Council seeks priority projects for region

The Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council is seeking proposals this month for priority projects to recommend for funding in the third year of Gov. Andrew Cuomo”™s regional economic development initiative.

The state will award up to $760 million in funding late this year, including $150 million in capital and $70 million in tax credits from the Excelsior Jobs Program, to implement strategic plans and support priority projects of 10 competing regional councils across the state. The funding pot also includes $530 million for municipal and private-sector projects through programs at 26 state agencies.

Priority projects are chosen based on their ability to stimulate job creation, private-sector investment and transformational economic growth. The Mid-Hudson council will recommend top projects from applicants seeking state funding through the state”™s three-year-old Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process.

The region”™s strategic plan focuses on growth industries, such as biotechnology, high-tech manufacturing and information technology, as well as more established industries such as health care, financial and professional services, and the food and beverage sector.

Applicants should complete the state”™s priority project worksheet and submit it by 4 p.m. July 30 with any supporting documentation. The plan and project worksheet are posted at http://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/content/mid-hudson.

The deadline to submit CFAs for all development projects is 4 p.m. Aug. 12.  Application materials are available online at https://apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/cfa/index.cfm.