Mohawk Valley Region gets a piece of over $700 million in economic development funding

Our area is getting its share of $700 million in the second round of economic development funding.

It's all a part of Governor Cuomo's initiative to spur economic growth and create jobs.

Ten different regions, including the Mohawk Valley, were awarded Tuesday.

The Mohawk Valley region received almost $60 million  in grant money, almost the same amount the region received last year.

It all started last year when ten Regional Economic Development Councils were formed. It was a strategy spear-headed by Governor Cuomo to create jobs and spur economic growth.

The ten regions came up with a plan to do just that, competing for grant money.

The Mohawk Valley region, which consists of six counties: Herkimer, Otsego, Oneida, Fulton, Montgomery and Schoharie, was awarded over $60 million for 59 projects this year

"The biggest one was landing some type of chip fab or Nano manufacturing site. A lot of money has been invested at SUNY IT. That is just coming on line, more to come as jobs come there," said Larry Gilroy, the co-chair of the MVREDC.

Last year's plan has reportedly created and retained 1,800 jobs in the region. This year, the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Committee had to come up with a new action plan with new projects and ideas to compete for the second round of funding.

"We reached out to all six counties and our counties all six and all had a county liaison committee where projects came through these county liaison committees," explained Wolf Yeigh, co-chair of the MVREDC.

The council says this was a way to get more of the community's input.

As a result, the Mohawk Valley region has been awarded almost $60 million for seventy projects next year.

Here is a list of some of the highlights of the projects for our region:

MOHAWK VALLEY: $59.7 Million for 70 Projects

$150,000 for Rome Strip Steel Co. Inc. to install new equipment at their steel rolling mill located in Rome. The upgrades will make the mill more productive, allowing for increased output and quality levels while decreasing scrap.
$1.375 million to enable Mohawk Fabrics, a manufacturer and distributor of industrial and commercial textiles and fabrics, to expand its manufacturing facility, invest in two knitting machines, and install a 50-70 Kwan solar energy system, in order to accommodate demand for new orders and eliminate out-of-state outsourcing currently being done.
$275,000 to help the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum undertake a comprehensive digitization project that will allow users to access the entire Hall of Fame collection online, with images and curatorial comments.
$250,000 for improvements along Genesee Street in Utica as part of a conversion of the public right-of-way to a boulevard-style design, as well as supporting the creation of additional parking opportunities on surface lots in the area around the State and County office buildings.
$1 million to expand capacity at the Gloversville/Johnstown Waste Water Treatment Facility to accommodate Greek-style yogurt maker FAGE USA's $150 million expansion.
$300,000 for the design and construction of a 3,500 square foot Customs and Border Patrol facility at Griffiss International Airport in Rome for the clearance of aircraft crews both civil and military arriving from international locations.
$250,000 to support the Rome Capitol Theater expand its operations into three adjacent buildings and restore the historic main auditorium, adding jobs, additional performance spaces, and encouraging activity in Rome's Central Business District.

The Mohawk Valley Region's Council is hoping for round three of economic development funding. No word yet from the Governor's Office if that will happen.