Governor Andrew Cuomo recently announced that $581,535 in economic and community development funding has been awarded to tourism projects in Madison County through Round V of the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) initiative and the Upstate Revitalization Initiative (URI).
This funding will be used to help build a hand boat launch for kayaks and canoes at Lakeland Park in Cazenovia, create better access to the National Abolition Hall of Fame’s second floor assembly room in Peterboro, prepare a joint Waterfront Revitalization Plan for the waterfront communities located along the Old Erie Canal and more.
“This news is fantastic,” said Dr. Joan Johnson, President of Madison County Tourism, which is the county’s official tourism promotion agency. ”Once again we’re seeing high levels of investment in our tourism assets, which will help us all attract even more visitors to our county.”
Johnson noted that visitors spent nearly $84 million in Madison County in 2014, referencing data provided by Tourism Economics. According to Johnson, this spending generated $5.7 million in local taxes, which saved the average Madison County household $383 and sustained nearly 2,000 jobs in the county.
The regional councils were established in 2011 to transform the state’s approach to economic development from a top-down model to one that is community-based and performance-driven. The initiative empowers community, business and academic leaders, as well as members of the public in each region of New York state, to develop strategic plans specifically tailored to their region’s unique strengths and resources in order to create jobs, improve quality of life and grow the economy.
The Madison County tourism-based entities awarded funding through the REDC are:
$250,000 – Empire Farmstead Brewery Inc.
Brewery Expansion Project
Empire Farmstead Brewery will construct and fit a cellar that will be used for production and storage of the product. Locally sourced barrels, fermentation vessels and ancillary equipment will be purchased as part of the project.
$83,000 – Madison County
Old Erie Canal Waterfront Revitalization Plan
The Madison County Planning Department will prepare a joint Waterfront Revitalization Plan for the waterfront communities located along the Old Erie Canal within Onondaga, Madison and Oneida counties. This project will catalyze and inform new development opportunities along a 36-mile corridor that stretches from the Town of DeWitt to the City of Rome following the Old Erie Canal State Park.
$79,035 – National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum
Smithfield Community Center Accessibility
The project will create better access to the second floor assembly room.
$70,000 – Village of Cazenovia
Lakeland Park Hand Boat Launch
A hand launch for kayaks and canoes will be constructed along the canal that is located within the Park. This project will serve to repair the canal wall as well. The canal provides access to a very unique scenic experience for paddlers to enjoy by connecting users to a wonderful section of Chittenango Creek.
$50,000 – Life of Reilley Distilling and Wine Co., LLC
Expansion Project
Life of Reilley Distilling and Wine Company will expand at 2747 Route 20 East in Cazenovia. The project will consist of building renovations and the purchase and installation of production machinery and equipment.
$49,500 – Stone Quarry Hill Art Park
Expanded Operational Capacity
Stone Quarry Hill Art Park will hire a fulltime visitor services and site promotion coordinator to improve the Art Park’s visitor interface, coordinate site rentals and the use of the artist lodge and manage its facilities.
For a full list of REDC awards, visit ny.gov/sites/ny.gov/files/atoms/files/REDCAwardsBooklet2015.pdf.
