SPARKINGINNOVATION IGNITINGCHANGE PROGRESS REPORT 2019 DUTCHESS | ORANGE | PUTNAM | ROCKLAND | SULLIVAN | ULSTER | WESTCHESTER A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR Dear Governor Cuomo, On behalf of the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council (MHREDC), I am pleased to present our 2019 Progress Report, “Sparking Innovation, Igniting Change.” In our ninth year, we are no less driven to fine tune the Mid-Hudson’s strategic goals we set in 2011. Each year they have led to the many successes we have seen throughout the region. Your mission to restore and rebuild economic prosperity in communities across the state has inspired private and public sector collaborations. This has again resulted in a robust number of Priority Projects in the Mid-Hudson that align strongly with both the regional plan and state priorities. Proof that your innovative approach is working, we continue to be inspired by your vision and harness the tools and resources you have given the Regional Councils to realize future growth. Through your leadership and the support of New York State agencies, the MHREDC has been awarded more than $648 million into the Mid-Hudson Valley in Rounds I through VIII of the Regional Council process, supporting 815 projects. We are proud to report that 89% of these projects are either complete or progressing; they have leveraged private dollars at a 7:1 ratio; and are projected to create more than 6,000 permanent jobs. These achievements signify the extraordinary impact and value that the Regional Economic Development Council process has had on the regional economy. As a Council, we are seeing steady growth met by exhaustive efforts throughout the region to continue engagement with our communities and identify regionally impactful projects that align with our LIVE, WORK, and PLAY strategy and leverage our assets. After careful consideration, we have selected 21 Empire State Development Grant Fund Priority Projects that have the potential to generate more than $313 million in economic activity. The projects we have endorsed this year continue to support the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, as well as the newly introduced priorities of Childcare and Environmental Justice. Additionally, they represent a broad spectrum of industry sectors and support growth in priority clusters. For example, Healthy Kids Extended Day Programs Inc. proposes to convert the vacant VFW building at 21 Liberty Street in Monticello into a high- quality, affordable and licensed daycare center featuring extra extended evening and weekend hours to support the emerging casino-led 24-hour community. This will not only fill an urgent shortage of childcare but help the bigger revitalization initiative to turn the downtown village center into a thriving community hub. In advanced manufacturing, we have SeeQC Inc., a NY Chip Foundry in Elmsford, NY, which seeks to expand its advanced chip manufacturing and testing infrastructure and facilities to produce qubits, the basic elements of a quantum computer, for the purposes of building application-specific quantum systems. SeeQC Inc. plans to purchase and install new equipment for testing and measurement laboratories and design new workstations in its existing manufacturing plant. The craft beverage industry also continues to grow in the Mid-Hudson. For example, Graft Cider will adaptively reuse an old factory building to create a new 16,000 square foot production and distribution facility and tasting room in the City of Newburgh, Orange County. In closing and on behalf of my Council colleagues, we hope this report gives you a clearer sense of the many outstanding projects and activities proposed and underway across the Mid-Hudson Valley. We appreciate your innovative approach to economic development and the opportunity to partner with you these past eight years. Our Council is excited about the work we have completed in 2019, and we look forward to the new opportunities that lie ahead in 2020. Regards, Featured on the Cover: Bethel Woods Center for the Arts: Donald P. Christian 50th Anniversary of Woodstock – A view of fireworks from the monument President, SUNY New Paltz of the original Woodstock Music and Art Fair, Sullivan County MID-HUDSON REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEMBERS Table of Contents Regional Chair Dr. Donald P. Christian President, SUNY New Paltz General Members I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................... 6 Thomas J. Carey Ned Sullivan II. PROGRESS .......................................................................................... 10 President, Westchester-Putnam Central Labor Body President, Scenic Hudson A. General Progress in the Region ...................................................................... 12 Vincent Cozzolino James W. Taylor, Jr. Partner, Galileo Technology Group; Executive Vice President & CEO, Taylor Biomass Energy, LLC B. Status of Past Priority Projects ......................................................................... 14 President, Ceres Technologies; Managing Director, Dr. Kristine Young C. Status of All Projects Awarded CFA Funding ............................................... 21 The Accelerator President, SUNY Orange Reinaldo Diaz III. IMPLEMENTATION AGENDA ............................................................ 24 President, Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation A. 2019 State Priorities ........................................................................................... 27 Jonathan Drapkin Ex-Officio Members President & CEO, Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress Luis A. Alvarez 1. Childcare Needs and Potential Solutions .............................................. 27 Aleida Frederico Chairman, Sullivan County Legislature 2. Economic and Environmental Justice Strategy ................................... 30 Senior Relationship Manager & Vice President, TD Bank Ed Day 3. Community Investment, Placemaking & Downtown Revitalization 34 Dr. Marsha Gordon Rockland County Executive President & CEO, Business Council of Westchester George Latimer 4. Workforce Development ............................................................................ 39 Maureen Halahan Westchester County Executive B. Key Regional Priorities ....................................................................................... 42 President & CEO, Orange County Partnership Marcus Molinaro Wiley Harrison Dutchess County Executive 1. LIVE .................................................................................................................. 42 President & Founder, Business of Your Business, LLC Steven Neuhaus 2. WORK .............................................................................................................. 44 Kimberlie Jacobs Orange County Executive Executive Director, Community Capital New York 3. PLAY ................................................................................................................ 46 MaryEllen Odell Harold King Putnam County Executive IV. ROUND 9 PROPOSED PROJECTS .................................................. 48 President, The Council of Industry Patrick Ryan A. Proposed Priority Project Descriptions .......................................................... 50 Jacqueline Leventoff Ulster County Executive Senior Director, Community & Employee Relations, B. Map of Proposed Priority Projects .................................................................. 51 Mike Spano Granite Associates Mayor, City of Yonkers C. Proposed Priority Projects Relating to State Priorities .............................. 64 J. Gary Pretlow NYS Assembly, 89th District D. Regionally Significant Projects Relating to State Priorities ....................... 68 Robin Rosenberg V. PARTICIPATION ........................................................................................... 78 President & CEO, GARNER Historic District A. Work Groups ......................................................................................................... 80 Al Samuels President & CEO, Rockland Business Association, Inc. B. Public Outreach and Engagement .................................................................. 82 David Sorbaro Co-Owner, Mavis Discount Tire VI. DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE ROUND FOUR ......... 84 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................... 89 VII. APPENDIX - FULL LIST OF ALL FUNDED CFA PROJECTS .......... 92 The Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council (“Council” or “MHREDC”) continues to identify ways the state can strategically invest funding to inspire innovation and ignite change in the unique and diverse communities throughout the seven-county region. SPARKING INNOVATION MHREDC’S STRATEGY PART ONE The Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development LIVE: A strategy that seeks to Council envisions a future of dynamic community revitalize the region’s many centers featuring businesses in thriving industry river, hilltop and cross-roads sectors, residents from all walks of life benefiting from urban centers by encourag- Executive quality employment, and countless tourist attractions ing activities that accelerate placemaking and promote that make the Mid-Hudson a unique destination and environmental justice. Efforts in smart growth and place to live. The Council believes that its recommen- transit-oriented development, downtown revitalization, dations for state investments act as a catalyst, not just workforce housing, infrastructure improvements – Summary for the project sponsors themselves, but for the entire