by Stephen KImball
Empire State Development today announced $22.4 million in Upstate Regional Blueprint Funding for 23 projects to revitalize New York’s Upstate economy. The Town of Lansing was one of the awardees with a $400,000 grant to construct a municipal sewer line along Warren Road to serve seven existing businesses that employee over 300 people in the Warren Road Business and Technology Park.
This area is located in the Tompkins County Empire Zone and has been targeted for more concentrated business and industrial development. One planned expansion is Transonic Systems’ world headquarters and manufacturing facility, which will add a 30,000 square foot addition in 2010 that will retain 100 jobs and create 100 jobs in the next three years. This Project will also increase the attractiveness of the vacant building sites in the Park and adjacent industrial-zoned parcels on Warren Road. These sites will be some of the only fully infrastructured, ‘shovel ready’ industrial development sites in the county.
Tompkins County Area Development facilitated this project with the Town of Lansing, businesses in the Technology Park, Tompkins County Planning, and Cornell University Real Estate.
The $120 million Upstate Blue Print Fund, announced by the Governor in May of 2009, supports projects that help provide a framework for future growth in regions with stymied development. The first round, announced earlier this fall, awarded $17.5 million in Upstate funding to finance business investment, infrastructure upgrades and downtown redevelopment.
Heather Filiberto from TCAD is available to discuss this grant. She can be reached at 607-273-0005 during business hours. Outside of Business hours she can be reached at 607-592-6028.
About TCAD
Tompkins County Area Development, Inc. (TCAD) is a private, not-for-profit organization founded in 1964 that provides the Ithaca area with innovative services to strengthen the economy. TCAD is dedicated to building a thriving and sustainable economy that improves the quality of life in Tompkins County by fostering the growth of business and employment. While working with business, not for-profit, higher education, and public sector organizations, we fulfill our mission by assisting in the formation, retention, expansion, and attraction of target businesses. As the community's lead economic development agency, TCAD offers financial assistance, technical assistance and real estate development services. TCAD is responsible for creating and implementing the comprehensive economic development strategy for the county that provides leadership to create a supportive economic environment. In addition, TCAD manages both Tompkins County’s Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and Empire Zones Program.