2015 Regional Economic Development Council Awards Governor Andrew M. Cuomo 1 2 Table of Contents Regional Council Awards Western New York .........................................................................................................................12 Finger Lakes ...................................................................................................................................28 Southern Tier ..................................................................................................................................44 Central New York ..........................................................................................................................56 Mohawk Valley ...............................................................................................................................68 North Country .................................................................................................................................80 Capital Region ................................................................................................................................92 Mid-Hudson ...................................................................................................................................108 New York City ............................................................................................................................... 124 Long Island .................................................................................................................................... 136 3 2 2015 Program Descriptions Type of Resources Program Program Description Funding Available New York State Council on the Arts (Arts) Funds are available under Article 3 of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law for the study of and presentation of the performing and fine arts; surveys to encourage participation Arts Grant Program (Arts CHPG in the arts; to encourage public interest in the cultural heritage of the state, and to Up to $5 Grant I; CHPG P; WIP) promote tourism by supporting arts and cultural projects. Arts, Culture, Heritage New million Initiatives - Planning (CHPG P); Arts, Culture, Heritage New Initiatives - Implementation (CHPG I); Workforce Investment (WIP) NYS Canal Corporation (Canals) The Canalway Grants Program is a competitive matching grant program available to Canalway Matching Grant eligible municipalities and 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations along the New York State Grant Up to $1 million Program (Canals) Canal System. Funding is for Capital Projects that meet the objectives of the Regional Economic Development Councils and the NYS Canal Recreationway Plan. Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in conjunction with the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), will offer grants DEC/EFC Wastewater to municipalities to help pay for the initial planning of eligible Clean Water State Infrastructure Engineering Up to $2 Revolving Fund (CWSRF) water quality projects. Up to $2 million has been made Grant Planning Grant Program (DEC million available for this program. The NYS DEC/EFC Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering EPG) Planning Grant (EPG) will assist municipalities facing economic hardship with the engineering and planning costs of CWSRF-eligible water quality projects. The Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program is a competitive grant program to improve water quality, reduce polluted runoff and restore water bodies Water Quality Improvement and aquatic habitats in each region of the state. Projects eligible under the Water Up to $35 Grant Project Program (DEC WQIP) Quality Improvement Program include: municipal wastewater treatment; municipal million separate storm sewer systems; polluted runoff abatement and control from non-farm sources; and aquatic habitat restoration. Department of Labor (DOL) Grant funding is available to private sector for-profit and not-for-profit businesses, training providers, and local workforce investment boards to upgrade the skills of the workforce. Existing employees will receive classroom-based occupational skills training; newly-hired employees who were dislocated workers will be trained on- Workforce Development the-job to perform their required job duties; and dislocated workers and dislocated Up to $5 Grants (DOL EET, NHT, SPT, Grant workers in special populations (individuals with barriers to employment) will receive million UWT) classroom-based occupational skills training for positions that are open in the region, with a commitment by businesses to interview individuals who successfully complete the training. Existing Employee Training (EET); New Hire Training (NHT); Unemployed Worker Training (UWT); Special Populations Training (SPT) Department of State (DOS) The Local Government Efficiency (LGE) Grant program assists local leaders identify best practices and implement actions focused on reducing municipal expenditures, limiting "Local Government Efficiency the growth in property taxes and increasing efficiencies in service delivery. Projects can Up to $4 Grant Grants (DOS LGE)" include local government reorganization, functional or service delivery consolidation, million city or county charter revisions that include functional consolidation, cooperative service agreements, and establishment of regional service delivery mechanisms. The Department of State's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), funded under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund, provides 50:50 matching grants on a competitive basis to eligible villages, towns, cities, and counties located along New York’s coasts or designated inland waterways to revitalize communities and Local Waterfront Revitalization waterfronts through planning, design, and construction projects. Grant categories Up to $17 Grant Program (DOS LWRP) include preparing or implementing a LWRP; redeveloping hamlets, downtowns and million urban waterfronts; planning or constructing land and water-based trails; preparing or implementing a lakewide or watershed revitalization plan; preparing or implementing a community resilience strategy or updating an LWRP to incorporate resilience strategies; and preparing or implementing a clean transportation strategy. 5 Type of Resources Program Program Description Funding Available Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) The Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP) provides grants on a competitive basis to projects that improve water quality and demonstrate green stormwater infrastructure Green Innovation Grant Federal Up to $14.85 in New York. GIGP is administered by NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) Program (EFC GIGP) Grant million through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and is funded with a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Empire State Development (ESD) Refundable tax credits are available for strategic businesses such as high tech, bio-tech, clean-tech and manufacturing that create or retain jobs or make significant Up to $70 Excelsior Jobs Program (EJP) Tax Credit capital investments. Businesses meeting the eligibility criteria may apply for million assistance at locations throughout New York State. ESD has several grant programs that together make available $150 million of capital grant funding for the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative. Capital grant Up to $150 ESD Grant Funds (ESD Grants) funding is available for capital-based economic development projects intended to create Grant million or retain jobs; prevent, reduce or eliminate unemployment and underemployment; and/ or increase business or economic activity in a community or Region. Market NY is a grant program established to strengthen and encourage tourism growth by promoting tourism destinations, attractions, and special events. Additionally, Market NY will support capital grant funding for tourism facilities in New York. The Up to $12 Market New York (ESD MNY) Grant Market NY program and each funded proposal will work to support the Regional million Council long term strategic plans for economic growth in regions, as well as to attract visitors to New York State. Designated NYS Certified Incubators will be eligible for operating grants from ESD of up to $125,000 for three years. Designation as a NYS Certified Incubator increases the ability for the incubator to support additional programing, deliver incubation best Business Incubator Support Up to $1.25 practices to their client companies and be are part of the regional and multi-regional Grant Program (ESD BISP) million ecosystem to help client companies succeed in the market place. NYS Certified incubators are encouraged to specialize in a particular market vertical that is aligned with the REDCs identified core industrial markets. ESD’s Urban and Community Development Program promotes economic development in the State of New York by encouraging economic and employment opportunities and stimulating development of communities and urban areas. Total program funding Strategic Planning and of up to $1 million is available for working capital grants of up to $100,000 each to Feasibility Study Project Grants Grant Up to $1 million support 1) strategic development plans for a city, county, or municipality or a significant (ESD SPFS) part thereof and 2) feasibility studies for site(s) or facility(ies) assessment and planning. Projects should focus on economic development purposes, and preference shall be given to projects located in highly distressed