Build Back Better Regional Challenge

CenterState CEO & Partners Advance in $100M Competition for Federal Economic Development Funds

CenterState CEO and a coalition of 57 public, private, nonprofit, academic and for-profit entities across Central New York and the Mohawk Valley joined together to submit a phase two application for the Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC), a central component of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s American Rescue Plan. This follows the region’s successful phase one application announced in October 2021.

These coalition partners proposed nine distinct and interconnected projects that would leverage a multi-million dollar private investment against a federal investment to advance opportunities in the region’s emerging “smart systems” cluster, while also integrating large-scale workforce development programs to ensure that regional growth is inclusive and equitable. Awards are expected to be announced in fall 2021.

This competitive application highlights the region’s unique strengths and assets that will enable it to help America innovate, re-shore, and develop critical advanced manufacturing and supply chain networks. Emphasis is placed on the semiconductor computer chip sector, aligning with federal efforts to re-shore advanced manufacturing supply chains critical to ensuring national security and resilience.

For more than a decade, coalition partners have been developing and advancing strategies that leverage strengths in sensing technologies to build a globally leading uncrewed aircraft systems industry. Through this proposal, partners will continue to advance smart systems projects to drive results through collaboration and targeted strategies. Cluster growth interventions are intentionally designed to drive equitable access to opportunity for all the region’s residents.