The Central New York Regional Economic Development Council last Friday recommended three dozen business projects as top priority for $26.6 million in state funding as a way to bolster the region’s economic growth — and three of those projects, worth nearly $1.5 million, are either in or have direct ties to Cazenovia. There are also two major projects just down the road from Cazenovia in Hamilton.
The CNYREDC submitted its three-year progress report to the state last Friday, Aug. 15, providing detail on the council’s achievements in implementing its five-year Strategic Plan and providing a list of 36 priority projects it has endorsed for Round IV of the Regional Council competition.
“Through the Regional Council, Central New York has created a forum for new thinking, stronger partnerships, and growth-oriented investments that are bolstering our region’s economic growth,” said Regional Council Co-chairs Kent Syverud, chancellor of Syracuse University and Robert Simpson, president of CenterState CEO. “Over the past three years, our region has implemented strategic priorities to grow well-paying industries, drive innovation and entrepreneurship, prepare businesses for a globally competitive economy and expanding market opportunities, cultivate civic trust, and encourage economic mobility within the region. We are confident that the 36 priority projects recommended for funding this round will continue that momentum, leveraging the greatest return on investment to stimulate growth and create prosperity across our five counties.”
Of the 36 projects endorsed by the council as regional priorities for Round IV of the Regional Council competition and submitted to the state, two were located in Cazenovia and one in Nelson:
Cazenovia Hospitality, LLC, is currently advancing its project to build a national chain hotel on Nelson Street in Cazenovia, across from the Town and Country Plaza on Route 20. The property will offer 80 guest rooms and a conference facility that can accommodate up to 300 people. “The project fills a void for a much needed hospitality center in the region, particularly with the growth of local agribusiness and arts, culture and educational activities in the area,” according to the report.
—Total Project Cost: $8 million
—Recommended state funding: $1.28 million
—Jobs: 28 new, 35 construction
—Five-year Payroll Projection: $3,340,000
Owera Farm Winery II, intends to expand its Round I funded project by constructing an 8,500-square-foot building for wine sales, small group instruction and storage. The permanent structure will enable year-round operation and enhance on-farm marking and regional tourism.
—Total project cost: $2 million
—Recommended state funding: $200,000
—Jobs: two new, two retained, 11 existing
—Five-year payroll projection: $280,000
Twenty East – Renovations for agri-tourism destination. This business, located on Route 20, is currently advancing through the Nelson Town Planning Board process. Twenty East will be a collaboration of small business owners working together to make a destination on the fringe of Cazenovia. Cazenovia Cutblock, Rise bread makers, Life of Reilley Distilling and Wine Co. and PJ Hughes Distributors will all be together in one place. Spruce Ridge Landscape and Design will update the landscaping and create a patio for customers to sit back and relax with bread, local foods and spirits. (The Cazenovia Republican will have a complete story on the proposed new business in the near future.)
“This project includes the renovation of underutilized commercial buildings into a unique agri-tourism based destination, and builds off the strong agri-business and tourism growth experienced in Madison County over the past five years,” according to the report.
—Total project cost: $167,215
—Recommended state funding: $33,443
—Jobs: six new, six existing
—Five-year payroll projection: $750,000
Two projects in Hamilton also received CNYREDC recommendations as priority projects:
Good Nature Brewing Comapny will construct a new indoor and outdoor manufacturing facility and event space on an underutilized property outside of Hamilton. This expansion will allow for statewide distribution of the company’s products, which use predominantly locally grown ingredients.
—Total project cost: $1.5 million
—Recommended state funding: $250,000
—Jobs: 16 new, 10 retained, six existing
—Five-year payroll projection: $2,030,000
Colgate University – Center for Art and Culture. This project will relocate two Colgate University museums to a newly constructed Center for Art and Culture in downtown Hamilton. The two museums are currently in outdated facilities and this expansion will allow them to better care for existing collections while making them more accessible to visitors and the community.
—Total project cost: $18,798,100
—Recommended state funding: $750,000
—Jobs: 1,064 existing, 145 construction
Also listed under Round IV projects in the CNYREDC report are “additional strategic projects,” or secondary priority projects that may receive funding if the region receives any extra monies from the state. Included in these additional projects was $15,000 requested for Twenty East; $100,000 for Good Nature Brewing Company; and $750,000 for The Brewster Inn to purchase the two properties adjacent to the business on Ledyard Avenue to expand the company’s lodging and banquet offerings.
Funding awards for the fourth round of the CFA process are expected to be announced this fall, according to the CNYREDC.
The Cazenovia area has a history of promising businesses receiving state assistance through the Regional Economic Development grant program. During the past three years/three rounds of funding, the village of Cazenovia, Cazenovia College, Owera Vineyards, Empire Brewing Co., Marquardt Switches and Dielectric Laboratories all received funding for various projects.
The CNYREDC, which is composed of Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga, Oswego, Madison counties, is one of 10 regional councils across New York state that serve as a single point of contact for economic activity in the regions. After three rounds of the REDC initiative, 226 projects across the Central New York region have been awarded a total of $264 million in state support through the Regional Council and Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process in the statewide competition.
The 2014 progress report can be found online at regionalcouncils.ny.gov/content/central-new-york.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].
