Santabarbara Announces Support for Plan to Transform Mohawk Valley

Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara announced his support Thursday for a plan to bring more than 17,000 jobs and a $3.8 billion private sector investment to the region.

In September, Santabarbara officially signed a letter of support for the plan, which includes creating a nano corridor from Utica to Albany to build on the success of the Marcy Nanocenter at the SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica.

The plan, called MV500, would leverage $500 million in state funding with private sector dollars for a total investment of $4.3 million and create 3,100 jobs in the first year. Over 15 years, it would create 17,000 high-paying jobs.

“This plan would bring high-paying, high-tech jobs to this region, paving a path for widespread prosperity and a new economic future in the Mohawk Valley,” Santabarbara said. “I am working together with my colleagues in the state Legislature who represent this region to seize upon this opportunity for historic transformation.”

To make the plan a reality, the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council is seeking one of three $500 million awards through the New York Upstate Revitalization Initiative.

The plan, which would create jobs in the areas of STEM, agribusiness and tourism, was discussed during the second day of the state’s annual REDC proposal process. STEM-related investments include the Global Village at Fulton-Montgomery Community College and investments at AGT Services in Amsterdam and Nathan Littauer Hospital projects in Gloversville, Perth and Fonda.

In the area of agribusiness, farming techniques would be modernized through investment and education to increase the percentage of profitable farms in the Mohawk Valley. In tourism, investments would also be made in the region’s craft brewing and food industries to boost visitor spending.

The award winners will be announced by the end of the year.