Rome Sentinel: Officials: $100M in state funding will still boost region
Published:
Saturday, December 12, 2015 - 08:45
Fort Schuyler Management Corp., Marcy, will receive $6.1 million A 100,000-square-foot nano-cyber Innovation Accelerator Center will be constructed on an eight-acre green-field parcel adjacent to SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Marcy. It will focus on nano tool development and will be home to the Advanced Manufacturing Performance Center, which will train new workers from low-income and refugee populations in the Mohawk Valley region. An education and training center will be established for advanced manufacturing in areas like semiconductors and power electronics.
The Mohawk Valley did not receive a piece of the new $1.5 billion Upstate Revitalization Initiative Thursday as hoped, but the region was designated a Regional Economic Development Council “top performer” and is receiving $100.3 million split over 92 projects in six counties.
Though disappointed that the region wasn’t awarded $500 million over five years, area officials are satisfied the region is getting funded. The Mohawk Valley’s $100.3 million allocation is the largest one received by any of the 10 development councils not counting the three $500 million URI awards. The Upstate Revitalization Initiative winners were the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier and Central New York; each will receive $100 million a year for the next five years to put toward economic development activities.
The Mohawk Valley has received $261.9 million in state funds and incentives for 264 project since the 10 regional councils were formed in 2011.
Priority projects in the latest round include $2.86 million for the continuation of the installation of radar and other supporting equipment at the Griffiss International Airport unmanned aerial system (drones) test range and to the north in the Lowville area. The money complements funding received previously for earlier phases.
Tony Basile, director of of operations for NUAIR, the alliance of more than 70 private and public entities and academic institutions that operates the Griffiss drone test range, said, “Well, we’re obviously pretty happy about this.”
He expects the first section of the test range to be operational early next year.
There’s also $6 million for a nano-cyber development center at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Marcy. It would support research and development, workforce education in nano-related high-tech industries, plus stimulate job creation.
