Local counties have submitted more than 50 economic development project applications to the state in hopes of getting funding for them.
The Empire State Development Corp. will consider the applications as the state prepares to award a second round of project grants.
Fulton, Montgomery and Hamilton counties are seeking part of $25 million available for this area.
In the first round of funding last year, the state awarded more than $13 million for economic development projects in the three counties under the state's new competitive economic development initiative.
Officials from the the three counties - mostly consisting of legislators, economic development officials and planners - had until June 8 to submit what they think are "priority" projects that should be funded in the second round.
Municipalities, not-for-profits, businesses and other eligible organizations still can apply online. Applications are due to the state by 4 p.m. July 16.
The state will announce awards this fall.
The counties are not making public the proposed "priority" projects at this time, although local officials say the state eventually will make those applications public.
"We submitted 10 priority applications," Fulton County Center for Regional Growth President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Reese said today.
He said a "committee" consisting of the CGR, county Planning Director James Mraz and county supervisors studied the project ideas closely before submitting the priority applications.
The Montgomery County Industrial Development Agency submitted more than 30 applications for "priority" economic development projects from that county.
IDA Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Rose told agency members last week that "some were very small." he said.
He said projects submitted range from a municipal water and sewer initiative to business development.
"There are potentially 10 to 11 good projects," he said.
Rose said the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council set up a steering committee to review projects.
The IDA official said upcoming meetings will be scheduled to prioritize applications further.
"Obviously, the regional council will have the final say," Rose said.
The state had more money available for projects in 2011, when it awarded the counties of the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council a total of about $60 million. This year, Rose said only about $25 million will be available to council counties.
"The funding seems to be a little tighter this time," Rose said.
The Hamilton County Community Development & Tourism office in Lake Pleasant submitted 14 applications for priority projects, an official said today.
Michael Anich can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com.