Empire State Development Announces Completion of Metcar Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Facility in Fallsburg

New 15,000 Square Foot Facility Will Create 10 New Jobs; Metcar to Invest $5.7 Million in Facility

April 4, 2019

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the completion of Metcar’s new 15,000 square foot aerospace materials manufacturing facility in Fallsburg, Sullivan County. The company, which already employs 117 people in a 80,000 square foot facility in Ossining, Westchester County, manufactures carbon graphite materials for a variety of industries, including aerospace, energy and pharma. ESD provided a $650,000 Economic Development Fund (EDF) grant and $310,000 in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits for the expansion. The new facility will house the company’s Aerospace Materials Division, creating 10 new jobs. Metcar’s full name is Metalized Carbon Corporation.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “Companies are choosing to stay and grow throughout New York State, and Metcar’s new facility will create good manufacturing jobs and add to the company’s contribution to economic growth in the Mid-Hudson region.”

Metcar will invest $5.7 million to build and outfit the new facility in Glen Wild Industrial Park, its fourth location. The investment includes the purchase and installation of machinery and equipment that will allow the company to run a PILOT plant using an electric induction process. Metcar was founded in 1945 and currently has manufacturing locations in Singapore and Mexico. It provides both custom products and pre-engineered products.

Metcar President and CEO Matthew Brennan said, “The ESD has provided Metallized Carbon with valuable incentives specifically targeted to allow the Company to maintain its commitment to grow in New York State. After spending nearly 75 years in the state, Metcar is proud to be able to expand our presence here and provide good manufacturing jobs that help grow the State’s economy.”

The Empire State Economic Development Fund (EDF) offers financial assistance for projects that promote New York State’s economic health by facilitating job creation and/or retention, or increased business activity in the state. Funds can be used for construction, expansion or rehabilitation of facilities, acquisition of machinery and equipment and other purposes. The Excelsior Jobs Program encourages businesses to expand in and relocate to New York while maintaining strict accountability standards to guarantee that businesses deliver on job and investment commitments.

Senator Jen Metzger said, “I am very pleased to see Metcar making a significant investment in their new Fallsburg manufacturing facility. It’s important that recipients of Economic Development Fund grants demonstrate a strong and lasting commitment to New York and to the surrounding community, as Metcar has done.”

Assembly Member Aileen Gunther said, “I am very excited about this announcement pertaining to new jobs in Fallsburg. Thank you Governor Cuomo, Empire State Development and Metcar Aerospace Materials for working together to create this new facility and providing jobs right here in Sullivan County and choosing here as your new home.”

“Metcar represents exactly the kind of company we welcome in Sullivan County: an innovative, high-tech, living-wage employer with sights set on growth and quality. We are proud and grateful they chose our County in which to set up shop,” said Sullivan County Legislature Chairman Luis Alvarez. “This important project could not have happened without the incredible assistance and collaboration of Empire State Development, whose business-friendly approach made all the difference.”

Town of Fallsburg Supervisor Steven Vegliante said, “We are thrilled to learn of the completion of this project.  This project produced a real impact in our community and we look forward to their growth in years to come!  Supporting the creation of these skilled employment positions improves our community and we extend our gratitude to Metcar for their commitment to the Town of Fallsburg and to the Empire State Development Corp for helping to bring it to fruition."

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 Kilduff | [email protected] | (212) 803-3744
ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313

Empire State Development Announces Up To $4 Million for Small Businesses in Economically Distressed Areas in Mid-Hudson and Long Island Regions

Metropolitan Economic Revitalization Fund Will Expand Lending Capacity of Community Development Financial Institutions

February 20, 2019

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced a revolving loan fund of up to $4 million for small businesses in economically distressed areas in parts of Nassau, Rockland and Westchester Counties. The funding is provided by ESD’s Metropolitan Economic Revitalization Fund (MERF), which provides loans to businesses and governments in the New York portion of the territory covered by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ).

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “This new revolving loan fund from the Metropolitan Economic Revitalization Fund will help more small business owners and MWBEs from economically distressed areas get access to capital, a vital tool for economic success.”

The fund will focus on providing loans to New York State small business owners who have historically had difficulty accessing regular credit markets, particularly Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs). Funding will be disbursed through four Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).

