New York Governor Andrew M Cuomo has announced a $200m Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalisation Competition to renovate airports throughout the state.
The governor unveiled the 11th proposal of 2016 agenda. About 74 upstate airports are eligible for the grant.
The state will award five grants worth $40m to airports in order to fund projects that bolster safety, operations and passenger service, and cut down environmental impact, reported Associated Press.
“Infrastructure is the foundation of our economy – and this year we are going to build and rebuild for the future.”
Scheduled to be completed by August of 2018, the project will provide new opportunities for regional economic development and partnership between the public and private sectors.
Cuomo said: “Infrastructure is the foundation of our economy – and this year we are going to build and rebuild for the future.
“From investing in our airports to rebuilding the State Fairgrounds, we are thinking big and making bold strides across Upstate New York.
“This is about stimulating the economy, creating jobs throughout the surrounding communities, and making Upstate New York stronger and more competitive than ever before, and I look forward to seeing the work continue in 2016.”
Few of the airports eligible to compete in the investment include Albany International Airport, Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport (Warren County), Schenectady County Airport, South Albany Airport, Argyle Airport (Washington County), Fulton County Airport and Granville Airport (Washington County).
Albany County Airport Authority CEO John O’Donnell was quoted by Albany Times Union as saying: “The Albany County Airport Authority applauds Governor Cuomo’s initiative to invest in New York’s upstate airports and we look forward to submitting concrete proposals designed to improve the overall operation, infrastructure and safety of the Albany International Airport.”
In November, the New York State Police had opened a $10m new Mid-Hudson Regional crime lab at the Stewart International Airport.
Announced by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, the 10,000ft2, single-story crime lab facilitates acute testing services as well as law-enforcement throughout the Hudson Valley.
Construction of the lab was funded by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as a token of appreciation for the New York State Police for enforcing law and safeguarding operations at the Stewart Airport since 1970.