Southern Tier REDC Awards $64.4M for Regional Economic Development Projects

Southern Tier Region Awards $64.4 Million for 48+ Economic Development Projects

Southern Tier Region, New York — The Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) announced $64.4 million in state funding for 48+ economic development, infrastructure, and housing projects across the four-county Southern Tier region, according to Empire State Development's announcement published December 30, 2025. The funding is part of Governor Hochul's broader 2025 Regional Economic Development Council initiative, which allocated over $463 million statewide to support regional priorities.

Southern Tier REDC Funding Overview

The Southern Tier region—comprised of Broome, Chemung, Tioga, and Steuben counties—received $64.4 million in economic development funding through the consolidated funding process that aligns state agency resources behind regionally identified priorities. The 48+ projects receiving awards reflect the region's focus on:

• Infrastructure modernization (water, sewer, transportation, utilities)
• Housing supply expansion (affordable housing, residential development)
• Workforce development (education, training, skills programs)
• Small business and entrepreneurship (startup support, business development)
• Environmental resilience (brownfield cleanup, climate adaptation, sustainability)
• Revitalization and heritage preservation (downtown revitalization, historic restoration)

Southern Tier Economic Development Strategy

The Southern Tier region has positioned itself as an economic development priority area within New York State. The region faces typical challenges facing rural and smaller urban areas: aging infrastructure, population migration to larger metro areas, and the need to diversify an economic base historically dependent on manufacturing.

The $64.4 million award reflects state recognition that targeted investment in regional infrastructure and business development can address these challenges. By supporting water and sewer infrastructure improvements, the state removes bottlenecks preventing residential development. By funding workforce training programs, the state supports job creation and employee skill matching. By supporting downtown revitalization and business development, the state catalyzes private investment and community growth.

Project Categories and Examples

Housing-Enabling Infrastructure

Multiple Southern Tier projects in the 2025 REDC awards focus on water and sewer infrastructure that enables new residential development. These projects typically involve extending water lines, upgrading treatment capacity, or modernizing aging sewer systems. By removing infrastructure constraints, these investments unlock residential development that increases local housing supply and tax base.

Examples of housing-enabling infrastructure projects across the Southern Tier region include:

• Sewer system expansions in smaller municipalities enabling 100+ unit housing developments
• Water line extensions supporting residential growth in semi-rural communities
• Treatment plant upgrades increasing capacity for regional growth

Workforce Development and Education

The Southern Tier REDC awards include support for workforce training programs aligned with regional industry needs. These programs provide:

• Technical training in manufacturing, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and skilled trades
• Healthcare training programs supporting regional health system employment needs
• Agriculture and food production training for agribusiness
• Digital skills and information technology training for emerging industries

Downtown Revitalization and Commercial Development

The REDC awards support downtown revitalization initiatives in Binghamton, Endicott, Corning, and other Southern Tier communities. Projects include:

• Façade improvement programs encouraging private investment in storefronts
• Public realm improvements including streetscaping, lighting, and pedestrian infrastructure
• Heritage site preservation supporting cultural tourism and community identity
• Mixed-use development projects combining housing, retail, and office space in downtown areas

Environmental Remediation and Sustainability

The Southern Tier region has undertaken significant environmental remediation through brownfield cleanup programs. The REDC awards support:

• Brownfield remediation enabling reuse of contaminated industrial sites
• Clean energy infrastructure development supporting renewable energy goals
• Stormwater management improvements addressing environmental and flood resilience
• Environmental restoration projects supporting ecological health

Statewide REDC Program Overview

Governor Hochul's 2025 REDC awards totaled $463 million statewide, distributed among ten regional councils across New York. The Southern Tier's $64.4 million award represents approximately 14% of the statewide total, reflecting the region's size and number of eligible projects.

Since the REDC initiative began in 2006, the program has awarded over $8 billion to more than 10,000 projects statewide. The program's track record demonstrates sustained state commitment to regional economic development using a bottom-up approach where regions identify priorities rather than state government imposing them centrally.

Economic Impact and Construction Activity

For the Southern Tier construction and development industry, the $64.4 million REDC awards represent a significant project pipeline across multiple categories:

• Infrastructure Projects: Water, sewer, transportation, utilities work providing employment for skilled trades and contractors
• Construction Activity: Housing, mixed-use, and commercial projects generating contractor demand and employment
• Facility Development: Education, training, and workforce facilities requiring construction investment
• Environmental Work: Brownfield remediation and site preparation supporting development

The 48+ projects funded through this REDC round will generate construction and development activity throughout 2026 and beyond, supporting regional employment in skilled trades and project management.

Regional Priorities and Strategic Focus

The Southern Tier REDC has identified key strategic priorities that guide funding decisions:

• Diverse Economic Base: Support industries beyond traditional manufacturing, including healthcare, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and emerging technologies
• Quality of Life: Invest in amenities, cultural assets, and community infrastructure that attract and retain residents and workers
• Workforce Development: Align training and education with current and future job opportunities
• Infrastructure Modernization: Upgrade aging systems to support growth and quality of life
• Environmental Stewardship: Address legacy environmental challenges while supporting sustainability

Looking Ahead for the Southern Tier

With $64.4 million in REDC funding now allocated, Southern Tier communities, organizations, and businesses will advance projects over 2026 and beyond. Housing-enabling infrastructure projects will facilitate residential development. Downtown revitalization initiatives will attract private investment. Workforce programs will connect residents with job opportunities. Environmental remediation will unlock development on underutilized sites.

For construction professionals and developers in the Southern Tier, these REDC awards signal sustained state investment in regional economic development. The diversity of project types—infrastructure, housing, commercial, environmental, workforce—creates opportunities across the construction and development spectrum.

Westside Construction Group brings extensive expertise in regional economic development projects. With 28+ years of experience in infrastructure, residential, commercial, and specialized facility construction across Upstate New York, WCG understands the full scope of projects supported by REDC funding. For developers, municipalities, and organizations planning projects in the Southern Tier or across Upstate New York, WCG offers comprehensive services from pre-construction planning through project completion. Contact WCG: buildwcg.com