The Metropolitan Economic Revitalization Fund (MERF) provides loans to organizations investing in projects that retain or create a significant number of private-sector jobs in economically distressed areas within its service area. MERF works to address the lack of access to capital for people of color in the areas it addresses. Loans can be used for improving land and/or buildings, construction and renovation, and for machinery and equipment purchases.

The fund will build upon the resources and capacity-building opportunities that New York State offers the MWBE community such as the Bridge to Success Loan Program, which provides short term bridge loans for New York State Certified MWBEs. Since its inception, the program has provided 153 loans totaling just over $24 million supporting over $201 million in contracts for New York State MWBEs. The New York State Surety Bond Assistance Program also provides technical and financial assistance to help MWBEs and small businesses secure surety bonding.  More than 469 MWBEs and small businesses have graduated from bond readiness training and MWBEs represent $89 million in surety bonding capacity as a result of New York State training and credit facilitation. Through collateral support alone, over $66 million in bonding was supported, of which over $42 million went to MWBEs.

Small businesses interested in loans from the MERF program should contact the CDFI closest to their location directly.

The CDFIs that have each been awarded up to $1 million in MERF funds are:

  • BOC Capital Corporation
  • Community Capital New York, Inc.
  • Excelsior Growth Fund
  • TruFund Financial Services, Inc.

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 Kilduff | [email protected] | (212) 803-3744
ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313

Xylem's office space in Westchester County, New York.

Xylem: Bringing Safe and Reliable Water to a Thirsty World

This story was produced by the WIRED Brand Lab for Empire State Development

February 12, 2019

Most people don’t spend much time thinking about the safety of the water they use every day. It’s there when it’s needed, clean and clear and coming out of a nearby tap or faucet. Consider yourself one of the lucky ones.

“Water challenges are happening everywhere, and many are going to get much worse,” says Jay Iyengar, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer of Xylem, a company that helps address some of the world’s most pressing water problems.

While the quest for safe and reliable water stretches to every corner of the globe, the journey often begins in the leafy village of Rye Brook, NY. It is there where the scientists and researchers at Xylem — the name is derived from the tissue in vascular plants which transports water and nutrients from the roots to the stems and leaves — use a combination of cutting-edge technology and advanced data analytics to enable more efficient, resilient, and sustainable water and wastewater management.

Xylem benefits immensely from its locale, which affords access to an incredible talent base of scientists and researchers from leading companies and academic institutions both within the New York metropolitan area as well as the larger Northeast corridor.

While New York-based, the work and worldview of Xylem is designed to improve the planet. Access to safe water and sanitation improves health and helps prevent the spread of infectious disease. It means reduced child and maternal mortality rates, and increased educational opportunities. Simply put: Clean water leads to a better life. “Water issues are at the core of human survival,” Iyengar says.

In many areas, however, water delivery and management systems are unsanitary, leaky, polluted by heavy metals, or can’t deliver enough supply to support demand. By 2025, roughly 25% of the world’s population is expected to live in places that don’t have a clean and reliable water supply, including 14 of the world’s 20 megacities. In 2015, for instance, Brazil’s São Paulo, a megacity of 20 million, turned off its water supply for 12 hours a day, forcing businesses to shut down. Similarly, many of the 21 million residents of Mexico City don’t have full-time access to clean and reliable water.

For Iyengar, these needs aren’t just abstract issues. As child in India, her family had just a few hours of available water per day. “Water issues have always been part of my DNA,” she says.

How One NY Company Is Solving Water

New York State-based company Xylem is bringing safe and reliable water to a thirsty world.

LEAKY PIPES

One of the first challenges of water management is dealing with aging pipes and seals. Xylem CEO Patrick Decker estimates that some 25% to 60% of water produced by utilities gets lost before it reaches a faucet or tap. Inaccurate metering and billing for the water that does arrive tear into the financial health of public utilities.

Xylem hopes to fix these many leaks through intelligent sensors and monitoring equipment. Its smart metering and advanced infrastructure analytics technology can identify infrastructure problems early, across multiple pieces of equipment or an entire network, enabling water managers to continuously monitor operations and equipment. Proactive water management allows managers to get ahead of trouble, whether through predictive maintenance or dealing with sewage and storm water overflows during a storm surge.

