LI Wins $101.6 Million in State Jobs Aid

LI wins $101.6 million in state jobs aid

By JAMES T. MADORE james.madore@newsday.com

Long Island is one of four New York regions that will receive more than $100 million each in state aid to begin implementing job-growth plans, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Thursday.

The Island won $101.6 million.

In a ceremony, held in an Albany theater, Cuomo said Nassau and Suffolk counties and the three other winning regions had outpaced six others in the state. The winners were chosen by a five-member review panel appointed by Cuomo.

The other winning regions and their funding awards are Buffalo, $100.3 million; Syracuse, $103.7 million, and the North Country, $103.2 million.

A total of $785.5 million in state grants and tax credits were awarded Thursday. New York City received $66.2 million.

The LI plan focuses on creating technology jobs by linking research institutions such as Brookhaven National Laboratory with local companies to commercialize inventions. The plan also outlines 13 "transformative projects," including the Heartland minicity in Brentwood and the Ronkonkoma-MacArthur Airport hub development, that will jump start the economy.

The local plan was developed by a 22-member regional economic development council appointed by Cuomo in July. The council was led by Kevin Law, president of the Long Island Association business group, and Stuart Rabinowitz, Hofstra University president.

"This is great news for Long Island and clearly the hard work put in by the entire Long Island council was recognized," said Jim Morgo, former Suffolk chief deputy county executive and co-chair of the council's infrastructure committee.

The council will continue meeting next year to implement the jobs strategy. It also will review every Long Island project seeking state aid.

Cuomo has revamped New York's economic development programs, injecting regional competition. He said Thursday that he and legislative leaders have agreed to fund a second competition for $1 billion next year.

Fuel for the economy

Long Island Thursday was awarded $101.6 million in state aid for business expansions, building projects and educational initiatives. Here are the biggest allocations for individual projects:

$6 million- Wyandanch Rising redevelopment project around LIRR station

$5 million- sewer improvements in downtown Hempstead Village

$5 million- Smart Grid 3 electricity project between Brookhaven National Laboratory and Stony Brook University

$4 million- Sewer work for proposed Ronkonkoma-MacArthur Airport transit hub

$3.1 million- Expansion of P&L Development in Nassau County

$3 million- Expansion of Amneal Pharmaceuticals in Suffolk County

$3 million- Thought Box 1 project near the Hicksville LIRR for young entrepreneurs

$2.6 million- Construction of 36 rental apartments in New Cassel

$2.5 million- Road work for Heartland minicity in Brentwood

$2.4 million- Expansion of Sciegen Pharmaceuticals in Suffolk County