businesses in Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties, will boost the state's growing agritourism sector and spotlight the region's unique farms, food and beverage businesses. The announcement was made ahead of Columbus Day weekend, a traditionally busy time for tourism in New York State. "These new Cuisine Trails highlight some of the best food and beverage producers and providers in New York," Governor Cuomo said. "They will help connect Upstate farms and businesses with visitors and local markets, boosting the North Country's economy and supporting growing trends in agritourism." "The new Cuisine Trails will showcase the many local businesses in the North Country and highlight the great products that our farmers and craft beverage producers have to offer," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "The six trails in the area will continue to boost the agriculture industry, attracting more visitors and growing the economy of the region." Read the full press release here. 

Empire State Development (ESD) and I LOVE NY, New York State's Division of Tourism, are encouraging residents and visitors to experience hundreds of events scheduled for the upcoming Path Through History Weekend, scheduled for October 6-8. I LOVE NY will continue to highlight Path Through History Weekend events on its website, social media platforms, and the award-winning I LOVE NY app. ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, "With hundreds of years of rich history, New York State has been instrumental in many of the events and ideals that helped to shape America. I would encourage everyone to plan a trip to experience the culture of our Path Through History attractions." Introduced by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo in 2012, the Path Through History initiative uses 13 themes to organize more than 700 heritage sites across the state, including an unparalleled network of museums, historic sites and cultural institutions. Path Through History Weekend showcases the state's rich heritage and will feature hundreds of events at historic and cultural destinations statewide. The first 2018 Path Through History Weekend was held in June to coincide with Father's Day and featured more than 500 events statewide. New York State Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, "Fall is already an amazing time to explore New York, and the opportunity to experience hundreds of events at historical sites across the state is icing on the cake. Whether your interest is the American Revolution, colonial history, civil rights or one of our other Path Through History themes, there is an event to form the cornerstone of a great holiday weekend New York getaway for you and your family." Notable Columbus Day Path Through History Weekend events from New York’s eleven vacation regions include: The AdirondacksFort Ticonderoga (Ticonderoga) is commemorating the Campaign of 1781, when the Royal Navy and British soldiers pushed south from Canada. They anchored and encamped at Ticonderoga, holding this strategic strait as raids continued southward. Fort Ticonderoga will focus on the sailors of the Royal Navy and the soldiers of the 29th Foot who worked closely together to propagate British power and politics. Capital–Saratoga At Johnson Hall State Historic Site (Johnstown), visitors will travel back in time to the 18th century and learn what it took to hunt, harvest and preserve enough food to last through the cold, harsh winters. Period-specific hunting and harvesting equipment will be on display, with interpreters providing demonstrations. The CatskillsBethel Woods Center for the Arts (Bethel) is hosting Legends in the Sky, a stargazing party. At this family friendly event, attendees can hear stories about the stars, learn astronomy facts, and create their own constellations from family myths and hopes for the future. Central New York The Northeast Classic Car Museum (Norwich) features more than 170 vehicles, featuring New York State-made cars like the Chenango Camper from Norwich, and Franklin Automobiles, made in Syracuse from 1906-1934. On October 7, the museum will host a LEGO car building contest for kids ages 3-18. Participating children will receive FREE admission to the museum when they bring in their assembled LEGO cars for display. Chautauqua–AlleghenyJohnson Estate Vineyards (Westfield) invites visitors to experience New York's picturesque fall foliage and learn about winemaking. The walking tour explores the history of wine in New York State against the backdrop of the hillsides in their colorful autumn foliage. Finger Lakes Phelps Mansion (Binghamton) was built during America's Gilded Age as part of the city's "Mansion Row." The home, once part of a neighborhood full of beautiful homes, is the last of its neighbors and open for tours. It was designed by Isaac G. Perry, one of the state’s most famous 19th century architects, known for his work on the New York State Capitol. Greater NiagaraCobblestone Museum (Albion) will host its second annual Ghost Walk. Tour guides will lead you on a walking tour of 10 different National Historic Landmarks on the Museum's campus, including the oldest cobblestone church in North America. Along the way, guests will "meet" apparitions of notables like Horace Greeley, George Pullman and Grace Bedell. Hudson ValleyThe FASNY Museum of Firefighting (Hudson) is hosting Dalmatian Day. The annual Bob McKinney Memorial Fire Prevention Event will feature live Dalmatians as part of the day's activities to teach children about fire safety. Long IslandRise of the Jack O'Lanterns (Old Westbury) will feature thousands of illuminated jack o'lanterns at Historic Old Westbury Gardens. Organizers are doubling the number of carved pumpkins over 100 pounds, each one requiring more than 10 hours to carve to perfection. Multi-pumpkin structures, consisting of dozens of illuminated jack o’lanterns, are assembled into life-sized pieces of art include dinosaurs, dragons and animals. New York CityThe Flushing Friends' Meetinghouse (Queens), the oldest house of worship in New York which dates back more than 300 years, is hosting tours and an open house. It is associated with the 1657 Flushing Remonstrance, a protest movement to resist persecution of religious minorities by Dutch Governor, Peter Stuyvesant. It eventually led to the precedent for the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Thousand Islands–Seaway Starr Clark Tin Shop (Mexico) was once owned by Starr Clark and his wife, Harriet Loomis Clark, who were abolitionists and Underground Railroad activists. Visitors can tour the home and learn more about the couple who, from late 1832 until the Civil War, welcomed freedom seekers by offering housing for them and providing transportation to the next station. Since 2011, New York State has made unprecedented investments in the tourism industry statewide, leading to historic levels of visitors and direct spending. Last year, New York welcomed a record 243.8 million visitors who spent $67.6 billion, generating a total economic impact of more than $100 billion for the fourth straight year. Tourism is now the state's third largest employer, supporting 938,800 jobs annually. About Empire State Development Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency (www.esd.ny.gov). 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 Cuomo’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 New York State New York State features 11 beautiful vacation regions. New York’s attractions feature landmarks such as Niagara Falls, the largest park in the continental U.S. in the Adirondacks and treasures such as the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and the Corning Museum of Glass. New York State offers diverse activities for all: outdoor fun - snowmobiling, skiing and snowboarding, fishing, hiking and boating, year-round festivals and exploring the rich history and culture of one of the 13 original colonies. Visitors also enjoy the fine cuisine, beverage trails and farm-to-table fresh foods. For more information, visit iloveny.com.

The Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council (STREDC) today announced it has submitted its 2018 Progress Report to the State to meet the October 1 deadline.  The report details the Council’s achievements in implementing its five-year, Southern Tier Soaring strategic plan and reflects progress on efforts to ensure sustainable and long-term growth in the eight-county region and to leverage the region’s advantages in key industry sectors. In furtherance of these goals, strategies and initiatives, the report recommends 29 priority projects to advance the region’s growth objectives. These projects represent a total proposed state investment of at least $20 million, leveraging $ 88.3 million in private and other funding for total project expenses of more than $108 million with a return on investment of 4 to 1, or 18.8 percent of the total project costs. Detailed information about the STREDC’s 2018 endorsed priority projects is available in the progress report at www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov. Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs Tom Tranter, President of Corning Enterprises and Harvey Stenger, President of Binghamton University said, “The state support we have received over the last seven years has truly facilitated our region’s transformation and has accelerated our momentum in helping the Southern Tier to soar. The enthusiasm and commitment of all council members is certainly evident in the 2018 annual report. We remain united for success, and our results show that we are realizing our shared vision to extend economic opportunities to all of the region’s residents.” Round VIII of the REDC initiative will award more than $750 million in state funding and tax incentives, including up to $150 million in capital grants and up to $75 million in Excelsior Tax Credits for projects and activities identified by the Councils as regional priorities in their communities. Additionally, over $525 million from state agency programs will be awarded through the CFA process.  Funding awards will be announced by the end of the year. By incentivizing the implementation of the strategic plans, the REDCs – composed of leaders from business, educational institutions, local governments, not-for-profit groups and other stakeholders – are further motivated to work together to accomplish the regional vision. The competition emphasizes performance and action to implement strategies, which encourages cooperation among the REDCs and representatives of the community that is critical to achieving successful economic development. The REDC process has transformed New York State government’s approach economic development, creating a statewide framework for bottom-up, regional economic growth and streamlining the state funding application process.  Since 2011, the first year of the initiative, over $5.4 billion has been awarded to more than 6,300 projects that are projected to create and retain more than 220,000 jobs statewide. 2018 REDC Competition In 2018, all 10 REDCs will be competing for a designation as a Top Performer. Five Top Performers will be selected and will receive up to $20 million in Empire State Development Capital Grant funding, with the remaining five regions receiving up to $10 million in Empire State Development Capital Grant funding.  Each region will also receive $10 million to implement projects identified through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, and projects from all 10 regions submitted through the CFA will be eligible for over $525 million in other state agency funds. About the Consolidated Funding Application As part of Governor Cuomo’s efforts to improve the state’s economic development model, a NYS Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) was created to streamline and expedite the grant application process. The CFA process marks a fundamental shift in the way state resources are allocated, ensuring less bureaucracy and greater efficiency to fulfill local economic development needs. The CFA serves as the single entry point for access to economic development funding, ensuring applicants no longer have to slowly navigate multiple agencies and sources without any mechanism for coordination. Now, economic development projects use the CFA as a support mechanism to access multiple state funding sources through one application, making the process quicker, easier, and more productive. To access the CFA, please visit https://apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/cfa/. About the Regional Economic Development Councils The Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) initiative is a key component of Governor Cuomo's approach to State investment and economic development. In 2011, Governor Cuomo established 10 Regional Councils to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources.  After seven rounds of the REDC process, over $5.4 billion has been awarded to job creation and community development projects consistent with each regions’ strategic plans, projecting to create and retain more than 220,000 jobs. For more information on the Regional Councils, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov. Accelerating Southern Tier Soaring  Today's announcement complements “Southern Tier Soaring the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The State has already invested more than $6.2 billion in the region since 2012 to lay for groundwork for the plan – attracting a talented workforce, growing business and driving innovation. Today, unemployment is down to the lowest levels since before the Great Recession; personal and corporate income taxes are down; and businesses are choosing places like Binghamton, Johnson City and Corning as a destination in which to grow and invest. Now, the region is accelerating Southern Tier Soaring with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, announced by Governor Cuomo in December 2015. The State’s $500 million investment will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion – and the region’s plan, as submitted, projects up to 10,200 new jobs. More information is available here.     Contact: Shari Voorhees-Vincent | Shari.Voorhees-Vincent@esd.ny.gov | (585) 399-7055 Press Office | pressoffice@esd.ny.gov | (800) 260-7313