The Saratoga Springs area will receive more
than $1.1 million in economic and community
development funding awarded through Round
IV of the Regional Economic Development
Council (REDC) initiative.
State officials announced on Dec. 11 that
$709.2 million will be distributed statewide.
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 the 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.
“Four years ago we decided to take a different
approach on economic development
– emphasizing cooperation and investing in
local assets instead of continuing the State’s
old and ineffective top-down mentality,” Gov.
Andrew Cuomo said. “That’s what the Regional
Councils are all about, and today is proof that
they are continuing to drive an economic renaissance
in every region of the state. Each
council presented bold ideas for how to create
jobs and new opportunities in their communities,
and I am proud to work with all of them
to continue moving New York forward.”
“The work taking place in each region
across the state is so important because it lays
the groundwork that will continue to drive
the economy – not just today and tomorrow,
but for years to come,” Lieutenant Governor
Robert J. Duffy, chairman of the Regional
Economic Development Councils, said.
Senate Co-Leader Dean Skelos said the investments
“will enable businesses to grow and
create new private sector jobs so young people
can stay here and enjoy the careers of their
choice. The best hope for a bright future for
every region of our great state begins and ends
with the ability to strengthen our economy and
give everyone the opportunity to succeed.”
The first three rounds of the Regional Council
process awarded more than $2 billion to
more than 2,200 job creation and community
development projects across the state, supporting
the creation or retention of more than
130,000 jobs, officials said.
On April 28, Cuomo kicked off Round IV
and introduced several new components to
the initiative, including developing regional
Global NY strategies, promoting Veterans’
participation in the workforce, and supporting
NY Rising Community Reconstruction
plan projects.
“Our economies throughout New York are
as diverse as our residents, and thus it is
imperative that we take a comprehensive
approach through these Regional Economic
Development Councils to spur job creation
and sustained growth. Since its inception
in 2011, the governor has delivered on his
promise to remake our economic landscape
through greater collaboration and publicprivate
partnerships,” Senate Co-Leader Jeff
Klein said. “Without question, this strategy
has paid enormous dividends, launching new
development projects and putting people
back to work. I applaud today’s winners and
beneficiaries and look forward to continuing
to support this vital program.”
During Round IV, members from the 10
Regional Councils traveled to Albany to make
in-person presentations of their proposals to
the Strategic Implementation Assessment
Team. Over the course of two days, the SIAT,
which is composed of State agency commissioners
and policy experts, heard from each
of the Regional Councils directly, reviewed
the progress being made on projects that
have previously received state funding, and
assessed the regions’ strategic plan implementations
and proposals for funding in 2014.
Other projects in the Saratoga area include:
• Roosevelt Baths Green Parking Lot Retrofit,
$212,000. The project will incorporate
porous pavement into two parking lots which
currently drain directly into Geyser Creek.
This will reduce erosion and pollution entering
a DEC-designated trout stream.
• Town of Stillwater Historic Saratoga
Battlefield Champlain Canal Connector Trail,
$98,943. The Historic Saratoga Battlefield
Champlain Canal Connector Project represents
the connection of a comprehensive
trail network by Stillwater, supported by the
Stillwater Trail Feasibility Study, Saratoga
National Historic Park, the Open Space Institute
and Saratoga County. This 1.13-mile trail
segment connects the Stillwater’s trail system
to the south, with the Battlefield Park trail
system to the west, and the Old Champlain
Canal trail system.
• Stillwater Historic Saratoga Battlefield
Champlain Canal Connector Trail, $98,942.
This 1.13-mile trail segment will connect
Stillwater’s trail system to the south, with the
Battlefield Park trail system to the west, and
the Old Champlain Canal trail system to the
north. The trail begins at the Phillips Road
entrance in the park and continues northward
along a grass-covered, poorly maintained,
earthen trail known as the Old Champlain
Canal Towpath. The current trail route needs
to be safer for multi-purpose non-motorized
use, constructed in similar fashion to the trail
systems it will connect.
• Waterford Canal Harbor Visitor Center
Rehabilitation Project Phase II, $71,400 to
provide the center with upgrades.
The Village of South Glens Falls will complete
an engineering report to identify sources
of inflow and infiltration in the village’s sanitary
sewer system, $30,000.
Yankee Distillers LLC in the Town of
Saratoga, $35,000. The new craft distillery
will be developed through the renovation
of an existing facility and machinery and
equipment to establish a new craft distillery
producing aged spirits from 100 percent local
farm products.
The Village of Corinth will use $600,000
in NYS CDBG funds to replace 8,450 linear
feet of failing sewers, manholes along three
residential streets. The total project cost
is $790,000 and includes $190,000 in local
funds.