IDA to Create the Tryon Technology Park and Incubator Center with $2 Million REDC Grant to Attract New Investment and Create Jobs in the Mohawk Valley
Albany, NY – September 21, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the Empire State Development (ESD) Board of Directors has authorized the transfer of the Tryon Boys and Girls Center (Tryon Facility) to the Fulton County Industrial Development Agency (FCIDA) for redevelopment.
The Tryon Facility will be transferred to FCIDA at no cost, allowing the IDA to move forward with plans to redevelop the more than 500 acre property in the towns of Perth and Johnstown into an industrial and commercial business park. The proposed Tryon Technology Park and Incubator Center is expected to attract significant new investment and create hundreds of new jobs in the Mohawk Valley.
“I have repeatedly said that government must be more efficient, more effective and more responsible – and that promise is what sparked today’s action,” said Governor Cuomo. “When I visited the Tryon Facility, I found an empty and deteriorating building where tax payer dollars were going to waste, but now it has a new beginning as a place for cutting edge technology and job creation that’ll boost the local economy.”
The Tryon Facility is one of eleven New York State correctional and juvenile facilities closed last year as a part of Governor Cuomo’s plan to consolidate state government services and increase the efficiency of the juvenile justice facility system. The NYS Office of General Services (OGS), the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) and ESD were tasked with ensuring the disposition of these large institutional properties. It was determined the transfer of the Tryon Facility to the FCIDA would produce the greatest economic benefit to the local area, creating jobs and expanding the tax base. The plan includes a $3.14 million redevelopment of the Tryon Facility into a business park, which is being supported by a $2 million grant provided in the first round of Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC) awards.
“The transfer of the Tryon facility clearly represents two of Governor Cuomo’s priorities – right sizing government and job creation,” said ESD President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams. “By closing this facility, Governor Cuomo demonstrates his commitment to responsible use of taxpayer dollars, while his focus on the re-use of Tryon as a business park highlights his dedication to rebuilding New York’s economy.”
“Governor Cuomo has made it clear that state government needs to operate more efficiently and work closely with local governments to increase opportunities for the people of New York,” Office of General Services Commissioner RoAnn Destito, said. “This transfer, when complete, will accomplish both. The state will no longer spend taxpayer dollars maintaining a property it doesn’t need and Fulton County will have an asset that it can market to attract new businesses and jobs.”
“The Tryon facility has long been an important part of the region,” noted OCFS Commissioner Gladys Carrión, “And I am pleased that it will continue to serve as a critical economic resource to benefit the community. Repurposing the Tryon property preserves the investment our state made in the facility for decades and it will now be a part of development for many more to come.”
“The redevelopment of the former Tryon Campus represents an outstanding opportunity to take a negative consequence, the closing of the former Tryon Boys and Girls Center and the loss of jobs, and turn it into a positive opportunity to create new jobs for the Fulton County Region,” said James Mraz, Executive Director of the FCIDA. “The FCIDA appreciates the cooperative working relationship that has been forged between it, Governor Cuomo, the Governor’s Office, ESD, NYSOGS, Senator Farley, Assemblyman Butler, the Fulton County Board of Supervisors, Towns of Perth and Johnstown, and the City of Gloversville to complete this historic transaction.”
The transfer of the facility is contingent upon final approval by the New York State Attorney General’s office and the Office of the New York State Comptroller.
Redevelopment of the Tryon Facility into an industrial park has widespread local support and was identified as a regionally significant project in the strategic plan adopted by the Mohawk Valley’s Regional Economic Development Council in November of 2011. The transformation of the Tryon Facility into the Tryon Center is slated to begin with design work this year and to be fully completed by December 2015.
“The Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council recognizes the significant, positive impact the redevelopment of the Tryon Facility will have on the surrounding communities and is pleased to see that its recommended action to transfer the facility to the IDA is moving forward,” said Regional Council Co-chairs Lawrence T. Gilroy III, President of Gilroy, Kernan & Gilroy Inc and Bjong Wolf Yeigh, President of SUNYIT. “The closure of the detention facility has created a clear opportunity for economic growth in the region and the facility’s reuse as a business park closely aligns with the Council’s long-range vision for a prosperous Mohawk Valley.”
“Today’s action represents an important and necessary step in returning this property to productive use,” said Senator Hugh T. Farley. “I appreciate the efforts of the Governor and the ESD Board to work with Fulton County on this project, which is expected to benefit the regional economy and create needed jobs. I look forward to continued progress in converting this facility into a productive technology park.”
“This is a very promising development for Fulton County,” said Assemblyman Marc Butler. “Senator Farley and I have been pleased to work with local officials to turn this into a positive. We’re pleased we’ve reached this step and we look forward to continued cooperative efforts to make this a reality. I thank the ESD Board of Directors for their positive vote.”
“As Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Supervisors, I am excited and extremely grateful that the Empire State Development Board of Directors will be authorizing the transfer of the over 500 acre site of the former Tryon Boy and Girls Detention Center property to the Fulton County Industrial Development Agency,” said Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Supervisors Michael F. Gendron. “A lot of people worked diligently on the details of this transfer. I would like to especially thank Ken Tompkins of Empire State Development and his staff and our Planning Director, Jim Mraz for their dedication to this project. I look forward to the next phase of what will be known as Tryon Technology and Incubator Center.”
The FCIDA has a track record and experience in the development, operation and management of business parks in Fulton County. The FCIDA was responsible for the successful development of the Glove Cities Industrial Park, the Crossroads and Johnstown Industrial Parks and the Crossroads Business Park. Each of these industrial parks is at or near capacity, thereby limiting the FCIDA’s ability to attract new businesses to the Fulton County.
Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency (www.esd.ny.gov). The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I Love NY,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.
Contact Information:
Governor’s Press Office
NYC Press Office: 212.681.4640
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press.office (at) exec.ny (dot) gov