Embedded sensors in the pipes and a monitoring network also test water flow information in real time. They can even detect things like excessive nitrates and phosphates. Such conditions can lead to algal blooms, which can cause blockages in filters and create odors in treated water.

Ultimately, water managers must shift their mind-set from reactive to preventive, says Chief Marketing Officer Joseph Vesey. Expensive emergency interventions – such as quickly patching aging infrastructure, water-quality alerts, or scrambling to provide safe water during a flood management – will be replaced with data-driven continual maintenance.

EYES ON THE WORLD

Xylem understands the benefit of a supportive community — it has received major grants and tax credits from New York State, allowing it to create hundreds of new jobs — and how that boost can ripple outward. Great partnerships can spark great change. While Xylem is at its heart a water technology company, “we’re also committed to creating social and economic value to the communities we serve,” says Vesey.

Chief among these is addressing the “walk for water,” a laborious and sometimes life-crushing daily process around the world. In many places, particularly in Asia and Africa, people (typically women) must walk several miles a day just to collect water. In a study of 25 countries of sub-Saharan Africa, UNICEF estimated that women spend 16 million hours collecting water each day. The result is billions in lost economic opportunities.

Water is also heavy, which can lead to physical injury from constant lifting and carrying heavy loads. The World Health Organization recommends 20-50 liters of water per person per day for drinking, cooking, and washing. That amounts to hauling between 44 and 110 pounds of water for each household member, which can result in strained backs, shoulders, and necks.

Access to proper sanitation also means reduced risk of sexual violence and increased safety as women and girls do not have to go to remote, dangerous places to relieve themselves.

Understanding the political, social, and economic context of water issues of these regions that are so far removed from the U.S. is critical. “It’s not just about developing technology to meet our customers’ needs, but also adopting that to their budgetary and social constraints,” Iyengar says. “We have to solve both the technical problems, as well as the practical problems.”

Xylem Watermark, the company’s corporate citizenship program, is key. It helped build more than 150 AquaTowers and taught communities around the world about water health and hygiene. AquaTowers can produce 10,000 liters of clear water per day, enough to sustain more than 1,000 people. The AquaTower filters out bacteria, protozoa, viruses, pathogens, and other contaminants greater than 0.01 micron, producing clean drinking water.

One recent win: Five rural schools in Siem Reap Province of Cambodia now have clean water access for the first time. Over the course of five days in June, AquaTowers and hygiene education were provided to primary and secondary schools that only had access to untreated, contaminated well water, causing many to suffer from waterborne illnesses. Now, more than 5,000 people have access to clean water.

The company can help avert smaller-scale disasters, too. Xylem’s tech experts were on hand to engineer the pumping system that helped free the Thai youth soccer team trapped in a flooded cave this summer.

CHANGING NEEDS FOR A CHANGING CLIMATE

All of these water demands are made worse by climate change, which will intensify risks associated with water availability and quality.

“Climate change will create more extreme weather events and cause incredible stress on the water infrastructure,” says Clint Wilder, a senior editor at Clean Edge, a cleantech research and strategy firm. “A ‘500-Year-Flood’ now comes every five years. We often worry about water scarcity, but flooding can pollute drinking water, which is just as bad.”

Catastrophic weather events place enormous storm overflow stress on water and sewer networks throughout the world. To this end, Xylem also produces technology that treats wastewater more efficiently and helps cities cope with severe flooding and other water-related consequences of climate change.

Ultimately, says Vesey, Xylem must work closely with policymakers around the world in order to create resilient communities that have access to critical water supplies and services, no matter the circumstance. Droughts and floods, both manmade and natural, threaten human lives and property and will continue to do so. In the next few decades, water will become increasingly scarce as the world’s population grows and moves into urban areas.

The only way to meet these challenges, Vesey says, “is to treat water with respect. It is an incredibly powerful life force.”

New York State is changing the world, by supporting hometown companies like cleantech innovator Xylem, which is tackling some of the planet’s most pressing water issues.

