Cayuga County will receive $11.8 million in Funds from the State

Central New York’s strategic plan was one of the big winners at the Regional Council awards ceremony in Albany. The Central New York Regional Economic Development Council, which covers five counties including Cayuga, was one of four councils to win “Best Plan” honors and will receive $103.7 million — more than any other council. The funding will help finance 74 projects in the region, including 12 in Cayuga County. The projects in Cayuga County will receive a total of $11.8 million in funds from the state.

Andrew Fish, executive director of Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce and one of Cayuga County’s representatives on the council along with 4M Precision’s Margaret Morin, praised the work of the council and said he is happy with the achievement. He was in attendance as the council was named one of the winners. “It really shows we do get it in central New York,” he said. “We collaborate and we work well together. I’m thrilled.”

Three Cayuga County projects will receive $1 million or more in funding: $4.02 million for a milk processing plant; $3.17 million to demolish 11 blighted buildings, rehab 12 others and construct 23 new units in Auburn; and $1 million for an expansion project at Currier Plastics.

Other projects and more details include $400,000 for Howland Stone Store Museum; $751,450 for Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival; $750,000 to the Town of Aurelius’ wastewater pump station; $100,000 to the Town of Springport for a comprehensive plan study; $150,000 to Canal Society of NYS for Port Byron Old Erie Canal Heritage Park; $400,000 to Bishop Sheen Ecumenical Housing Foundation Inc. for Cayuga County housing rehabilitation; $324,000 to Cayuga County Homesite Development Corp for mobile home replacement; $75,000 to Homesite Fund, Inc. for emergency housing repair needs; and $700,000 to Homesite Fund, Inc. for housing improvements in the City and the County.

Auburn Mayor Michael Quill and Cayuga County Legislature Chairman Peter Tortorici also represented the county on the council as elected officials. Quill, who attended the awards ceremony with Fish, called the council’s win “terrific news.” “This is going to help the entire community, but it’s also going to help surrounding counties,” Quill said. “We all have to work together. What benefits one is going to benefit us all.”

Tortorici said he is excited about the victory and the funding coming to the county. “With the projects and the cooperation and collaboration that we have created with the private sector... there are a lot of great things happening,” he said.

The regional economic development council process began in August and continued through the fall with all 10 councils holding several meetings and sessions with the public. The goal was to create a strategic plan for each region. The four best strategic plans would be rewarded, with each region receiving $40 million. The remaining six regions would receive $40 million.

Other funding was available with the state making nearly $800 million available for the first round of regional councils. While the competition was one-quarter of that total, most of the funding was available through the Consolidated Funding Application process. This allowed other regional council projects to receive funding from various state agencies.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced at the awards ceremony that there is a tentative agreement to have another round of regional councils next year. State Sen. David Valesky, who attended the ceremony, supported the councils and hopes to see another round. “It’s very important that we follow up this first round with a second round,” he said. “I’m delighted to hear that (Cuomo) has discussed the idea. It already appears there is an agreement to go ahead and do that.”

—Citizen online producer Robert Harding