NY awards more than $700M in economic incentives
NY announces second round of economic development incentives intended to add jobs
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during the regional economical development council awards on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 in Albany, N.Y. Economic development officials have announced a new round of more than $700 million of regional economic development incentives, following $785.5 million last year, all intended to keep or create jobs. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- New York economic development officials announced Wednesday a new round of more than $700 million in regional economic development incentives, mostly tax breaks, on top of $785.5 million announced last year, all intended to keep or create jobs.
The largest package this year is $96.2 million for 76 projects in the Finger Lakes region. Among them, it lists $5 million for Health Sciences Center for Computational Innovation, a partnership between the University of Rochester and IBM; and $5 million for equipment purchases at the recently completed Rochester Institute of Technology's Golisano Institute examining sustainability in product development.
Other large packages are $93.8 million for 73 projects in central New York, such as $3.1 million for the Syracuse Community Health Center to establish a center at the former Superior Electric facility. Another $92.8 million was announced for 84 projects in the mid-Hudson Valley, with $3 million to establish the Cloud Computing and Analytics Center at Marist College, meant to help technology-based companies by workforce training and by reducing overhead.
"For too many years, top-down economic development policies have failed communities across the state and not truly invested in the unique resources and strengths of each of New York's regions," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. Strategic regional plans begun last year map a better approach, he said.
Larger regional awards from the $738 million total announced Wednesday are $91.1 million for the 62 projects in the Southern Tier and $90.2 million for 82 projects in the North Country. That includes $1.7 million to enhance broadband connectivity in Hamilton County, part of the broader goal of bringing access to all Adirondack communities.
Others are $59.7 million each for 86 Long Island and 70 Mohawk Valley projects, $52.8 million for 58 projects in western New York, $50.3 million for 84 Capital Region projects and $51.4 million for the New York City area. Among the city's 50 projects are $1.5 million for the New York Genome Center, a partnership of 11 academic, medical, pharmaceutical and other institutions, to create research space in Manhattan.