 

Visit: esd.ny.gov/cleantech 
Call: (518)292-5200
Email: [email protected]

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Empire State Development Announces Completion of Marist College Steel Plant in Poughkeepsie

New York State Provided Nearly $3 Million in Grant Funding for Transformation; New Fine Arts and Fashion Hub Dedicated to Business Development

February 1, 2019

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the completion of Marist College Steel Plant, a state-supported renovation and expansion of a former steel fabrication plant in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County. The new facility will serve as a fine arts and fashion hub dedicated to business and career development. ESD provided $2.5 million in grants through the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council (MHREDC) and the project has also been awarded an additional $491,000 in funding from the Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program (HECap) board, which is administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY). The project supports the success of New York’s holistic economic development strategy for revitalizing downtowns and reinforcing placemaking throughout the state.

ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “ESD is dedicated to repurposing old buildings for new and innovative uses, and this project run by Marist College turns a former steel plant into a vital center for the arts and fashion industries in Poughkeepsie.”

The state-of-the-art facility includes digital printing equipment, art galleries, a makerspace, advanced manufacturing space and a center for fast prototyping as well as textile creation. The building provides more than 35,000 additional square feet to the College’s fashion and art and digital media programs. Marist College invested $26 million in the project.

Marist College President David Yellen said, “Marist greatly appreciates the state’s support of this project. This new facility will be instrumental in educating the fashion and arts leaders of tomorrow with cutting-edge technology to encourage innovation.”

DASNY President & CEO Gerrard P. Bushell Ph.D. said, “New York’s colleges are critical economic drivers and by administering the HECap program, we help provide more educational opportunities for our next generation of leaders. DASNY is privileged to play a role in the merging of private investment with public dollars to help make the Mid-Hudson region an attractive destination for students, faculty and staff for years to come.”

The Marist College Steel Plant received two grants through the Regional Council Capital Fund Program (RCCF), which provides funding for capital-based economic development initiatives intended to create or retain jobs; prevent, reduce or eliminate unemployment and underemployment; and/or increase business activity in a community or region. Capital grant funding from RCCF is available through the State’s Regional Economic Development Council Initiative, which helps drive regional and local economic development across New York State in cooperation with 10 Regional Economic Development Councils.

Senator Sue Serino said, “Marist has long been a leader when it comes to innovative ways of connecting their students to businesses and economic development opportunities here in our community and the completion of this state-of-the-art project is just another way they are continuing to set the standard. This project is a great example of all that can be accomplished when the public and private sectors come together to make economic development a priority. I thank the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council for their work and for recognizing the significance of this project for our students and for our community.”

Assemblymember Didi Barrett said, “The new Marist College Steel Plant is a boon for higher education in the Hudson Valley, offering a state-of-the-art home for the school’s fashion and digital art and media programs. The new campus building will help attract talented young people to our region, as well as ensure local students can receive a top-notch education and put down roots here. I’ll continue working with the governor and my Assembly colleagues to invest even more in our students and expand college affordability programs so that all our children can follow their college dreams.”
 

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 eight rounds of the REDC process, more than $6.1 billion has been awarded to more than 7,300 job creation and community development projects consistent with each region’s strategic plans, projecting to create and retain more than 230,000 jobs. For more information on the Regional Councils, visitwww.regionalcouncils.ny.gov.
 

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 Kilduff | [email protected] | (212) 803-3744 
ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313

 

Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council Awarded $87.1 Million for 122 Projects

Projects That Will Move Forward As a Result of Round VIII of the Regional Council Initiative Include the Innovation Grand Street Project, the Research Institute for Brain & Body Health and Bread Alone’s Lake Katrine Bakery

December 19, 2018

A Full List of the 2018 REDC Awards is Available at www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov

As part of Round VIII of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Regional Council initiative, the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council (MHREDC) was awarded $87.1 million for 122 projects that build on the region’s assets to invest in the future. The announcement, which supports projects in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Sullivan, Orange, and Ulster Counties, was made Tuesday in Albany.  In the first eight rounds of the Regional Council initiative, the Mid-Hudson region has been awarded $647.8 million in state support for 809 projects across the region.

