Gov. Andrew Cuomo yesterday announced the launch of the Connect NY broadband grant program, which will allocate $25 million in grants to promote broadband Internet access, at a regional economic development council meeting in Albany.
The grants are being made available through the 10 regional economic development councils and Empire State Development Corp., and will be awarded to Internet service providers in partnership with local governments and economic development entities.
Cuomo said at the Aug. 21 meeting that all 739 projects receiving state funds as a result of the 2011 regional economic development awards competition and Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process are currently underway.
The meeting featured progress updates on the implementation of each region”™s strategic plan from representatives of the 10 regional councils.
Last December, the state awarded $785 million in new and accelerated funding as part of the economic development competition and CFA process.
Later this year, the state will award up to $762 million for the second round of funding.
Funding will include $220 million ”“ comprising $150 million in capital allocations and $70 million in Excelsior job creation tax credits ”“ for the implementation of regional strategic plans and the advancement of priority job-creating projects, as well as up to $542 million from state agency programs through the CFA to support regionally-significant projects.
The deadline for submissions was July 16, and awards are expected to be announced later this fall, according to the governor”™s office.
Each regional council will also be submitting a one-year progress report to the state by Sept. 14, in which each will discuss improvements, adjustments and the implementation of their respective strategic plans.
