$32.6M to Attract High-Tech Manufacturing Businesses

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that $32.6 million has been awarded to improve seven locations under the Focused Attraction of Shovel-Ready Tracts New York grant program, administered by Empire State Development. First announced by the Governor in February 2022, FAST NY is designed to prepare and develop sites across the state to further New York’s shovel-readiness and increase its attractiveness to large employers and high-tech manufacturing companies. To date, FAST NY has awarded nearly $233 million to 32 sites, with locations in every region across Upstate New York, and Governor Hochul has proposed an additional $100 million for this proven program in her 2026 Executive Budget.

"FAST NY is a valuable tool that attracts strategic industries that invest in our communities and bring good paying jobs to New York State," Governor Hochul said. "We have experienced first hand that shovel ready sites are an important factor when businesses are looking to expand and companies like Micron, Wolfspeed, Edwards Vacuum, and fairlife have chosen New York State because of our investments in site readiness. FAST NY is helping New York be a competitor on a global stage for the world's best companies."

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “FAST NY is a forward-thinking initiative that enhances the state's appeal to major employers in high-growth industries by helping communities prepare and develop sites to accelerate New York’s shovel-readiness. Each site selected for a FAST NY investment has tremendous potential to ignite projects that generate jobs and stimulate regional economic development across New York.”

The latest awardees are:

• Albany Port District Commission (Capital Region) – $18.79 million: This project at the Port of Albany’s 85-acre Beacon Island expansion site will allow for utility infrastructure work, including installation of a high-voltage substation, a sanitary wastewater treatment plant, and the intake lines and pump station package for fire protection system. Additionally, it will support the remaining earthwork at the site. This fully graded 85-acre site with access to 115Kv power lines and the navigable Hudson River presents a unique asset to manufacturers of a variety of large-scale components.
• Buffalo and Erie County Land Development Corporation (Western New York) – $11.5 million: This infrastructure improvement project at the former Evans-Angola airport will support the establishment of the Erie County Agribusiness Park. The grant will support utility infrastructure work, including roadway and sewer improvements, and power and gas transmission extensions, plus a substation. The former airport has been defunct for over 25 years and the new agribusiness park will focus on attracting food and agricultural processing businesses to the region, and expanding available markets for local farms.
• Town of Clifton Park (Capital Region) – $1 million: This infrastructure improvement project at the Synergy Technology Park will extend the site's water infrastructure by providing a secondary water line. This will increase capacity to the park and support future site development and expansion for industrial, manufacturing and distribution operations.
• Orange County Industrial Development Agency (Mid-Hudson) – $500,000: This pre-development project at the Roseton Development site will induce advancement of environmental studies including a Generic Environmental Impact Statement and State Environmental Quality Review, plus engineering and site design. The site provides unique assets, including direct access to existing power transmission, rail, heavy infrastructure, and existing maritime infrastructure with direct access to the Hudson River, and will focus on targeting offshore wind supply chain companies.
• Fulton County Center for Regional Growth (Mohawk Valley) – $434,700: This pre-development project will induce the advancement of engineering fees and studies that will determine costs for the development of infrastructure at Johnstown Commerce Park, including roads, utilities, site analysis, and environmental investigation. This site is located directly across from the current Johnstown Industrial Park, which is currently at capacity. The site, which was previously awarded a FAST NY grant, expects to produce five major industrial development projects, resulting in the creation of approximately 200 jobs.
• Hamburg Development Corporation (Western New York) – $250,000: This pre-development project will allow for shovel-ready advancement of the Crossroads site, including environmental impact and traffic studies. The site is adjacent to the former Ford stamping plant and is zoned industrial, with direct proximity to significant water, sewer, natural gas and power lines. Pre-permitting this site will expedite development and improve speed to market for advanced manufacturing projects in the region.
• Wayne County Industrial Development Agency (Finger Lakes) – $100,000: This pre-development project will enable studies to evaluate water and sewer treatment and delivery infrastructure, with a focus on Lyons Industrial Park and additional industrial parks located along the Route 31 corridor spanning east to west through the southern end of the county. These parks were recently identified via a feasibility study, conducted to evaluate potential areas for future industrial development.

This year, Governor Hochul proposed $100 million for additional rounds of FAST NY in her FY26 Executive Budget. The program helps to diversify New York State’s economy while generating new investments for businesses, communities and job creation. Last year, Governor Hochul secured an additional $100 million in funding through the FY25 State Budget for the FAST NY program.

FAST NY grants are awarded for pre-development activities and infrastructure investments to develop sites that will attract many eligible industries —including high-tech manufacturing, semiconductors, clean-tech renewable energy, life sciences, agribusiness, optics, transportation equipment, materials processing, industrial machinery manufacturing and other advanced manufacturing. These sites can also be used for interstate distribution and logistics. For more information, or to apply for a FAST NY grant, visit esd.ny.gov/fast-ny.