Established in 2011 as a centerpiece of the Governor’s strategy to jumpstart the economy and create jobs, the Regional Councils replaced the state’s old top-down approach to economic development with one that is community-based and performance-driven. The initiative empowers communities, business and academic leaders, as well as members of the public in each region of the state, to develop strategic plans specifically tailored to their region's unique strengths and resources to create jobs, improve quality of life and grow the economy.

Donald P. Christian, SUNY New Paltz President and MHREDC Co-Chair, said, “The Mid-Hudson region is thrilled to have been selected as a Top Performer in Round VIII of the REDC Initiative, and we look forward to using the funds provided to foster innovative projects that deliver economic growth and job creation for the entire region.”

The following Mid-Hudson projects are highlights of projects awarded funding in Round VIII:

Orange County

  • $1.831 million to Orange County Community College Association to invest in Phase I of the Innovation Grand Street Project. The project involves the renovation of two vacant/underutilized buildings in the City of Newburgh's historic downtown district. The project will create space for training and programming that addresses specific needs for an educated workforce and encourages entrepreneurship in the region's growing industries along with collaborative partners and local businesses.

Sullivan County

  • $1 million to The Center for Discovery (TCFD) for the development of a new Research Institute for Brain & Body Health. This is part of a $4.8 million investment to transform a 164,000 square foot vacant commercial property in Rock Hill, located in the Town of Thompson, into a state-of-the-art bio-behavioral and healthcare facility including a Children's Specialty Hospital and special education school program. Six laboratories will allow for pioneering studies in Autism Spectrum Disorders, medical frailties, Alzheimer's and dementia and other chronic, complex conditions. 

Ulster County

  • $800,000 to Bread Alone to expand its Lake Katrine bakery. Bread Alone is a certified organic, values-driven bakery that has been operating in the Hudson Valley since 1983. The expansion will add 15,000 square feet and position the bakery to sell more of its organic breads to their growing customer base. The $4.4 million expansion will further increase Bread Alone's commitment to sustainable business operations, featuring LEED-certified construction and expanded use of renewable energy.

A full list of the 2018 REDC awards is available at www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov.

This spring, Governor Cuomo launched Round VIII of the REDC.  During Round VIII, the Strategic Implementation Assessment Team (SIAT), which is composed of state agency commissioners and members of the New York State Legislature, traveled to Rome, Rochester and White Plains to receive presentations on this year’s proposals from each of the ten Regional Councils directly and assessed the implementation of the regions’ strategic plans.
In 2018, all 10 REDCs competed for designation as a “Top Performer.”  Five Top Performers received up to $20 million in additional Empire State Development grant funding to support priority projects, with the remaining five regions receiving up to $10 million. Additionally, each region is eligible for up to $75 million in additional Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits to help attract and grow businesses in the region.

Since 2011, the first year of the initiative, more than $6.1 billion has been awarded to more than 7.300 projects that are projected to create and retain more than 230,000 jobs statewide.

To learn more about the MHREDC, visit https://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/mid-hudson.

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 eight rounds of the REDC process, more than $6.1 billion has been awarded to more than 7,300 job creation and community development projects consistent with each region's strategic plans, projecting to create and retain more than 230,000 jobs. For more information on the Regional Councils, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov.

 

 

Contact:
Adam Kilduff | [email protected] | 212-803-3744
ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313

Empire State Development Announces Completion of New Hudson Valley Lighting Assembly And Distribution Facility

New Facility Will Enable the Creation of 34 New Jobs and Retention of 47 Jobs

October 25, 2018

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that Hudson Valley Lighting, a manufacturer of high-end light fixtures, has completed construction of its new 262,000 square-foot facility in Wappinger, Dutchess County. The assembly and distribution facility will serve as the company’s world headquarters and include both warehousing and manufacturing space. The project will create 34 new jobs and retain 47 jobs, while vastly increasing the company's ability to design, manufacture and ship products worldwide as well as provide appropriate showroom space to welcome buyers.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “Hudson Valley Lighting’s vastly expanded facility will create advanced manufacturing jobs, spur innovation and enhance economic growth in the Mid-Hudson region.”

Hudson Valley Lighting was founded in 1985 by David S. Littman and is now one of the five distinct brands under the Littman Brands banner. Littman Brands industry-recognized brands are united by the pursuit of excellence, a design-driven culture, attention to ever-changing environmental considerations, and commitment to the highest possible quality.

