Central New York Arts Receives State Aid

According to recent news, Central New York arts and cultural organizations received state funds for projects that promote economic development in the region, ranging from $62,000 for a visual and performing arts festival to $680,000 for building renovation.

73 development projects in Central New York received $93.8 million in state aid for, ranging from parks, health, tourism, business, education, food and beverages to commercial and residential developments. The Finger Lakes region got $96.2 million for 76 projects.

Central New York received the biggest aid package of $103.7 million for 74 projects. The Central New York list includes:

$3.1 million toward construction of Syracuse Community Health Center's new primary health care center at the former Superior Electric facility in the 800 and 900 blocks of South Salina Street in Syracuse.

$2.5 million to redevelop the former Sibley's Department Store in downtown Syracuse into a mixed-use space with about 62,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and 60 apartments on the upper three floors.

$2 million to develop a 150-acre site in Central Square into a multi-use destination facility for motor sports, trade shows, concerts and other events. Funding will help pay for infrastructure improvements required for access to Interstate 81 and a rest area.

$2 million for the laboratories at Le Moyne College that will be used by faculty, students and Blue Highway Inc. to develop medical products and get them to the marketplace.

$1.5 million for infrastructure improvements related to the planned redevelopment of the Syracuse Inner Harbor, including environmental cleanup, public infrastructure improvements, renovation of a former state canal maintenance building into a crew boathouse, and relocation of an historic freight house as a potential canal museum.

$1.5 million to establish a shared-use processing and warehousing facility for small-scale food processing and distribution of locally farmed products (meat, dairy, cereals and vegetables). The project involves buying and equipping an existing 45,000 sq. ft. building in Canastota.

$1 million to redevelop the former Kennedy Square housing complex in Syracuse into Loguen's Crossing, a mix of office, housing, educational and retail space. The grant will help pay for water and sewer lines, storm water retention, sidewalks and street landscaping.