Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that Round 5 of the Restore New York Communities Initiative will launch on Friday, September 15. The program provides local governments with financial assistance to support economic development and revitalize neighborhoods and urban centers across the state. Three informational workshops are also scheduled to take place in September for municipalities interested in applying for funding. "Communities across New York are making strategic investments to help grow our local economies, and through this latest round of Restore NY, our most vulnerable areas will receive the support needed to reenergize and develop once again," Governor Cuomo said. "I encourage local governments to apply for funding, as it supports the demolition and rehabilitation of blighted properties to improve our neighborhoods, entice new investment, and support a stronger, more prosperous New York for all." Read the full press release here. 

The Transportation, Commercial and Retail Complex Will Also House 700,000 Square Feet of World-Class Space for Mixed-Use Development $1.6 Billion Project Will Create Over 12,000 Construction Jobs and 2,500 Permanent Jobs  Demolition of Original Sorting Room Floor Slab Five Months Early Allows for Major Construction to Begin View Renderings of the New Moynihan Train Hall Here  View Video About the Project Here Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the start of major construction of the Moynihan Train Hall, a world-class transportation hub for the 21st century. The Farley Building redevelopment into the Moynihan Train Hall will create a new 255,000-square-foot Train Hall for Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak passengers and increase total concourse floor space in the Pennsylvania Station-Farley Complex by more than 50 percent. The Farley Building will also house 700,000 square feet of new commercial, retail and dining space within the mixed-use facility and create an iconic civic space for Manhattan's West Side. "For decades, passengers were promised a world-class train hall worthy of New York - today, we are delivering on that promise and turning that dream into a reality," said Governor Cuomo. "We are transforming the Farley Post Office into a state-of-the-art transit hub to get travelers where they need to go faster and more comfortably. With better access to trains and subways, vibrant retail and business opportunities and stunning architectural design, we are bringing Penn Station into the 21st century." Read the full press release here. 

What better way to inspire the best and brightest to push innovations in clean energy than by bringing them together for some friendly competition with a total of $20 million in prize money and support? This is exactly what the Southern Tier’s 76West did. Modeled after the successful 43North business competition in Western New York that awards financial assistance, incubator space and mentorship to cutting-edge startups. 76West, run by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, directly advances Governor Cuomo's Clean Energy Standard initiative calling for 50 percent of the state’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030. As a condition of the competition, winners are expected to be located in – or move their operations to – Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Schuyler, Steuben, Tompkins or Tioga counties. The annual competition, launched in 2016, has already resulted in some unexpected innovations. One is a dye that keeps windows transparent but blocks ultraviolet radiation, keeping buildings cooler and reducing the need for air conditioning. Another is rethinking the standard power grid, with an optical-based modular solution that creates efficiencies within power systems to identify energy savings at a large scale. This year’s six award winners, announced on Aug. 16, represent companies across New York and the U.S, and energy-saving innovations aimed at reducing fossil fuel consumption, increasing wastewater treatment capacity, reducing greenhouse gases and more. BessTech, a winner in last year’s competition, pitched a solution to prolonging the life of cell phone and laptop batteries; something to ease a familiar frustration in our always connected society – when losing power means losing touch or losing business.

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced its Division of Science, Technology & Innovation (NYSTAR) has awarded a Center for Advanced Technology (CAT) designation to the University at Buffalo. The University at Buffalo Center for Advanced Technology in Big Data & Health Sciences (UB CAT) will focus on big data and medicine, with an emphasis on drug development, medical devices and diagnostics. ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “We are proud to support the groundbreaking research and development at the University of Buffalo through a new Center for Advanced Technology designation. Continued investments in these emerging industries will further promote New York State as a business-friendly leader in collaborative innovation, utilizing the staff, students and equipment at our world-class universities.” The UB CAT, part of the university’s Business & Entrepreneur Partnership Office, supports technology commercialization and industry engagement with UB’s faculty and students, and enables access to specialized equipment. Programs include matching funding for start-ups and mid-to-late stage development of drugs, biologics, diagnostics, devices, services and other related products with commercial potential. Leveraging the university’s expertise in data, life sciences, informatics and computer modeling, UB CAT will work with industry partners to support their innovation pipeline and growth. The creation of cost-effective technologies to generate, store and analyze massive amounts of data has led to the connection of big data and medicine. This rapidly evolving trend supports the many opportunities for innovation and development in health sciences. Norma J. Nowak, PhD, principal investigator and Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences Executive Director, said, “UB has a long-standing relationship with this division of Empire State Development. This designation is a tribute to the UB team, their expertise and the work they do to drive technology-based economic development in our region.” ESD will support UB CAT with nearly $10 million in funding over the course of the ten-year designation, with additional support provided by the university and private industry. Private sector partners also contributed to the proposal by outlining joint projects that include nearly $1.5 million in matching contributions for the first year. UB had a prior CAT designation from 2007 to June 2017, which funded 173 applied research projects between 72 New York State life sciences companies and 68 UB faculty members. NYSTAR funds 15 Centers for Advanced Technology across the state to encourage collaboration between private industry and universities in the development and application of new technologies. The CAT program, established in 1983, facilitates a continuing program of applied research, development and technology transfer in multiple technological areas, in collaboration with and through the support of private industry. CATs play a critical role in spurring technology-based applied research and economic development in the state; promoting national and international research collaboration and innovation; and leveraging New York's research expertise and funding with investments from the federal government, foundations, businesses, venture capital firms and other entities. Over the past five years, Centers for Advanced Technology helped create or retain more than 3,800 jobs and generated about $2.6 billion in economic impact. Senator Tim Kennedy said, "The University at Buffalo continues to empower students and staff to reach their highest potentials, and this designation underscores the tremendous work being done every day. With this recognition, New York State is once again investing in a partnership that has proven itself worthy time and time again, and emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation." Assemblywoman Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes said, “I would like to congratulate UB’s Center for Advanced Technology on their technology designation award, and would like to thank Governor Cuomo and Empire State Development for recognizing the important role that UB CAT plays in the local and regional economy. This $10 million will allow UB CAT to continue to innovate, collaborate and provide world class services to its clientele.” Assemblyman Sean Ryan said, "This investment from New York State could lead to big breakthroughs and to the development of potentially life-saving medications and medical treatments. By focusing our attention and resources toward the UB CAT today, we are laying the groundwork for good-paying jobs and we are helping to grow Buffalo's reputation as a leader in medical technology. This is a great example of how state investment is helping to create the New Buffalo." Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said, “Designating the University at Buffalo as a Center for Advanced Technology makes great sense and positions UB to take advantage of the growing bioinformatics and healthcare sectors of our economy. This designation and the funding it brings will facilitate better relationships between newly-emerging technologies and the marketplace and will strengthen both UB and our local economy in the process. Thanks to Governor Cuomo and Empire State Development we are leveraging our unique higher-education assets while building a stronger economic portfolio.” Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown said, “As I continue to build a City of Opportunity in Buffalo with a focus on economic development and job growth, I thank Empire State Development for this significant designation to the University at Buffalo. I look forward to the new and exciting developments that we can anticipate from the University at Buffalo Center for Advanced Technology in Big Data and Health Sciences.” 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 NEW YORK,” 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: Adam Ostrowski | Adam.Ostrowski@esd.ny.gov | (518) 292-5148 ESD Press Office | PressOffice@esd.ny.gov | (800) 260-7313