Press release:
State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer has written to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, requesting his continued support in the form of a $9 million investment in the STAMP project for each of the next two years to bring the project to Shovel-Ready-Lite status.
“Support is now needed in the form of a funding commitment to complete the process needed to bring this site to Shovel-Ready-Lite status. Over the next several years, this is anticipated to require funding of $20 million. The 2011-12 SFY Budget has already committed $2 million to this project,” Senator Ranzenhofer said.
“A commitment for an additional $9 million per year over the next two fiscal years to assure timely Shovel-Ready-Lite status will allow immediate marketing of the STAMP site to national and international tech companies to expedite the successful build out of this project.”
The STAMP project has the potential to create up to 10,000 high-paying jobs at full development, in addition to jobs created during construction and development of the site, and up to $2.5 billion in private investment. In the letter to Governor Cuomo, Senator Ranzenhofer also noted the possible economic benefits to residents beyond the Buffalo and Rochester regions.
“This project, with its offer of advanced manufacturing, is the only one of its kind in Western New York. In fact, we believe that it is the only remaining available Mega-site in New York State. It provides the legitimate promise of a significant private investment and thousands of desperately needed high-paying jobs for the residents of the Buffalo and Rochester areas as well as all the residents of the region including Erie, Monroe, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, Livingston and Wyoming counties.”
Senator Ranzenhofer forwarded copies of the letter to Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver, Genesee County Legislature Chair Mary Pat Hancock, Empire State Development Corporation President and CEO Kenneth Adams and Genesee County Economic Development Center President and CEO Steve Hyde.
The Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) is a 1,243 acre mega-site modeled after the Albany area’s Luther Forest development. Located in the Town of Alabama, the site is strategically ideal due to its access to three high-level electric transmission circuits, close proximity to the Empire pipeline – a 24-inch natural gas line– and only five miles distance from the New York State Thruway.
While there are many
While there are many similarities between WNYSTAMP and the Luther Forest Tech Park, it should be noted that there is one MAJOR difference between the two...Luther Forest already had a high-tech tenant (GlobalFoundries) lined up for their park.
If WNYSTAMP is truly modeled after Luther Forest, we have the benefit of being able to look back at the progression and actual impact of the Luther Forest development on the surrounding Luther Forest community. One only has to read through the comments on the Luther Forest Messageboard, to see what might possibly lie ahead, good or bad.
http://lutherforest.com/eve/forums/a/frm/f/9396064534
If the WNYSTAMP project progresses much the same way as the Luther Forest project, we can look at this letter by Senator Ranzenhofer as a harbinger of the next major development. It was at this point in the Luther Forest development timeline, when major tax payer money was needed for infrastructure development, that the State siezed control of the project from the local economic development agency.
http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/State-aims-to-seize-Luther-F…
My prediction is that The GCEDC is about to have the jewel in their economic development crown taken away from them by the State as we will soon be reading the headline, "NYS seizes control of WNYSTAMP project from GCEDC."
Shovel Ready - Lite? WTF is
Shovel Ready - Lite? WTF is that? Also, I like how the job estimate numbers keep jumping. 9,300 is now 10,000. Whether we do this or not, can we at least stay realistic?
Just taking 5 minutes, while
Just taking 5 minutes, while having lunch, I found this listing of fromer brownfield sites, located near waterways, that are seeking state funds for re-development. None of these in region 8 or 9 would be suitable? I'm sure there are many others, these are just a few.
http://nyswaterfronts.com/BOA_projects.asp
Is this allready a done
Is this allready a done deal...i though is was still in the town of Alabamas' hands...Why is Ranzenhofer asking for funding on something that isn't approved yet...Looks like the people of Alabama are about to get rolled over on this on...Didn't they tell the people of that area don't worry we would never used eminent domain to take your property...Sounds like this project is a go....................................................
Global Foundries is the
Global Foundries is the "conglomerate" that bought out AMD, semi-conductor giant founded in Sunnyvale, CA and poster-child for Luther Forest. AMD's new owners: the government of Abu Dubai, bankers to terrorists and laundry service for Russian mafia money. Let's call a spade a spade, the Luther Forest Tech Park is located in one of the least economically depressed areas north of Westchester: Saratoga. The tech park tax deferrals, grants and palm greasing works out to about $1 million per job. No wonder it got reined in.