Capital Region Creates 2019 Progress
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CAPITAL REGION 2019 PROGRESS CREATES REPORT Courtesy Proctors Collaborative Cover Images from Gene F. Haas Center for Advanced Manufacturing Skills at Hudson Valley Community College, 2019 Grand Opening. CAPITAL REGION REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEMBERS REGIONAL CO-CHAIRS Ruth H. Mahoney Market President & Regional Retail Leader, KeyBank, Capital Region Havidán Rodríguez Lauren Payne President, University at Albany Managing Partner and Co-founder, Spiral Design Studio REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES Roger A. Ramsammy, Ph.D. Melissa Auf der Maur President, Hudson Valley Community College Co-Founder and Director, Basilica Hudson Sinclair Schuller James J. Barba Managing Partner, Nuvalence President & CEO, Albany Medical Center Jeff Stark Robert Blackman President, Greater Capital Region Building Vice President, Howard Hanna Real Estate Trades Council Dennis Brobston F. Michael Tucker President, Saratoga Economic President, Tucker Strategies, Inc Development Corporation Joseph Wildermuth David Brown Vice President, Peckham Industries President and CEO, Capital District YMCA David Buicko Ex-Officio President and CEO, Galesi Group Ronald Conover Joseph P. Dragone, Ph.D. Chairman, Warren County Board of Supervisors Senior Executive Officer, Capital Region BOCES Robert Henke Todd Erling Chairman, Washington County Board of Supervisors Executive Director, Hudson Valley Agribusiness Anthony Jasenski Development Corporation Chairman, Schenectady County Legislature Bill Hart Kevin Tollisen Vice President, U.S. Business Operations, Chairman, Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Irving Tissue Inc. Patrick Linger Michael J. Hickey Chairman, Greene County Legislature Executive Director, Stack Center for Innovation Patrick Madden and Entrepreneurship, Siena College Mayor, City of Troy Linda MacFarlane Gary McCarthy Executive Director, Community Loan Fund of the Mayor, City of Schenectady Capital Region, Inc. Daniel McCoy Andrew Meader County Executive, Albany County Film Commissioner, Adirondack Film Commission Steven McLaughlin Philip Morris County Executive, Rensselaer County Chief Executive Officer, Proctors Collaborative Matt M. Murell Matthew Nelson Chairman, Columbia County Board of Supervisors Production Manager, Sabal Capital Partners Kathy Sheehan Mayor, City of Albany Table of Contents I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................5 II. PROGRESS .......................................................................................9 General Progress in the Region ...................................................................... 10 Status of Past Priority Projects ........................................................................ 15 Status of All Projects Awarded CFA Funding .............................................. 22 III. IMPLEMENTATION AGENDA ...................................................... 25 Strategies and Actions Related to State Priorities ..................................... 26 Implementation of Key Regional Priorities ................................................... 36 IV. PROJECTS ......................................................................................45 Priority Project Descriptions ............................................................................ 46 Priority Projects Crosswalk .............................................................................. 52 Regionally Significant Projects Crosswalk ................................................... 53 Geographic Distribution of Proposed Priority Projects ............................. 54 V. PARTICIPATION .....................................................................................56 Work Groups ........................................................................................................ 57 Public Outreach and Engagement ................................................................. 60 VI. DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PLAN ROUND FOUR ............. 61 VII. APPENDIX WITH LIST OF ALL FUNDED CFA PROJECTS ...... 