Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the New York Department of Economic Development is set to receive $100,000 in Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) funding to increase export sales from Appalachian New York companies. The project is expected to help stimulate $8.8 million in new export sales and help create or retain 160 jobs. Companies in Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, and Tompkins will be eligible for the technical assistance. In August, Senator Gillibrand brought federal co-chair of the ARC, Earl F. Gohl, to New York to hear directly from local business and community leaders.
“This is a critical investment for upstate New York’s economy,” Senator Gillibrand said. “This grant will help to stimulate growth across several industries that are so important to our state. The jobs created and retained by this grant will undoubtedly bring tremendous benefit to our communities.”
“This program will provide qualified small and mid-sized businesses in New York’s 14 ARC counties with export opportunities in global markets including Asia, Africa and Latin America,” said Secretary of State Cesar Perales, whose Department manages the ARC program. “The Department of State is pleased to work with our partners to leverage federal funds to expand export assistance to these five manufacturing sectors of Appalachian New York.”
The $100,000 federal investment will be matched by $160,943 from New York State and participating firms. The funding will provide technical assistance for companies with export potential in wine and foods, medical-biotech, mining equipment, consulting engineering, and cleantech industries. Specifically, this program will help companies prepare and develop for new markets, including data acquisition and development, market assessment and research, developing and deploying marketing materials, development of linkages to major corporate exporters to increase indirect exports, recruitment for and participation in overseas export events, and training activities.
ARC is a regional economic development agency that helps grow local economies by improving water and sewer systems, increasing school readiness, expanding access to health care, investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, assisting local communities with strategic planning, and providing technical and managerial assistance to emerging businesses. New York is one of 13 states covered by ARC, with 14 counties qualifying for their programs. Since 2006 in New York, more than $12.9 million in ARC funds have helped leverage about $86.9 million in private investment, helping create or retain over 2,100 jobs.