State grants, incentives supporting numerous projects

Every year since 2011, state officials have doled out hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks and grants in a competitive process, pitting 10 regional economic development councils against one another.

In the latest round, announced in December, the state awarded a total of $709 million, with the Mid-Hudson region the top winner, taking home almost $83 million for 112 projects.

The Finger Lakes region, which includes Rochester, netted $80.7 million for 100 projects, including 32 labeled by the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council as "transformative priority projects" representing more than $755 million in total investment that could create more than 9,500 jobs.

The funding covers a wide variety of projects, ranging from the well-publicized Sibley building redevelopment, the redevelopment of the Midtown Plaza site, CityGate and support for businesses at Eastman Business Park, to lesser known municipal infrastructure projects and funding for expansion and capital investments at small manufacturing companies in rural areas.

Many of the projects have received other state funding through separate programs, or through the annual competitive process in other years.

Here's a look at some of the major projects in the Finger Lakes region receiving grants or incentives in the latest round:

High Tech Rochester

Amount: $5 million.

Total project cost: $20 million.

Description: High Tech Rochester will move from a suburban location in Henrietta to the sixth floor of the Sibley building and a new business accelerator will be created there. The accelerator will serve as an anchor resource for the new Innovation District in downtown Rochester. The accelerator will offer space, resources and programs to support the development of new and existing businesses.

Projected job creation: 1,000 at new and expanded businesses in five years.

Sibley Building

Amount: $3 million.

Total cost: $200 million.

Project: The overall plan is to convert the 1.1 million-square-foot historic department store building into 94 units of low-income housing, 92 units of market-rate housing, a new Lifespan Senior Center, 57,000 square feet of office space, 10,000 square feet of retail, an urban farm market, and 200 underground parking spaces. This particular funding is to update the building to earn certifications for energy efficiency.

Projected job creation: 990.

Biosciences Manufacturing Center

Amount: $2 million.

Total cost: $29.5 million.

Project: A fermentation facility for the production of bio-based chemicals and fuels will be developed at Eastman Business Park in collaboration with FermCo Inc. The 60,000-square-foot facility will convert biomass and non-food plant material and agricultural by-products into bio-fuels and biochemicals.

Projected job creation: 600 in five years.

Growing the Agricultural Industry Now! (GAIN) Fund

Amount: $3 million.

Total cost: $7.5 million.

Description: This revolving loan fund will support the capital needs of agriculture and food processing companies in the nine-county region. The fund will provide about 30 companies with money to buy equipment and new technology, diversify, expand, upgrade facilities, buy new land, and increase export capacity.

Projected job creation: 150 direct, 450 indirect.

Genesee Biogas Inc.

Amount: $1.5 million.

Total cost: $20.3 million.

Description: Design, build and operate a plant to support the Genesee Valley AgriBusiness Park in Batavia, Genesee County. The 15,000-square-foot plant will convert organic waste produced by agricultural and food processors into renewable energy to be used by the park's tenants and nearby industry. The project will reduce landfill waste, improve water quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Projected job creation: 30 construction; 10 permanent.

Rochester Public Market (phase 2)

Amount: $1.5 million.

Total cost: $10.2 million.

Description: More than $5 million in public investment has already been made at the market, which attracts 2.7 million visitors annually. The overall plan includes expanded parking, improved access, stabilizing aging infrastructure, more vending locations, reconstruction of a year-round indoor "wintershed," and construction of a storefront building, plus facilities for events and education. The project is expected to increase annual sales by $8 million, and add more entrepreneurial opportunities for farmers and suppliers of fresh food.

Projected job creation: 55 construction; 291 permanent jobs.

Frontier Field

Amount: $1.5 million.

Total cost: $7.5 million.

Description: The home of the Rochester Red Wings minor league baseball team was built in 1996. This work will include structural and equipment upgrades, a baseball museum, a new field, changes to the concourse and suites and an improved front gate entrance.

Projected job creation: 100 construction jobs.

(MAGIC) Laboratory

Amount: $1.5 million.

Total cost: $21 million.

Description: The Rochester Institute of Technology's Media Arts Games Interaction Creativity (MAGIC) Laboratory was created to foster experimentation and design of digital media. The facility will include a sound stage, screening room, film and animation classrooms and labs, instructional space, imaging science labs, and collaborative space for business partners.

Projected job creation: 25 to 35.

University of Rochester's Institute for Data Science

Amount: $1.5 million.

Total cost: $50 million.

Description: The institute will use high-performance computing and data science to solve scientific problems. The project includes construction of a 60,000-square-foot building to serve as a hub for scientists and new research and education programs and to house the new state Center of Excellence in Data Science.

Projected job creation: 20 new faculty members.

Canandaigua Lakefront (phase 2)

Amount: $1 million.

Total cost: $35.4 million.

Description: Development of 4.2 acres on the north shore of Canandaigua Lake to include 132 residential units and 25,000 square feet of commercial, event and retail space, including a farm-to-table restaurant and brew pub. The total project (all phases) will cost $120 million and produce 457 residential units and 77,500 square feet of commercial and retail space.

Projected job creation (total): 175 direct, 600 indirect, 400 construction.

Foodlink Food Hub

Amount: $750,000.

Total cost: $3.9 million.

Description: Create a new 11,000-square-foot commercial kitchen and food processing facility at Foodlink headquarters, 1999 Mt. Read Blvd. Farmers will be able to wash, freeze, bag and label produce so it can be sold all year. The facility will provide access to distribution networks on a scale that is currently out of reach for small and mid-sized farms.

Projected job creation: 32 industry jobs, 43 construction.

CityGate

Amount: $750,000.

Total cost: $33.6 million.

Description: This funding is for initial improvements such as underground electric utilities, sidewalks, traffic signals, a public park improvements to the Erie Canal, such as boat docks, a canoe and kayak launch, lighting, seating and landscaping. The 45-acre mixed-use development with a total price tag of about $200 million will be anchored by a 150,000-square-foot Costco store, 180,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, a 150-room hotel, and 300 residential units.

Projected job creation (total project): 1,577 construction, 1,022 permanent.

BLOUDON@DemocratandChronicle.com

Twitter.com/BennettLoudon

To learn more

For details about the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council and other projects visit: regionalcouncils.ny.gov/content/finger-lakes.