Secretary of State Announces $2.5 Million in Federal Grants Available for New York's Appalachian Region

ALBANY, NY (04/26/2010)(readMedia)-- New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez today announced the start of the application period for 2011 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Area Development grants to fund economic development projects in the Southern Tier.

Secretary Cortés-Vázquez anticipates that more than $2.5 million will be available for projects in 14 counties – Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga and Tompkins.

"The Southern Tier possesses tremendous economic potential," Secretary of State Cortés-Vázquez said. "However, over the last few decades the region has experienced economic stagnation and population decline. As Governor Paterson's representative to the Appalachian Regional Commission, I will ensure that funds will be provided to qualified applicants to help the region's communities plan for sustainable growth, take steps to reduce poverty and unemployment and boost the region's quality of life."

The ARC is a 13-state partnership with the federal government, coordinated in New York by the Department of State. It is designed to provide matching grant funds to eligible applicants in support of sustainable economic and community development. The Department works closely with three regional planning boards – the Southern Tier West, Central and East Regional Planning and Development Boards – to develop applications and provide technical assistance project sponsors.

In 2009, New York-based ARC projects received more than $2.5 million across 40 communities to assist in the creation and retention of 725 jobs, train 600 people for future employment or career advancement, assist 100 businesses and develop significant infrastructure in areas key to economic expansion.

Marcia Weber, executive director of the Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board, said: "Some of our region's most important programs and projects were made possible by ARC funding. We've already had people asking us about this year's project cycle, so the need for the funding is still strong. It's federal funding, but it's also a very grassroots type of program, and it benefits us enormously."

Robert Augenstern, director of the Southern Tier East Regional Planning Development Board, said: "For many years the Appalachian Regional Commission program has provided funding for innovative approaches to locally identified issues. With input from the STE Regional Board, municipalities have been able to secure funding for necessary infrastructure and community-based programs to carry out projects in agriculture, job training, health and education. We look forward to working with new and experienced applicants during this new cycle."

Craig R. Clark, interim vice president for academic affairs at Alfred State College and a successful applicant for area development project funding, said: "The ARC grants that Alfred State College has received with the assistance of the Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board have allowed the college to develop and institute many innovative workforce development programs. The latest grants have focused on developing green programs before they were popular. These types of programs are critical for the economic development, business retention and retention of our youth by developing the latest job skills."

Project applications are due to the applicant's respective Local Development District (LDD) by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, June 14, 2010. The program anticipates providing matching grant funds to eligible applicants in support of projects that relate to one of the following three ARC general goals:

1. Increase job opportunities and per capita income in Appalachia to reach parity with the nation.

2. Strengthen the capacity of the people of the region to compete in the global economy.

3. Develop and improve the region's infrastructure to make the region economically competitive.

The three LDDs cover the following counties:

· Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board: Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua (www.southerntierwest.org)

· Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board: Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben (www.stcplanning.org)

· Southern Tier East Regional Planning Development Board: Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie, Tioga and Tompkins (www.steny.org)

Additional information can be found on the Department of State's website, www.dos.state.ny.us/lgss/arc.htm, or at ARC's site, www.arc.gov.

###Additional news available at http://www.dos.state.ny.us/about/new2.htm.

New York State Department of State | info@dos.state.ny.us | 518.486.9846 | 212.417.5801Follow us: http://twitter.com/NYDeptofState