Governor Hochul Announces Mohawk Valley as $10M Winner of Regional Economic Development Council Challenge Competition

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Governor Hochul Announces Mohawk Valley as $10M Winner of Regional Economic Development Council Challenge Competition

NEWS RELEASE
584 Phoenix Drive
Rome, New York 13441
Phone 315-338-0393

For immediate release:
December 29, 2023

As announced yesterday by Governor Kathy Hochul, the Mohawk Valley Region has been named as one of three winners of the 2023 Regional Economic Development Council Challenge Competition. Each awarded region will receive $10 million in project funding to advance new strategies addressing the housing crisis and workforce development initiatives.

According to the Governor’s press release, “New York’s REDC Challenge Competition is just one of the ways that our state is empowering local leaders to transform their communities and unlock their economic potential,” and is aimed to catalyze economic development and growth.

The release outlined this win as a part of the REDC Round XIII initiative, as each of New York’s 10 REDCs identified strategies and approaches to address one of seven challenges faced across state. The Mohawk Valley’s winning proposal, focusing on creative solutions to and underlying concerns in workforce, was also summarized in the article:

“The Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council’s plan to meet the region’s growing demand for tourism, agribusiness, and STEM-intensive industries, while prioritizing its efforts to eliminate barriers to employment. The council identified 12 catalyst projects to scale successful programs across the region, including established programs like the Institute for Rural Vitality’s Micro-Credentialing program, Mohawk Valley Community College’s Fast Track program, and the Hillside Work Scholarship Connection. The Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council’s proposal also includes several projects with a unique ability to engage students at a younger age and open doors to an increasingly diverse working-age population, as well as projects tailored to eliminating employment barriers for persons with disabilities.”

Mohawk Valley EDGE is thrilled to contribute to this progressive strategy and planning, which will generate housing growth, strengthen our workforce, and significantly expand the talent pipeline our region has already begun to cultivate.

Thank you to Governor Hochul, Empire State Development, the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council, including Co-Chairs Larry Gilroy and Dr. Marion Terenzio, NYSTEC, and other partners that have collaborated to make this regional report and subsequent win a reality.

We also congratulate Long Island and the North Country Economic Development Councils on their award-winning proposals for the 2023 Challenge Competition.

Contact: Hannah Phillips, 315-338-0393 ext. 5511