Originally Posted - July 20, 2006

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ALBANY---A total of 23 sites in 13 counties will receive a total of $2 million in matching grants under the fourth round of New York's innovative Build Now-NY initiative.

Since 1999, New York has invested just over $4 million in Build Now-NY, but that investment has leveraged more than $660 million in capital investment at sites throughout the State. That investment has added more than 9.4 million square feet of floor space for business activity, created more than 7,900 jobs and helped retain more than 850 existing jobs.

"Build Now-NY is an important tool to help local communities attract new companies and create jobs," Gov. George Pataki said. "With Build Now-NY, we invest our energy and resources upfront in pre-permitting potential development sites, allowing businesses to step in and put people to work without delay."

Launched in September 1998, Build Now-NY is administered by Empire State Development (ESD) and the Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform (GORR). Under Round 4 of the program, successful applicants will receive matching grants of up to $100,000 to pre-permit sites and make them more marketable.

"Build Now-NY is part of Governor Pataki's ongoing effort to make New York more business friendly," said ESD Chairman Charles A. Gargano. "This program makes it easier for companies to invest in New York and create jobs." Under the pre-permitting concept, teams of local officials, state agencies, and developers prepare sites for specifically targeted economic development. That advance work minimizes delays that businesses normally face in the permitting and environmental review process and provides a substantial benefit for companies locating on a Build Now-NY site. Build Now-NY grants can be used for engineering studies, surveys, environmental assessments, planning, legal expenses, and other costs related to pre-permitting a site. GORR and ESD will also provide permitting and technical assistance for the selected projects, and ESD will market the sites.

Site Selection magazine recently ranked Batavia and Plattsburgh in the Top 10 in its 2006 Top Micropolitan Area Awards, which recognize small cities nationwide for their ability to attract corporate facilities. Both communities host two Build Now-NY sites. Batavia is home to Genesee O-At-Ka Agri-Business Park and Gateway II Corporate Park, and the newly designated Medical High Tech Business Park, while the Plattsburgh region hosts Banker Road Industrial Park and Champlain Industrial Park.

Build Now-NY also lets communities chart their own economic futures, allowing them to choose the types of development and jobs they want. Three economic development profiles were eligible under the current round of the program: high technology manufacturing; warehouse, distribution and logistics centers; and multi-tenant business and technology parks. The Round 4 Build Now-NY grant recipients are listed below. More information about the program is available at www.buildnow-ny.com.

	Site	Location
Capital Region	Wilton Global Development Campus	Town of Wilton, Saratoga County
	Quaker Ridge Technology Park	Town of Queensbury, Warren County
	Travco Industrial Park	Town of Athens, Greene County
	Third Business Park	Town New Baltimore, Greene County
	Hudson Valley Commercial Park	Town of Coxsackie, Greene County
Central New York	Manlius Intermodal Site	Town of Manlius, Onondaga County
	Mathews Avenue Industrial Site	Village of Solvay, Onondaga County
	Noss Technology Park	City of Cortland, Cortland County
Finger Lakes	Pembroke Business Park	Town of Pembroke, Genesee County
	PEZ Lake Development Facility	Town of Romulus, Seneca County
	Medical & High Technology Business Park	Town of Batavia, Genesee County
Mid-Hudson	Liberty Agriculture and Light Industry Park	Village of Liberty, Sullivan County
	Liberty Business Park	Town of Liberty, Sullivan County
	Westage Industrial Park	City of Beacon, Dutchess County
	Crossroads Distribution Center	Town of Montgomery, Orange County
	Montgomery Interstate Distribution Center	Town of Montgomery, Orange County
	Orange County Executive Center	Village of Goshen, Orange County
	Orange County Executive Center	Village of Goshen, Orange County
North Country	Horton Road Business Park	Town of Massena, St. Lawrence County
Western New York	Riverview Commerce Park	Town of Tonawanda, Erie County
	CrossPoint Business Park (Expansion Land)	Town of Amherst, Erie County
	Grand Island Gateway Center	Town of Grand Island, Erie County
	Tri-County Business Park	Town of Sardinia, Erie County, and Town of Arcade, Wyoming County
	Muir Woods	Town of Amherst, Erie County

7-20-06

© 2006 North Country Gazette