Projects in Oneonta won more than $2 million in the state’s contest for funding, resulting in pending improvements to infrastructure and work towards economic development.
“I’m very pleased with the awards that we received,” Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig said. There were strong applications presenting excellent opportunities, he said, and the funding will help the city move forward.
On Thursday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced funding awards to the state’s Regional Economic Development Councils. Awards in the six-county Mohawk Valley REDC, which includes Otsego and Schoharie counties, included more than $3.6 million awarded to projects in Oneonta and Otsego County.
Oneonta city and Otsego Now officials said they were particularly pleased with $700,000 for the Upper Susquehanna Regional Agriculture Center, or “food hub” project, and $500,000 for the Oneonta Rail Yards Redevelopment project.
“It’s good news for Oneonta,” Herzig said in a telephone interview Friday. “This reflects on the fact that we have some strong projects that have the potential to create new jobs.”
Herzig said the Rail Yards Redevelopment is the No. 1 opportunity for the city to attract good jobs. Next for the Rail Yards project are a feasibility study, environmental assessment and work toward building a connector bridge for traffic in the vicinity of the dead end at River Street, he said.
The Oneonta Rail Yards Redevelopment project, at a total cost of $93.8 million, seeks to develop the former Delaware and Hudson yards in the city with newly constructed structures and transportation connections and improvements.
The food hub project is a key component to enhancing downtown and redeveloping Market Street in downtown Oneonta, Herzig said.
The city also was awarded $600,000 to reline its 115-year-old primary water main that provides water from its reservoir to its water treatment plan.
Another successful application was submitted by Klugo Enterprises LLC for the proposed Stevens Building Redevelopment project to renovate the Main Street structure in downtown Oneonta into six upper-story housing units and a first-floor grocery store. The award was for $120,000.
The Otsego County Industrial Development Agency, which is part of the Otsego Now economic development group, applied for the Rail Yards and Agriculture Center grants, plus other successful submissions.
“It’s all good news,” said Elizabeth Horvath, chief operations officer at the Otsego IDA. A feasibility study for the Agriculture Center will begin early next year, with the goal for project submissions to be ready for the state’s next Consolidated Funding Application round mid-year, she said.
The IDA also helped prepare applications for BB Ranch in Fly Creek, which won a $110,000 grant for an expansion; the Generations Malting Co., which won $250,000 for a manufacturing project; and Arc Otsego, which won a $400,000 to make safety and accessibility improvements to community homes.
“We are delighted with the results,” Horvath said. “We have a lot of momentum behind us — it’s really great.”
In 2011, Cuomo established 10 Regional Councils to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The councils are public-private partnerships made up of local representatives from business, academia, local government and non-governmental organizations
For months, area economic development officials, politicians, business officials and others worked on applications for the state’s funding programs, including the Upstate Revitalization Initiate, added to this year’s awards competition.
According to state Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, the state is providing needed support to continue vital priority projects and seed funding for business ventures.
“Otsego County’s economic leaders, local elected officials and entrepreneurs worked together and advanced sound and innovative economic development initiatives,” Seward said. “Their reward — the county’s largest REDC haul to date. Otsego Now was instrumental in helping secure the state funds and will play a key role in moving these job-creation projects forward.”
The Mohawk Valley region, a REDC “top performer,” will receive $100.3 million. The Southern Tier REDC, which includes Chenango and Delaware counties, won an URI award providing $500 million over five years.
Though the Mohawk Valley REDC didn’t win an URI award, local officials are pleased with overall funding results.
“We are thrilled with the success for Otsego County,” said Robert Hanft, County of Otsego IDA board chairman, said in a media release.
Alexander “Sandy” Mathes Jr., chief executive officer of Otsego Now, agreed.
“We are now poised as a united region to push forward an exciting vision for the future,” Mathes said in the release.
Seward, a member of the Strategic Implementation Assessment Team that reviewed proposals, said he saw impressive entries. The state’s funding commitment “will lead to continued revitalization and new opportunities for working men and women,” according to Seward, who said he was “extremely pleased” about winners in his Senate district.
“The innovative ideas generated through this process have given us a real blueprint that, going forward, will lead to exciting results,” Seward said. “I look forward to working with our local business leaders, government officials, and entrepreneurs to implement their vision and maintain the momentum.”
by Denise Richardson, Daily Star staff writer