Schuyler will receive $5M from state

SCHUYLER COUNTY--Schuyler County will see some $5.89 million in state funding that was recently awarded to nine different area projects. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council (STREDC) is one of three New York State Upstate Revitalization (URI) winners. As a URI winner, the Southern Tier has been granted $500 million to be allocated over the next five years to implement transformational economic development initiatives.
"We are very excited about this announcement and applaud the governor's decision in selecting the Southern Tier as a winning region," said Jeff Confer, chairman of the board of directors of SCOPED. "This win validates the efforts that have been made to date in our region."
As one of eight counties in the Southern Tier, Schuyler County has four URI projects that are in line for funding in the first year alone. These projects include an Ultra Premium Beverage Center at the Schuyler County Business Park, a Vineyard Reclamation program to provide low-interest loans to vineyards looking to upgrade to Vinifera grapes varieties or re-plant abandoned vineyards, the establishment of the Southern Tier Agriculture Education Fund, including a Viticulture New York State Certified Apprenticeship Program and additional funding for the Watkins Glen-Montour Falls regional wastewater treatment plant.
In addition, Project Seneca's efforts to continue the revitalization of the Seneca Lake waterfront and canalway were specifically identified as a "Signature Project" in year two and beyond.
"This award will provide the additional resources that are critical for the betterment of the businesses and workers in our community," said Judy McKinney Cherry, CEcD, executive director of SCOPED and member of the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council.
The New York Upstate Revitalization Initiative (URI) is part of an overall program aimed at systematically revitalizing the economy of Upstate New York. Modeled after the Buffalo Billion Initiative, the URI is an opportunity for the communities of upstate New York to address the economic challenges of their regions and work together in bringing jobs back upstate. In January of this year Governor Cuomo along with other community and business leaders announced the URI program and the partnership between the Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC).
Schuyler County's four URI projects that are in line for funding the first year are as follows:
• The removal of Watkins Glen wastewater treatment plant from Seneca Lake waterfront is receiving $600,000 in URI funding, leveraging nearly $25 million additional public and private funding.
• The Ultra Premium Beverage Center in Schuyler Business Park -- phase one -- is receiving $1 million in URI funding, along with $5 million in additional private-sector leverage.
• The Vineyard Reclamation and Replacement Program -- year one -- is receiving $500,000 in URI funding.
• The Southern Tier Agriculture Education Fund, including a Viticulture New York State Certified Apprenticeship Program, will include $2.5 million in URI funding over the five year period.
The county also had five projects receive funding through the 2015 Regional Economic Development Council Awards. These projects include:
• Chicone Cabinetmakers LLC's expansion of a manufacturing facility and purchase of cutting edge advanced manufacturing technology to reduce waste, maximize efficiency and increase precision manufacturing for $150,000.
• Schuyler County Soil and Water Conservation District's Catharine Creek and Seneca Lake Watersheds Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Project received $170,000. The Schuyler County Soil and Water Conservation District along with the Chemung County Soil and Water Conservation District and Chemung County Storm Water Team will install 700 feet of natural stream design projects on Panther Lick Creek and Catlin Mill Creek. The stream improvements will remove 200 pounds of phosphorus, 400 pounds of nitrogen and 200 tons of sediment annually.
• Schuyler Soil and Water's $20,000 to install a rain garden and a flexi-pave walkway to address storm water runoff issues at the district offices and to educate the more than 1,000 residents and municipal officials visiting the offices each year. The project will help reduce sediment entering Seneca Lake.
• Schuyler Soil and Water's $350,000 stabilization of 3,000 feet of stream, 5,000 feet of road ditches and construction of one retention pond in the towns of Tyrone, Reading, Watkins Glen and Catharine. The project will reduce the amount of sediment and nutrients entering Lamoka, Waneta, Cayuga and Seneca Lakes.
• The village of Montour Falls' $600,000 replacement of sanitary sewer system components.