63 Message from the Capital Region Co-Chairs Across our eight counties, the Capital Region is abuzz with projects and possibilities. We have taken our opportunities to the next level—leveraging our creativity, our diversity and the multitude of investments we’ve attracted over the past eight rounds of the Capital Region Economic Development Council’s work. From craft beverages to digital gaming development, our region has made even greater strides this year toward reaching the goals of our strategic roadmap: Capital 20.20. As we complete Round IX of the Regional Economic Development Council process, we can already see positive results of this year’s new statewide REDC priorities. Working with regional partners to increase the availability of child care has added an important new dimension to our work. Creating a regional conversation around environmental justice has also deepened our capacity to address this critical issue in our communities, with its grave implications for health, quality of life and economic viability. We applaud the Governor for charging the REDCs with exploring these timely and impactful priorities this year, and we are confident that the work begun in these areas will reap tremendous benefits for our workforce development efforts across the board. As always, we deeply appreciate the very hard work of our Council members, Empire State Development regional staff, and the countless partners who lend their time and expertise to this important project. Last but not least, our great thanks to all of this year’s CFA applicants. We know that it is no small task to complete this process, and we are grateful to the many individuals, companies and organizations who participate in this innovative approach to economic development. We are proud to present this Progress Report, which showcases our recent achievements along with new innovative ideas that will create an even brighter future for the Capital Region. RUTH H. MAHONEY HAVIDÁN RODRÍGUEZ Market President & Regional Retail Leader, KeyBank President, University at Albany 4 Capital Region Creates PART ONE Executive Summary Courtesy Proctors Collaborative 2019 Progress Report 5 Four years ago, when the Capital Region Economic Development Council (CREDC) introduced Capital 20.20 under the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, we said, “This plan is about catalyzing economic growth, but it is also about inclusive growth.” As we near 2020, it is clear that our strategies have proved effective. This is no longer just a five-year plan; it is a reality today. ACCOLADES NEW STATE PRIORITIES More and more the Capital Region is being nationally To advance the new state priorities of child care and recognized as the place to be for cutting-edge R&D, environmental justice, the CREDC has collaborated making and moving goods, as well as a rich diversity of with the Capital District Child Care Council (CDCCC) arts and cultural experiences. Earlier this year the area and New York State Department of Environmental jumped up 11 slots on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Conservation (DEC) to study the local needs and chal- Cities to Live” rankings to 28th. The area ranked 10th lenges within these fields. On top of having 173 census on ZipRecruiter’s list of the “Hottest Cities for Jobs” and tracts that qualify as child care deserts, the region 21st on WalletHub’s “Most Educated Cities in America.” has seen its ranks of child care workers decline by 12 percent over the last five years. DEC has identified 97 census tract block groups that qualify as potential envi- ECONOMIC STRENGTH ronmental justice areas (PEJAs). About one in 10 Capital Helping the region enhance its ranking as a top Region residents live in these mostly urban PEJAs, place to be are several steps the CREDC has taken which commonly house facilities associated with pollu- to implement state priorities and regional strategies. tion (i.e., air emissions sites, active solid waste facilities Placemaking initiatives such as Redburn Development’s and brownfield or superfund sites). The CREDC has $78 million renovation of prominent downtown developed five-step action plans for addressing each of Albany properties will bring 450 new residents to an these two new state priorities. Opportunity Zone. In Albany's Midtown, the University at Albany’s $60 million transformation of the 107-year- WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT old former Albany High School Building into its new College of Engineering and Applied Sciences will result As the region with the state’s second-lowest unem- in an even greater influx of students, faculty and staff ployment rate and a nationally significant abundance to the neighborhood. And similar transformational of job openings, the CREDC is aggressively addressing placemaking projects are being realized throughout the state priority on workforce development. A multi- the region: in Schenectady through the rehabilitation tude of projects designed to bolster the region’s talent of State Street buildings; in Saratoga Springs through pipeline have been implemented over the past year. the modernization of the Saratoga Performing Arts Apprenticeship opportunities are growing through the Center; and in Glens Falls, Hudson and Albany, as they expansion of the Center for Economic Growth’s Capital continue to implement their Downtown Revitalization Region Manufacturing Intermediary Apprenticeship Initiatives. Program and the launch of the region’s first Software Development Apprenticeship Program as well as Hudson Valley Community College’s Electronics