Long Island, Mohawk Valley, New York City and Southern Tier Named as Winners of Inaugural $150 Million ACHIEVE Competition To Support High-Impact, Transformational Regional Initiatives
Announcement Also Includes More than $313 Million for 381 Projects Statewide Awarded Through the 2025 Regional Economic Development Council Initiative
First Ever $100 Million Pro-Housing Supply Fund Awards Aimed at Addressing the Critical Statewide Housing Crisis Will Support Nearly 6,000 More Homes
ACHIEVE Proposals and Full List of Pro-Housing Supply Fund and CFA Awardees Available Here
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced more than $463 million has been awarded statewide through the State's Regional Economic Development Council initiative. Long Island, the Mohawk Valley, New York City and the Southern Tier were chosen as winners of the inaugural $150 million Advancing Collaboration for High-impact Initiatives for Economic Visions & Expansion competition — or ACHIEVE Competition — which empowered the REDCs to advance catalytic economic development projects backed by enhanced implementation funding to jump-start regional growth. Additionally, nearly 400 projects across the state have been awarded over $300 million in funding through the various state agency programs within the annual Regional Council initiative and Consolidated Funding Application, which are redesigned to help catalyze economic growth, jump-start housing growth, and advance regionally designed strategic plans, while addressing state priorities.
“I remain grateful for everyone involved in advancing the work of the Regional Economic Development Councils. Their dedication to this ongoing public-private effort has had a transformational impact in every corner of the state,” Governor Hochul said. “Congratulations to four regions, named the inaugural winners of the ACHIEVE competition. The focused investments laid out in the locally designed plans will create investment opportunities that will help to build an enduring and successful future for all New Yorkers.”
ACHIEVE Competition
As part of this year's Regional Council competition, each REDC developed a transformational regional initiative for the chance to win up to $50 million in implementation funding, or partnered on a joint multi-regional proposal. Regions collaborated with local stakeholders to develop an actionable roadmap featuring high-impact, transformational projects and regional partnerships to guide implementation.
Long Island, the Mohawk Valley, New York City and the Southern Tier were awarded a combined $150 million based on the strengths of their ACHIEVE proposals, which were reviewed by the Strategic Implementation Assessment Team comprised of members of the Governor's Cabinet.
The Long Island Regional Commercialization Corridor ACHIEVE proposal was awarded $30 million to enable Long Island to become a national leader in the commercialization of "hard-tech" — physical, science-based technologies such as advanced materials, aerospace and defense components and energy systems. Key regional stakeholders will partner to establish a commercialization corridor to leverage Long Island’s unique advantages for reindustrialization and build on the region’s deep manufacturing expertise and the State’s growing momentum in hard-tech sectors, driven by investments in advanced manufacturing and clean energy.
The Rooted In The Mohawk Valley ACHIEVE proposal was awarded $32 million for a transformational six-county plan that builds on the region’s tourism and agribusiness strengths to establish the Mohawk Valley as a model for rural resilience, regenerative enterprise, and community reinvestment. Transformational anchor investments include Empire State Greenhouses and Hoshino Mineral Spa Resort in addition to over 50 supporting projects. These projects provide the opportunity to advance the REDC’s strategic priorities through an innovative approach that combines tourism and agribusiness to cultivate the region’s deep agricultural legacy, while also creating thriving places where people want to live and visit.
The New York City Breakthrough Initiative ACHIEVE proposal was awarded $50 million to advance a new model for neighborhood redevelopment that enables housing and workplaces to coexist in underutilized industrial and commercial areas, strengthening local economies and expanding access to quality jobs and housing. Building on recent zoning and land use procedure reforms, ACHIEVE funding will support anchor projects across the city through new mixed-use developments that integrate residential, commercial and industrial uses, addressing the affordability crisis by creating and co-locating new housing and jobs. Together, these developments will create permanent jobs and provide career training for New Yorkers while enabling new housing opportunities.
The Southern Tier SouthWorks ACHIEVE proposal was awarded $38 million to support the development of SouthWorks — a mixed-use, adaptive reuse project in Ithaca that repurposes the blighted former Morse Chain Factory site. SouthWorks will offer housing for all income levels, an innovation hub to retain start-ups in advanced manufacturing, biotech and ag-tech, a living laboratory for trades-focused workforce development with childcare and wraparound services, and an integrated neighborhood with locally tailored amenities for recreation, livability and the arts.
2025 REDC Initiative Project Awards
As part of today's announcement, more than $313 million is being awarded through the 2025 REDC initiative to support 381 projects statewide that will advance each region’s strategic plan and overarching state priorities. The funding includes over $60 million in Regional Council Capital Fund awards to implement each region’s strategic plan and $100 million in Pro-Housing Supply Fund awards to deliver infrastructure improvements that will facilitate transformative housing projects. The Pro-Housing Supply Fund awards certified Pro-Housing Communities with financing for essential infrastructure projects, such as sewer, electrical and water system upgrades, that are needed to facilitate new housing developments. By modernizing these essential services, Pro-Housing Communities can unlock new and more affordable and mixed-rate housing opportunities, attract private investment, and create more vibrant and sustainable neighborhoods.
A full list of awardees is available here. Awards for the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) and Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning and MS4 Mapping Grant programs, administered by the New York State from the Department of Environmental Conservation, will be forthcoming.