Announces $92.8 Million For a Total of 84 Job Creating Projects in the Mid-Hudson Region Including $2M Dover, $500K Pawling, $1M NW Hospital, $425K Peekskill
Brewster, N.Y. – 12/19/2012 – Today Senator Greg Ball (Patterson – R, C) announced that he has successfully worked with Governor Cuomo, the Regional Economic Development Council and local partners, to secure a total of $92.8 Million for 84 job creating projects all across the Mid-Hudson Region.
Specifically, the Senator has personally shepherded nearly $4,000,000 million dollars for local job creation with a diversity of projects from, $50,000, $125,000 and $250,000 grants for the Peekskill Waterfront, $500,000 for critical infrastructure improvements in the Town of Pawling, among many more. This year the Regional Economic Development Councils awarded a total of $738 Million, for a total of 725 job creation and community development projects across New York State.
Senator Ball said, “I am proud to know that our region, ‘the Mid-Hudson Region’ was named a Best Plan Awardee, ranking third out the ten statewide councils with nearly $93 Million dollars being awarded to specific job creating projects. We didn’t get every penny we fought for, but we got a good share and we will continue to lobby for an even greater share as the process moves forward.”
“I am extremely happy to announce the Hudson Valley will receive such a large amount of these dollars. I am grateful that the Council has continued to work with the local elected officials and business members to allocate these dollars with the best interest of our community,” said Ball, who worked closely with business leaders, job creators and local economic development councils to properly appropriate the funds. “At the end of the day, we must all work together as a team to support current businesses in New York, assist entrepreneurs in opening new businesses and legislatively and administratively continue to proactively reverse New York’s unfortunate and openly hostile business climate.”
The seven key projects that will receive funding that Ball has been advocating for include:
1) $250,000 : Peekskill Downtown Project:
Funds will be used to assist property owners in downtown Peekskill on Bank Street between Park Street and Main Street for building renovations. Funds will also be used for streetscape improvements on South Street as part of a comprehensive sidewalk, lighting and infrastructure improvements project to be undertaken by the City of Peekskill. The project anticipates participation by six or more property owners in the area with approximately four residential unites and six commercial units to be assisted. All buildings being proposed for assistance are contributing buildings to the Downtown Historic District.
2) $125,000: Peekskill Multi-Use Waterfront Trail:
Funds will be used by the City of Peekskill to design a multi-use waterfront trail and related amenities along its Hudson River shoreline from Charles Point Pier Park to the Charles Point Marina and parking lot. This trail segment will advance the Westchester County’s planned Riverwalk with the City.
3) $50,000: Peekskill Waterfront Revitalization:
Funds will be used by the City of Peekskill to update its Local Waterfront Revitalization Program adopted in 2004 to refine its vision for its waterfront area and adjacent downtown. Since the completion of the LWRP, the City has successfully implemented many of the projects and initiatives it set out to advance. In addition, this update will incorporate a waterfront “Blue Plan,” which will focus on issues and opportunities extending beyond the City’s shoreline and into the Hudson River.
4) $150,000 : Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts Inc. in Bedford: In the Garden of Sonic Delights:
Funds will be used by the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Bedford to present an exhibit entitled In the Garden of Sonic Delights throughout the summer and early fall of 2013. The exhibit will consist of up to 10 interactive sound art pieces by individual artists installed throughout Caramoor’s 90-acre campus in Katonah. In addition, though this project Caramoor will collaborate with up to 10 partners in the Mid-Hudson region.
5) $1,000,000 : Northern Westchester Hospital Surgical Services Modernization:
Funds will be used by Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco towards the construction of six new, state-of the-art regulatory complaint operating rooms, surgical support space and a new 13 universal bed Post Anesthesia Care unit in the existing 17,000 square feet of shell space about the Hospitals’ new Emergency Department.
6) $2,000,000 : Dover Knolls Project:
$2 million to be used for a transit-oriented redevelopment that will revitalize what was once one of the State’s largest Psychiatric facilities located in the town of Dover. The Dover Knolls project will end the blight caused by the state closure of the former Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center and help transform the vacated facility into a thriving new town center complete with its own Metro-North train station, commercial, recreational and residential space with the goal of returning jobs to the rural Harlem Valley. The project will include the upgrading of the existing Metro-North Train Station and the construction of a thriving commercial/ retail area of about 125,000 square feet.
7) $500,000 : Pawling Wastewater Improvements:
The Funds will be used for wastewater infrastructure improvements for the Town of Pawling and Village of Pawling. The improvements will include an upgrade of the existing sewage treatment plant from 320,000 gallons per day to 500,000 gallons per day, approximately 11,500 feet of sewer extension, and a new sewage pump station rated at approximately 200,000 gallons per day. Infrastructure improvements will allow for the private investment to create Castagna Commerce Park, an approved mixed use project planned with medical office facilities, retail, satellite college training sit, hotel and senior affordable and market rate housing.
“This is another positive step for economic development in Peekskill,” says Mary F. Foster, Mayor of the City of Peekskill. “We look forward to working closely with our downtown property owners along Bank and South Streets to create a more vibrant downtown business and arts district, and we thank the Governor, Senator Ball and the REDC for awarding us the funding.”
“This funding marks the beginning of a new and vibrant era of economic development for Pawling with strengthened infrastructure as we proceed with the building of senior housing, a medical office building, office and retail space, and a hotel at Castagna Commerce Park on Rt. 22,” said John Gutleber, Preisdent and CEO of Castagna Realty. “We are pleased to proceed in partnership with New York State Senator Greg Ball, Dutchess County and County Executive Molinaro, The Town and Supervisor Kelly, and the Village and Mayor Liffland in securing an economic future for the community protecting and preserving its natural resources.”
“We are incredibly grateful for this funding support, which will ensure that a national treasure is preserved for generations to come,” said Jeffrey P. Haydon, CEO of Caramoor. “We thank Senator Ball for his leadership and dedication to the arts. His work on Caramoor’s behalf ensures that the arts will remain strong, making this region a better place to live, work, and visit.”
“The Dover Knolls Development team is honored to have been designated as a Priority Project and selected for this award by the Regional Economic Development Council,” said Russ Mohr, Vice President of the Dover Knolls Development team. “We are thankful to Gov. Cuomo and his Economic Development team, Senator Greg Ball, the NYS Senate team and the Dover Town Board for their unwavering support. We look forward to advancing with the redevelopment of the HVPC site and the creation of much needed jobs”
In addition to this year’s funding the Mid-Hudson Region was awarded $67 million last year to move forward with a total of 61 job creating projects in the Hudson Valley alone. The Council awarded a total of $785 million statewide that was used for job creation and community development across New York State.
Click here for a full list of the 2012 awardees. [2]
For more information or to speak with Senator Ball, please contact Joe Bachmeier at (845) 200 9716 [3].
###
