Press Release: State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins Announces 2014 Regional Economic Development Council Awards in the 35th State Senate District

Yonkers, NY - State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Senate Democratic Conference Leader, is pleased to announce that major funding for several key projects in the 35th District are part of the grant awards announced Thursday through the Regional Economic Development Councils. The Saw Mill River Daylighting, Phase III in downtown Yonkers, a major art exhibition in White Plains, and a pedestrian/cycle bridge over Andre Brook in Tarrytown are among the numerous projects receiving state economic development dollars in the Mid-Hudson Region. This seven county region that includes Westchester is considered a “Top Performer,” and will receive $82.8 million this year.

“I’m thrilled that key projects I supported in my district will be getting the state economic development assistance they requested in this highly-competitive grant process,” said Senator Stewart-Cousins, the Senate Democratic Conference Leader. “The Regional Economic Development Council’s are making important, locally-targeted investments worth millions of dollars. As a result, we are creating jobs, supporting businesses, expanding housing opportunities and laying the groundwork for sustained economic growth throughout our region and our state.”

2014 REDC Grants:

• Saw Mill River Daylighting Phase 3 in Yonkers
  • $2.5 million to continue this project downtown, focusing on a river-themed park along New Main Street, from Ann St. to Nepperhan Avenue
     
• Ashburton Avenue Rehabilitation in Yonkers
  • $1.5 million to revitalize this area and roadway to improve travel flow into and out of downtown Yonkers
• Hudson River Museum in Yonkers
  •     $630,000 total, to expand exhibit space in the West Wing and to attract more visitors to the museum and the city 
• SoYo Exalta, LLC in Yonkers
  • $1 million to construct approximately 400 rental units, parking and retail near the newly daylighted Saw Mill River in downtown Yonkers
• The City of Yonkers and the Yonkers Board of Education
  • $400,000 to consolidate the five business and non-academic functions of the city and the school district
• The Village of Tarrytown
  • $47,300 to install a wider pedestrian/bicycle bridge over Andre Brook, to allow greater access to Pierson Park and the Riverwalk 
• The Westchester Arts Council Inc. Festival of New Work in White Plains
  • $76,000 for a major new exhibition in 2015 to highlight work by Westchester artists with roots in China, Nigeria, Iran and other countries
• Shop-Rite Supermarkets
  • $100,000 to train 120 workers for food safety, customer service and management 
• Jawanio Inc. (which serves Westchester, Rockland and Putnam)
  • $2.5 million to expand Jawanio’s New City campus for an integrated health, wellness and work project 
  • $86,400 for health and wellness training to train 240 workers in understanding the spectrum of disabilities and the services required by these individuals 
• Excelsior Jobs Credits
  • $3 million available in tax credits for the Mid-Hudson Region, reserved for future projects
• Low-Cost Economic Development Financing
  • $35 million to be made available to state and local government issuers to sell tax-exempt bonds for economic development, infrastructure and community revitalization efforts
     

This year, Senator Stewart-Cousins voted for a $150 million increase in the 2014 State Budget for Regional Economic Development Council grants. The total funding allocation approved was $750 million.

The Regional Economic Development Councils were created in 2011 by Governor Cuomo. This was the fourth annual Regional Economic Development Council Awards. In the past three years, the Mid-Hudson Region received $219.4 million for 232 projects across the seven county region which includes Westchester. This year’s grant award announcement brings the total to just over $300 million.