ALBANY — The state on Tuesday awarded $85.4 million to 77 economic development projects in the Mohawk Valley, including a total of 18 for Fulton and Montgomery counties.
The awards by the state involve Consolidated Funding Applications submitted throughout the state. All 10 Regional Economic Development Councils received funding. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday announced more than $763 million in economic and community development funding has been awarded through Round VIII of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.
Established in 2011 as a centerpiece of Cuomo’s strategy to jumpstart the economy and create jobs, the councils replaced the state’s old top-down approach to economic development with one that is community-based and performance-driven.
In Fulton County, Pioneer Window Manufacturing Corp. in the Johnstown Industrial Park, received $2 million for its expansion project. Pioneer Window will construct a 140,000-square-foot addition to its current facility at 200 Union Ave. to allow the company to meet current and future production needs.
The city of Gloversville received $78,000 to develop a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program to guide redevelopment along the Cayadutta Creek. The state Department of State grant will cover 75 percent of the cost of developing an LWRP.
The Cayadutta Creek was designated as an inland waterway by the state, which could enable the city to receive up to 50 percent grant funding for projects related to waterfront redevelopment, if the city first goes through the planning process.
An LWRP is a land and water use plan that identifies long term uses and implementation strategies. The study will include property surveys, planning, land use analysis, redevelopment analysis and a series of maps identifying what is included in the district, ownership, conditions and defining boundaries. A number of public hearings will be held to gather public input on how residents would like to see the area be redeveloped.
Once finalized, the LWRP will be reviewed by the state and any comments must be addressed before the plan is accepted. With the accepted LWRP the city could apply for up to 50 percent grant funding for projects included in the plan as early as next year during the 2019 CFA cycle.
Fulton County Center for Regional Growth President and CEO Ronald Peters and Gloversville Mayor Dayton King couldn’t be reached this morning for comment.
Other Fulton County awards included:
∫ Century Linen Service, Inc. — $54,000 for training.
∫ Fulton County Microenterprise Assistance — $200,000 for a Microenterprise program.
∫ Tryon Technology Park — $100,00 for primary electric upgrade.
∫ Fulton County Chapter NYSARC Inc. — $98,850 for training.
∫ Village of Northville — $72,750 for a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program to establish community goals and strategies for future development along Northville Lake and the Great Sacandaga Lake.
∫ Village of Dolgeville — $455,000 for a Dolgeville Center Park upgrade.
Kenneth Rose, director of the Montgomery County Business Development Center in Fonda, said today that Montgomery County received nine awards.
“There were a couple we didn’t receive,” he said. “Other than that, every other CFA was granted funding.”
That potential project funding, he said, including money for a new building for the Montgomery County SPCA.
Rose said his county is “excited” about $2 million for the Montgomery County facilities relocation project. The county will relocate its Business Development Center and Department of Public Works out of the Mohawk River floodplain and to the Industrial Development Authority Glen Canal Business Park.
Officials say consolidating several satellite DPW offices outside of the flood inundation area will increase efficiency of emergency service operations during storm events by eliminating the need to move equipment prior to each storm and eliminating trips between facilities.
Other Montgomery County awards included:
∫ City of Amsterdam — $30,000 a Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements study.
∫ Eisenadler Brauhaus, LLC — $100,000 for a new microbrewery located in Nelliston.
∫ Montgomery County —$30,000 for a Fonda Fairgrounds sewer upgrades study.
∫ Montgomery County Kayak Share Project —$148,740. The county will work cooperatively with Fonda, St. Johnsville, Canajoharie, and Amsterdam to create recreational opportunities along the Mohawk River by installing long and short-term kayak storage and an ADA-accessible floating launch.
∫ Montgomery County Microenterprise Assistance —$200,000 to run a program.
∫ Montgomery County Business Development Center — $150,000 for the Chalmers Mill Riverfront Civic Space project.
∫ Town of Amsterdam — $203,580 to construct a salt storage facility at the town facilities site on Manny’s Corner’s Road.
∫ Village of Fort Plain —$750,000 for sewer line improvements.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at [email protected].
