Cny and Nny Are Winners in Jobs Competition

State Senator Patty Ritchie hailed the selection of both the North Country and Central New York regions as “Best Plan Awardees” in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s competitive economic development regional grant program.

The regions—which were among just four of the state’s 10 regions created for the competition—each will receive over $100 million in state grants to implement job growth plans that aim to transform the region and create thousands of new jobs.

“The North Country and Central New York put our best face forward, highlighting our strengths and opportunities for growth in the future,” Senator Ritchie said. “Measured against highly competitive plans submitted by other regions, both have emerged as winners, and that’s great news for our communities.”

“The true winners, though, are the thousands of Oswego, Jefferson and St. Lawrence County men and women who will find new and better jobs, more opportunity, and a better future as a result of these awards.”

“Gov. Cuomo is to be commended for devising this competition, and I was pleased to support the creation of these councils earlier this year. I am particularly delighted that that this announcement comes less than 24 hours after we took action to cut taxes on tens of thousands of middle class families to also help spur economic growth. Taken together, these actions promise to turn around our economy, and create tens of thousands of good-paying local jobs,” Senator Ritchie said. “The hardworking taxpayers, families and farmers of our region wanted change—and we are delivering.”

With their selection, the North Country Region, which includes Jefferson, St. Lawrence and five other counties, will receive $103.2 million. The Central Region, including Oswego and four other counties, will receive $103.7 million.

The money will be used to promote a range of projects, including projects aimed at addressing the critical Fort Drum-area housing crunch, assisting in the construction of a major new hotel in Clayton, a vital public water project in Gouverneur, green energy and others in the North Country; and to promote the expansion of manufacturing in Pulaski and Fulton,  boost farm production and other projects in Oswego County.

The Regions were chosen based on the strength of their proposals, but most significantly, for their ability to create jobs and generate additional investment quickly. Western New York and Long Island were the other two “Best Plan” winners.

“This process proves that competition works, and that, measured on our strengths, ideas and determination, no one can beat the North Country and Central New York,” Senator Ritchie said. “I want to congratulate all the members of the Regional Councils for their countless hours of work and their hard-fought victory.”

Senator Ritchie voted to create the Regional Councils competition, which Gov. Cuomo proposed last spring. As part of today’s events, Gov. Cuomo announced he will be proposing another round of awards next year.

A list of approved projects can be found below.