A manufacturer of health and beauty products and two villages were among the six Putnam-based entities awarded funding yesterday in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s $750 million Round Three of the Regional Economic Development initiative. The monies will help fund 824 projects throughout the state.
The Mid-Hudson Region was awarded $59.6 million which was divided among 87 projects. There were a total of 386 Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) projects submitted, the highest number in the state. Earlier this year, the Regional Council selected the City of Peekskill and the Village of Brewster as its Opportunity Areas. PutnamCounty received a total of $1,322,500 for its six projects.
County Executive MaryEllen Odell was pleased that Putnam County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) President Meghan Taylor and the EDC Board of Directors who, since Taylor’s start in April of 2013, have in such a short time “worked successfully and tirelessly to bring economic development and smart growth to the county.”
Odell commended Empire State Development Mid-Hudson Regional Director Aimee Vargas for her on-going interest in Putnam.
“We look forward to continuing our partnership with Aimee and greatly appreciate her efforts on our behalf and for recognizing that Putnam County plays a vital part in the economic success of the region.”
While Taylor knows there are more Putnam projects in her EDC line-up waiting financing at this time, she still sees Putnam moving forward economically.
“This is just the beginning,” said Taylor. “We appreciate all the efforts of the Regional Council including Aimee and her team. And while I know some of our projects were not awarded funding in this round, I fully realize they are vital to the economic success of Putnam. I can assure the people of Putnam that the EDC will do everything in its power and within its abilities to ensure that we obtain the financing necessary to continue to move our other projects forward.”
The Putnam initiatives that received funding are as follows:
- Clear Solution Labs LLC – $1,000,000: Clear Solution Labs will be a contract manufacturer that produces health & beauty products as well as OTC products, pressed powders and high alcohol processed products.
- Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail – $100,000: A coalition of municipalities, state agencies and organizations are working to develop the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail, a separated multi-use 9-mile trail linking ConstitutionIsland in Cold Spring to the City of Beacon Train Station. The implementation phases of the project will focus on facilitating safe access between the Breakneck Train Stop and Breakneck Ridge, the top-rated day hike in North America.
- Village of Cold Spring – $75,000: The Village of Cold Spring began planning in 2006 with preparation of a Local Waterfront Revitalization Strategy (accepted), Comprehensive Plan (adopted) and draft Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan. The Village’s new zoning will focus on smart growth principles. It will encourage and enable future development and redevelopment to save energy, increase use of renewable energy, save greenhouse gas emissions, avoid future emissions, and reduce future energy use. The outcome will be adoption of an updated Zoning Law, Subdivision Regulations, and Historic District standards.
- Village of Brewster/City of Peekskill – $75,000: (This will be a 70/30 split with Peekskill) MHREDC Opportunity Area Peekskill/Brewster Area Strategic Plans and/or Building Reuse Feasibility Studies, Study to re-purpose obsolete buildings in Peekskill’s Opportunity Area and redevelopment path for Brewster’s Main Street Corridor.
- CAREERS for People for Disabilities, Inc. – $100,000: The CAREERS for People with Disabilities Workforce Development Program will offer job readiness skills to veterans and long-term SNAP applicants/recipients who are under or unemployed and residing in the HudsonValley. Participants will be guided through all phases of securing a job, writing/updating resumes, interviewing skills and workforce readiness skills. Once placed, they will be provided job training and ongoing supportive services such as transportation and using job-related technology.
- Westchester Community College Foundation Inc. – $100,000: Development of curriculum for unemployed workers to be implemented in both Peekskill and Brewster, the MHREDC Opportunity Area communities.
The CFA process used to award NYS projects began in July 2013 and Clear Solution Labs, which will create approximately 150 new jobs in the HudsonValley area, was named a Priority Project by Putnam’s EDC.