Ulster County’s Region Was The Highest Performing Region In New York State
Kingston, NY– Ulster County Executive Mike Hein is pleased to announce that in the 2016 round of New York State’s Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process announced by Governor Cuomo today, the Mid-Hudson Region, of which Ulster County is a member, was the highest performing region in the state. As a result, many worthwhile Ulster County projects were awarded significant grant funding. In total, Ulster County’s businesses, not-for-profits and municipalities received over $9.3 million and the seven-county Mid-Hudson region was awarded a total of $83.3 million.
Michael P. Hein, Ulster County Executive
“Governor Cuomo’s Regional Council awards to Ulster County are a huge win for Ulster County and the Hudson Valley regional economy,” said Ulster County Executive Mike Hein. “I want to thank Governor Cuomo for his commitment to economic development. My administration took an aggressive role in assisting businesses, not-for-profits and municipalities in applying for CFA funding. In addition to successful applications by Ulster County for the Ashokan Rail Trail and expansion of our municipal composting facility, my team and I dedicated significant time and resources to assisting several successful projects including Mary Stuart Masterson’s Stockade Works Film Studio, Star Vodka’s new distillery and tourism destination on the Hudson River and Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley’s new Medical Village, which will create jobs and investment in Ulster County.”
County Executive Hein continued, “As a member of the Regional Economic Development Council, I was able to advocate for our county’s municipalities, including the City of Kingston, which resulted in the City of Kingston receiving awards totaling nearly $3.3 million, including $2.75 million towards transportation and connectivity projects.”
Steve Noble, Mayor of the City of Kingston
"We're excited about today's awards, and about the progress we will now be able to make on projects throughout the City," said Kingston Mayor Steve Noble. "I appreciate the support County Executive Mike Hein provided for these applications and for the strong partnership we have built between Ulster County and the City of Kingston. Together, we are moving forward.”
John McHugh, Executive Director, The Arc of Ulster-Greene
“We are truly excited to be awarded a 2016 CFA grant and join in the renaissance happening in mid-town Kingston. The grant will allow The Arc of Ulster-Greene the opportunity to repurpose space at our 139 Cornell Street building for start-up businesses and local artists,” explained John McHugh, Executive Director of The Arc of Ulster-Greene. “Much thanks goes to the Ulster County Office of Economic Development and County Executive Mike Hein. Their continued support of this initiative is invaluable.”
Kevin O’Connor, Executive Director, RUPCO, Inc.
“We are thrilled with today’s announcement of $1M for RUPCO’s planned redevelopment of a defunct 70,000 square foot factory located on Greenkill Avenue to house Stockade Works, Mary Stuart Masterson’s soundstage & post production training center that will bring film and TV production jobs to Kingston. Additional space will be used as ‘maker space’ for other local entrepreneurs involved in small manufacturing. For RUPCO, this is a community wealth building project that leverages our expertise for redeveloping derelict properties into productive re-use and combines it with entrepreneurial job creation. We are grateful to County Executive Mike Hein and his team of economic professionals that helped us put this project together with SUNY Ulster’s Start-Up New York and in particular, County Executive Hein’s advocacy that was instrumental in getting Governor Cuomo to sign legislation that extended the 40% tax credit for TV and Film production to Ulster County. RUPCO is working across Midtown Kingston and this project featuring Stockade Works coupled with the Lace Mill and our plans for Energy Square are transformative for the region.”
Mary Stuart Masterson, Executive Director and Founder, Stockade Works
“All of us at Stockade Works are so incredibly grateful to the REDC, Ulster County Executive Mike Hein and the Ulster County Office of Economic Development for the opportunity to begin making our vision come to fruition: ‘Making Local Work’ in the Mid-Hudson Valley through training the work force, attracting large scale projects in film and tech, and connecting the local film and tech makers,” said Mary Stuart Masterson, Executive Director and Founder of Stockade Works. “These funds will allow us to kick start our co-working, production facility which is an essential link in the entertainment ecosystem chain."
Charles Ferri, Founder & CEO of Star Vodka USA
"We are so excited and honored to have been awarded such a generous grant from Governor Cuomo and New York State. County Executive Mike Hein and his team were instrumental in making this happen and we could not be more thrilled to call Ulster County and New York State our home," stated Charles Ferri, Founder & CEO of Star Vodka USA.
