Mohawk Valley council meets as deadline nears

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June 15, 2012

Mohawk Valley council meets as deadline nears

By Denise Richardson Staff Writer The Daily Star Fri Jun 15, 2012, 03:30 AM EDT

ONEONTA -- An economic development council board reviewed goals Thursday that include establishing "priority projects" and a "project pipeline" as it seeks applications for competitive state funding.

The Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council met in the Hunt Union Ballroom at the State University College at Oneonta.

The Mohawk Valley group, which includes Otsego and Schoharie counties, is among multiple councils applying for millions of dollars in state funding under Gov. Andrew Cuomo's initiative for economic development and job creation.

Speakers Thursday reiterated plans to fine-tune and implement the council's strategic plan and reach out to applicants, organizations and the public. About 25 council members were present for the meeting, and about 30 members were in the audience.

About 140 applications for possible projects had been submitted by Tuesday, council members said. The deadline for the next round of Consolidated Fund Applications is 4 p.m. July 16, and a workshop on the application process was scheduled for after the business meeting Thursday.

Council members said scoring of applications will be conducted in late summer with winners announced in the fall.

During a public feedback session after the meeting and before the workshop, potential applicants said more details are needed about the requirements, such as matching funds, of various state funding sources.

"We've heard a lot about process," Oneonta Mayor Dick Miller told a council representative seeking feedback. "We haven't heard anything about substance."

Miller suggested that the council could provide updates on projects that were approved in last year's funding cycle.

In last year's first round of $785 million in statewide economic development funding, 59 grants were awarded in the Mohawk Valley region, with Brewery Ommegang in Middlefield the sole local private business winning $140,000.

In May, Cuomo announced that up to $750 million will be available as part of a second regional economic development council competition to support economic development, strategic plan implementation and job creation across the state. Cuomo created 10 regional councils last year.

The second competition will focus on the implementation of each region's strategic plan and identifying and investing in locally significant "priority projects," a release from the governor said.