I am pleased and proud to report that the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) was awarded one of the top three economic development packages worth $500 million over five years. The other two regions of upstate that also received the highest monetary awards were the Finger Lakes Region and the Southern Tier Region.
As a voting member of the Central New York Council, I have had the privilege and responsibility to participate with other local leaders, including co-chairs SU Chancellor Eric Syverud and CenterState CEO Rob Simpson, in vetting and selecting 93 projects and initiatives, which will build on our region’s strong performance in past rounds of the REDC Competition and in getting major projects, like Soraa, an industry leader in ultra-high performance lighting and LED technologies to relocate its global manufacturing and research and development operations from California to Onondaga County. These new projects are rooted in the region’s natural, business and academic advantages and are focused on strategic initiatives with regional, national and international corporate partners that will lead to thousands of new jobs, billions in capital investments and a lasting legacy for the region.
The six “signature” investments in CNY’s plan which would create nearly 6,000 jobs over five years include: Global Center for Unmanned Systems and Cross-Connected Platforms; Development of Indoor Farms, also known as controlled environment agriculture, and aseptic packaging facilities; Global Manufacturing and Logistics Hub; National Veterans Resource Complex; a Consensus Commission on Government Modernization; and Programs to Fight Poverty, including strategies to align workers’ skills with needs of employers.
I will be updating you on each of these initiatives as they get underway.
What is most exciting is that the upstate regions bordering on our Central New York Region, such as the Finger Lakes Region to the west and the Southern Tier to the south, each won the top awards, which now represent 1,062 economic development projects totaling an investment of $1 billion. The close proximity and connectedness of our regions will create a critical mass of jobs and national attention for perspective businesses. This investment will also provide incentives for our existing businesses to expand and for our tax base to grow.
Folks, this is the real deal. This is the boost and opportunity that upstate needs. We cannot squander this chance to re-invent our region, our chance to provide lasting and good-paying jobs, our chance to give our families opportunities right at home and our chance at putting aside the negativity and cynicism that seems to consume our energies and starts to define who we are.
