The Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Counsel is getting ready to submit their application for the Upstate Revitalization Initiative. The Initiative promises to award half a billion dollars to three upstate regions.
The group says they're focused on prioritizing projects that are both innovative and sustainable. The FLREDC application focuses on three specific industries: photonics and optics, food production, and next generation technology manufacturing.
FLREDC Co-Chair Joel Seligman says in an effort to be transparent and inclusive, they've opened the draft up to public comment.
"For the past four years we've taken great pride in a transparent process, in working with literally 450 individuals. We've taken great pride in the fact that we've always had unanimous votes and that's because we've been listening to our community and we're going to continue to listen."
The group is looking at multiple ways of inspiring community participation, including a naming contest for the URI plan.
Vinny Esposito is Director of Empire State Development for the Finger Lakes Region. He says people can choose from a few proposed names, or give their own suggestions.
"So, it's a little fun way which hopefully we can increase our public engagement and get input to make sure we're unified as possible in what we're branding this under."
You can find the details to that and the draft on the FLREDC website.
