Last summer, when Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the creation of ten new regional economic development councils, his emphasis was on competition.
Each region was charged with developing a five-year strategic economic development plan, which would then compete against the other plans for a billion-dollar pool of state funds.
But as he announced the awards today in Albany, which totaled $785.5 million, it was apparent that everyone was a winner.
Four of the councils--Western New York, Central New York, Long Island and the North Country--took home the prize of 'Best Plan' and were each awarded more than $100 million.