N.Y. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced today (Dec. 8) that he will award $49.4 million to implement the plan proposed by the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council to stimulate local economic growth. This is in addition to $60 million recently funded to preserve jobs in the wake of flooding that members of the council advocated for strongly. A second round of awards should be scheduled soon.

"We are gratified that the governor selected the critical elements of our proposal," said Cornell President David J. Skorton, who co-chaired the governor's economic development task force for the Southern Tier. "This was a rigorous and exhilarating undertaking, and the result is a real boost for economic growth in our area to attract business, enhance agriculture and health care, expand the industrial base and rebuild our infrastructure. It is based on input from those who know the Southern Tier best: our community leaders, as well as thousands of local citizens. This process united us, and I think we'll be together and networked for the long haul."

Council co-chair Tom Tranter, president of Corning Enterprises, also attributed the success of the plan to "the attention Governor Cuomo is giving to our region, from disaster relief to economic development that is so important to our future prosperity. All of us in the Southern Tier deeply appreciate the support, especially in the wake of the flooding that rallied so many, to help us realize our shared vision for economic growth. This work is the fruit of countless hours of work by council members, work-group members and staff who dedicated their time and expertise to the process."

In the wake of the flooding that struck the region earlier this fall, $60 million in state aid was secured to help Amphenol Aerospace and BAE, based in Binghamton, keep more than 3,000 jobs in the Southern Tier and to replace infrastructure damaged by flooding this year. The Southern Tier Council strongly urged the state to support job preservation through community revitalization programs.

Earlier this year, the governor launched 10 regional economic development planning councils. Today, Cuomo made funds available for implementing their plans. The regional councils' plans were analyzed and compared by a Strategic Plan Review Committee.

The Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council was tasked with devising strategies that capitalized on the strengths and special qualities of the Southern Tier, one of the state's smallest regions in terms of population, to drive meaningful local economic development. During its deliberations, the council focused on practical strategies in energy, transportation, and food and agriculture as engines for new jobs in the region. Today's announcement will bring needed impetus to the Southern Tier, which includes Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Tioga, Tompkins, Schuyler and Steuben counties.

The plan can be found at: http://nyworks.ny.gov/content/southern-tier.