STATEMENT FROM SENATOR PATTY RITCHIE ON REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, UPSTATE REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE AWARDS

***CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PROJECTS AWARDED FUNDING***

With today’s economic development award announcements, we take another step in the right direction when it comes to revitalizing our Central and Northern New York economies and creating much-needed jobs and new opportunities in our region. 

Central New York’s being named one of today’s top award winners means that the region will receive a total of $500 million over the next five years; an investment that will bring new businesses, more jobs and increased economic prosperity.

I am excited to see this funding act as a catalyst for new economic activity, making a number of projects possible, including a new water park in Oswego, improvements at Felix Schoeller—one of our region’s biggest employers—that will help the company shift manufacturing from a foreign location to Oswego County, the development of a new barley malt facility, waterfront improvements in several municipalities and support for our region’s snowmobiling industry to help boost tourism, among others. 

In the North Country, we’re looking forward to an $85.1 million investment that will help fund projects aimed at spurring job growth and creating new opportunities for the people of our region.  While the North Country did not win today’s top prize, in the past five years, it has been the recipient of more than $423 million, making it one of the top performers in New York’s Regional Economic Development Council program. 

Funding awarded this year will help move forward a number of key projects, including major improvements at the Watertown and Ogdensburg Airports, upgrades that will help enhance the tourism appeal of communities like Clayton and Alexandria Bay, initiatives that support agriculture and manufacturing—which are two of the North Country’s economic mainstays—waterfront and downtown revitalization efforts and support for programs that aim to improve cultural offerings in our region, like TAUNY. 

The Regional Economic Development Council has a history of being the jumping-off point for so many significant projects throughout the region I represent.  I applaud all the hardworking members of the councils who worked tirelessly to prepare their proposals and congratulate both the Central and Northern New York Regions on today’s good news.