More Than $26.4 Million Will Support 27 Projects that Align with Region's Strategic Plan

Region Awarded Additional $38 Million for Transformative Projects Through Inaugural ACHIEVE Competition

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that the Southern Tier was awarded $64.4 million through Governor Kathy Hochul's 2025 Regional Economic Development Council initiative. Of this funding, $26.4 million will support 27 projects across eight counties, leveraging $93 million in additional public and private investments. The Southern Tier was also selected as one of four awardees for the inaugural $150 million Advancing Collaboration for High-impact Initiatives for Economic Visions & Expansion competition — or ACHIEVE competition — which empowered the REDCs to advance catalytic economic development projects. 

ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "Governor Hochul’s REDCs continue to recommend proposals that will create jobs and spur new growth through a locally focused, bottom-up strategy to economic development. By awarding state funding to projects that align with regional priorities, New York is investing in new ideas, new efforts and new developments to promote community growth throughout the state."

Secretary of State and REDC Chair Walter T. Mosley said, "Capitalizing on the successful momentum of the Regional Economic Development Councils, Governor Hochul’s new ACHIEVE Initiative provided regions with the motivation to amplify their ideas with dramatic game changing projects. Congratulations to the Southern Tier for coming up with a high impact, transformational project that will spur economic growth for years to come."

Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs Dr. Mary Bonderoff and Judy McKinney-Cherry said, "We are incredibly grateful to Governor Hochul for her continued investment in the Southern Tier region. The ACHIEVE initiative will repurpose the former Morse Chain Factory into the mixed-use SouthWorks project, creating a space offering housing for all income levels, and create an innovation hub to retain start-ups among other things. Many thanks to everyone who is a part of the Regional Economic development Council for their focused vision and hard work, efforts that are truly paying off, creating a brighter future for everyone."

Projects awarded funding in the Southern Tier include: 

• Broome County – $6.28 Million Pro-Housing Supply Fund grant: The county will complete an infrastructure project to enable construction of a residential development on 10.67 acres in Johnson City. The site is currently vacant with no existing infrastructure to support housing development. Infrastructure components include site prep, demo, electric and other critical utilities. The future housing development will create 68 for-rent townhome units within two blocks of downtown and will further the goals of supplying quality housing to advance industry growth. 

• DMK Endeavors, Inc. – $1.07 Million Regional Council Capital Fund grant: The company will undertake the buildout and adaptive reuse of SouthWorks in the City of Ithaca and open a First Learning childcare center. The daycare will include an outdoor play space, serving infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school age children, helping to close local childcare service gaps. This project will spur future development at the site supporting regional economic development, workforce stability, and livability goals.

• Town of Ithaca – $5 Million Pro-Housing Supply Fund grant: The Town will utilize funding for an infrastructure project to support significant housing development on more than five acres within SouthWorks, the redevelopment of the 95-acre Morse Chain/Emerson Transmission Plant site. Planned infrastructure includes site preparation, roadway network, watermain, and sanitary and storm sewer. Installing new infrastructure is essential to transform this isolated parcel into a viable neighborhood and enable the construction of much-needed affordable and workforce housing. The residential component of the project will feature 150 units consisting of multi-family apartment buildings (low-rise structures) and townhomes to serve a broad spectrum of income levels. 

A full list of projects across all 10 regions is available here.

The Southern Tier was also one of four regions awarded a combined $150 million based on their ACHIEVE proposals, which were reviewed by the Strategic Implementation Assessment Team comprised of members of the Governor's Cabinet. 

The Southern Tier SouthWorks ACHIEVE proposal was awarded $38 million to support the development of SouthWorks - a mixed-use, adaptive reuse project in Ithaca that repurposes the blighted former Morse Chain Factory site. SouthWorks will offer housing for all income levels, an innovation hub to retain start-ups in advanced manufacturing, biotech and ag-tech, a living laboratory for trades-focused workforce development with childcare and wraparound services, and an integrated neighborhood with locally tailored amenities for recreation, livability and the arts.

About the Regional Economic Development Councils

The Regional Economic Development Council initiative is a key component of the State's approach to State investment and economic development. In 2011, 10 Regional Councils were established to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom-up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources. Learn more at regionalcouncils.ny.gov.

About Empire State Development

ESD is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state's world class tourism destinations through ILOVENY. For more information, please visit ESD’s website here, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Contact:
ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313