Farmingdale Receives State Economic Development Funding

Long Island has been awarded $101.6 million for economic development after competing in the state’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative, local officials said Thursday.

Nearly $2 million of that will go to projects in Farmingdale, one at and another at

Gov. Andrew Cuomo formed the Regional Councils this past July in order to drive economic growth by creating jobs. The Regional Councils competed for $785 million in funding by submitting strategic plans that invest in regional solutions to fix the economy. Long Island's plan was named one of the four "best" by the state.

"I’m extremely pleased that the Long Island Regional Council’s plan was named ‘Best’ in all of New York State," said State Sen. Kemp Hannon, R-Garden City. “The Regional Councils across the State will change the way New York does business."

Long Island’s proposal was the result of public meetings and forums and focused on "advanced transformative projects." The plan was broken down into the categories of Innovative Economy, Smart Growth for Communities, Natural Assets and Workforce and Education and strategies included building on existing businesses, commercializing research, strengthening the workforce, promoting and protecting natural resources, providing equal opportunity in housing, employment and education and investing in infrastructure and other industries (tourism, agriculture, and fisheries).

The Farmingdale projects total $1,965,118. At D'Addario, a nationally-renown string making company based in Farmingdale, $1,865,118 will go towards renovations and new machinery and equipment to ensure local long-term growth. D'Addario employes 800 people on Long Island and provides guitar strings to musicians like Dave Mathews, Lenny Kravitz and Bon Jovi. The company produces 20 million guitar string sets each year.

At Farmingdale State College, $100,000 will go towards a STEM Diversity Roundtable and Center, focusing on bringing STEM education to an underrepresented population by developing a network with the Brookhaven National Laboratory Portal to Discovery to connect people, policies, programs and partnerships with like-minded initiatives in other states.

The 66 other projects include proposals from villages, towns and private businesses. Long Island came in third for the most funding received, with the Central New York Regional Council's plan receiving the most with $103.7 million followed by the North Country Regional with $103.2 million.