The Cuomo administration is handing out more than $1.8 million in grants to Genesee County projects, officials announced today.
The awards are part of $80.7 million in grants for the Finger Lakes Region of Empire State Development.
The largest award locally -- $1.5 million -- is going to Genesee Biogas, a Warsaw-based company looking to build a biogas generator in the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park.
Sen. Charles Schumer issued the following statement about the award:
“I was pleased to help make Ch4 Biogas’ first on-farm biodigester at the Synergy Dairy in Wyoming County a reality back in 2011, and I was pleased this year to support their application to ESD to replicate that success with the new Biogas Plant in Batavia. This cutting-edge facility is a win, win, win: it will provide renewable energy to the Ag Park, home to companies like Muller Quaker and Alpina yogurt, reduce the need to send waste to landfills, and help attract new businesses to locate to the Ag Park.”
Previously: Company pitches idea of plant that converts food waste into energy at planning board meeting
The City of Batavia is also receiving two awards. There is $200,000 for a micro-enterprise fund. The money is to be awarded to 10 local businesses, five of which must be owned by low- to moderate-income people. The program is expected to create 10 new full-time equivalent jobs.
The city is also receiving $75,000 to draft a new comprehensive plan.
"The plan will include public participation, an assessment of existing conditions and the development of goals and objectives based on LEED for Neighbhorhood Development," states the award announcement. "This project will promote the goals of the Finger Lakes Regional Sustainability Plan and serve as a model for other rural cities."
The Town of Batavia will receive $30,000 for eastside sewer planning.
The Village of Alexander will receive $30,000 for wastewater infrastructure evaluation.
The Village of Bergen will receive $30,000 for collection system study.
All of the projects are meant to spur economic growth.
In 2011, the Cuomo administration established 10 regional economic development areas. The 10 areas compete with each other for funding each year.
The largest chunk of funding this year went to the Southern Tier, which is receiving $80.8 million.
Western New York, which includes Buffalo, but not Batavia, received more than $50 million.
State Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle issued the following statement:
"The $80.7 million in funding awarded today will move us closer to our goal of securing a brighter economic future for Rochester and all of the Finger Lakes Region by creating thousands of new jobs and leveraging hundreds of millions in new investments."
OMG... Mr. Schumer if this
OMG... Mr. Schumer if this was a " win win win" as you claim, it would not need taxpayer dollars.
Mr. Morelle, this $80 million is on top of how much you spent the last time? Create thousands of new jobs? I am stupid but not that stupid. Go ahead and name 25 of the 1,000's of new jobs, and as far as your "leveraging hundreds of millions in new investments" the only investing I see is the taxpayer investment. Hundreds of millions in new investment, will you name me the investors of say the past $25 million.?
The description of where this money is going is so vague, the taxpayer has no idea where it's going. All we know for sure is it is being spent.