Finger Lakes REDC Awarded $80.5 Million for 97 Projects

Projects that will move forward as a result of Round VI of the Regional Council initiative include Livonia Agribusiness Park, Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Sibley Square Innovation Phase and Southeast YMCA Healthy Living Campus

December 9, 2016

As part of Round VI of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Regional Council initiative, the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council (FLREDC) was awarded $80.5 million for 97 projects that build on the region’s assets to invest in the future. The announcement, which supports projects in Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates counties, was made Thursday in Albany. In the first six rounds of the Regional Council initiative, the Finger Lakes region has been awarded $506.1 million in state support for 605 projects across the region.

“This funding represents another significant round of investment in the Finger Lakes Forward plan, which has centered on regional advantages in key industry sectors, including photonics, optics and imaging; advanced and next generation manufacturing; and agriculture and food production,” said Anne Kress, Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chair and Monroe Community College President. “In addition, the Finger Lakes REDC has long grounded its work in assuring access to economic opportunity for the full diversity of our community. By placing a much-needed emphasis on building Pathways to Prosperity, the region has integrated intentional, coordinated poverty-reduction efforts alongside economic development, aligning the efforts of both the FLREDC and the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative.”

“From the beginning of the REDC process, the Finger Lakes region has benefitted from the dedication of the Council, the participation by hundreds of subject matter and industry experts in our Work Groups, and the valued input of thousands of community stakeholders,” said Danny Wegman, Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chair Wegmans Food Markets CEO. “The strength of our plan and our ability to deliver on it are a testament to the residents of the Finger Lakes region. Together, we are moving #FLXFWD. Again, we thank the Governor and New York State for this impactful investment in our region and our communities.”

The FLREDC’s five year strategic plan, “Finger Lakes Forward-United for Success,” lays out the region’s efforts to ensure sustainable and long-term growth in the nine county region and to leverage the region’s advantages in key industry sectors, including photonics, optics and imaging, advanced and next generation manufacturing and agriculture and food production.

Some of the funded CFA projects announced yesterday include:

Supporting the Downtown Revitalization Initiative Plan ongoing in Geneva, including $200,000 for a City of Geneva Microenterprise Program and $50,000 for flood management planning project.
Growing the Finger Lakes’ vibrant agriculture and food processing sector, including $2.3 million for Livingston County IDA for the creation of Livonia Agribusiness Park, $1.5 million for Marquart Dairy LLC for a rail project, $280,000 to Headwater Foodsfor Food HUB expansion, $213,000 to Richester Downtown Development Corp for Rochester Downtown Kitchen Incubator and $150,000 for Sysco to build a facility for distribution services
Enhancing the region’s reputation as a top state tourist destination, including $1.8 million to the City of Rochester for the Rochester Riverside Convention Center Modernization Phase II, $1.26 million to Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center for improvements, $1 million to Seneca Park Zoo Societyfor the zoo master plan phase 1a, $1 million to Nazareth College to construct a music performance venue, $700,000 to Monroe Community Sports Centre Corp for Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex revitalization project, $510,000 to Sempreverde LLC for new cottages at Hamlin Beach State Park and $225,000 to The Little Theatre Film Society for a historic rehabilitation project
Expanding our longstanding entrepreneurial culture with an emphasis on starting and growing next generation technology businesses, including $2 million to Sibley ESCO for Sibley Square Innovation Phase and $250,000 to High Tech Rochester for the Finger Lakes Innovation Hotspot.
Building on the substantial private investments in the Rochester Downtown Innovation Zone, including $800,000 to The Costello Group for CityGate remediation.
Supporting sustainability, including $1.3 million to the City of Rochester for the Rochester Museum Science Center Gateway.
Assisting next generation manufacturers, including $300,000 to Upstate Door Inc. to expand its facility and $202,000 to Romold Inc. for advanced manufacturing equipment.
Supporting Pathways to Prosperity, including $1.4 million to YMCA of Greater Rochester for the Southeast YMCA Healthy Living Campus, $1.1 million to Rochester General Hospital to double the capacity of the Isabella Graham Hart School of Practical Nursing, $800,000 to Hillside Varick Campus Seneca Falls for renovations, $700,000 to The College at Brockport for Access-2-Excellence (A2E)and $481,000 to School of Holy Childhood for Special Touch Bakery.

A full list of the 2016 REDC awards is available at www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov.

The REDC process has transformed government’s approach to economic development in New York State, 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 $4.6 billion has been awarded to more than 5,200 projects that are projected to create and retain more than 210,000 jobs statewide.

During Round VI, members from the 10 Regional Councils traveled to Albany to make in-person presentations of their proposals to the Strategic Implementation Assessment Team (SIAT). Over the course of two days, the SIAT, which is composed of state agency commissioners and policy experts, heard from each of the Regional Councils directly, reviewed the progress being made on projects that have previously received state funding, and assessed the regions’ strategic plan implementations and proposals for funding in 2016.

Regional Council priorities in 2016 include:

Support the Downtown Revitalization Initiative Plan, and begin to identify priority projects in the defined community;
Implementing strategies through the project pipeline;
Training the workforce for today and tomorrow; and
Measuring the performance and progress of the strategic plan and CFA projects.

To learn more about the FLREDC, visit http://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/content/finger-lakes.

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 six rounds of the REDC process, more than $4.6 billion has been awarded to more than 5,200 job creation and community development projects consistent with each region's strategic plan, projecting to create and retain more than 210,000 jobs. For more information on the Regional Councils, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov.

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