Hudson Valley Lighting Founder and CEO David Littman said, "Thanks to the Governor's Regional Economic Development Council I am able to grow and expand my business in New York State.  Instead of relocating, we are investing in the region by creating jobs, participating in the community and serving as a catalyst for positive change. I’ve always seen the potential that exists in the Hudson Valley to create a vibrant economy in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Cuomo, there is a growing energy and excitement welcoming new residents and businesses to the region. This energy, combined with a creative and educated workforce, bode well for the future. Frankly, I’m surprised it’s taken so long for others to discover what we’ve known all along, New York State is a great place to live and work.”

As a result of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative, Hudson Valley Lighting was awarded a $705,000 performance-based grant in Round III to support the $17.2 million project and up to $200,000 in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits, which are directly tied to job commitments. Hudson Valley Lighting, which has nine locations throughout the world, had outgrown its rented facility in Newburgh, creating the need for a new location that would adequately serve the company’s needs and become its world headquarters.

Donald Christian, Chair of the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council said, “Hudson Valley Lighting’s success has had positive economic impacts throughout the region, creating good-paying jobs and a valuable product that’s sold around the world. We are pleased that this new world headquarters and assembly facility in Dutchess County provide such a meaningful boost to the next steps in the company’s evolution.”

Wappinger Town Supervisor Richard Thurston said, “The decision of Hudson Valley Lighting to expand its operations in the Town of Wappinger is both exciting and inspiring. It shows that our Town can still provide a very attractive base for manufacturing and job growth.”

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.

 

 

Contacts:
Adam Kilduff | [email protected] | (212) 803-3744
Adam Ostrowski | [email protected] | (518) 292-5148
ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313

ESD Announces Schedule for REDC’s Presentations to Strategic Implementation Assessment Team

All 10 regions will present their 2018 proposals and provide progress updates to NYS Review team

October 22, 2018

Presentations will be streamed live online at www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov

Empire State Development today announced the schedule for this year’s Regional Economic Development Council presentations to the Strategic Implementation Assessment Team, which is led by Secretary of State Rossana Rosado and composed of state officials.

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “The SIAT presentations give regions an opportunity to make their best pitches for support of their strategies and the priority projects in their communities that reflect a shared commitment to shaping a thriving and sustainable New York State economy.”

The schedule follows:

Tuesday, October 23
Location: Mohawk Valley Community College, Rome Campus
1101 Floyd Ave
Rome, NY 13440

Regions Presenting:

  • 9 a.m. - Mohawk Valley
  • 10:30 a.m. - North Country
  • 1 p.m. - Capital Region
  • 2:30 p.m. - Central NY

Friday, October 26
Location: NYPA Building, Jaguar Room
123 Main Street
White Plains, NY 10601

Regions Presenting:

  • 9 a.m. - Mid-Hudson
  • 10:30 a.m. - Long Island
  • 1 p.m. - New York City

Friday, November 2
Location: Monroe Community College, Brighton Campus
1000 East Henrietta Road
Rochester, NY 14623

Regions Presenting:

  • 9 a.m. - Finger Lakes
  • 10:30 a.m. - Western NY
  • 1 p.m. - Southern Tier 

Representatives from each region will provide an in-person presentation to the SIAT, including updates on their strategic plan goals, progress achieved on priorities and projects funded in previous rounds, and outlines of their round VI strategies. The presentations will be followed by questions from the review team.

The SIAT team includes Rossana Rosado, Secretary of State, NYS Department of State (DOS); RoAnn Destito, Commissioner, New York State Office of General Services (OGS); Matt Driscoll, Acting Executive Director, NYS Thruway Authority; Roberta Reardon, Commissioner, Department of Labor (DOL); Sabrina Ty, President and CEO, New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC); RuthAnne Visnauskas, Commissioner, NYS Homes and Community Renewal; Richard Ball, Commissioner, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets; and Brian Stratton, Director, NYS Canal Corporation.

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.

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 region’s strategic plans, projecting to create and retain more than 220,000 jobs. For more information on the Regional Councils, visitwww.regionalcouncils.ny.gov.

 

Contact:
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