State extends building-aid deadline

State officials on Monday extended until 4 p.m. Tuesday the deadline for developers, governments and others to submit applications for a portion of $800 million that has been earmarked for building projects in 2011-12.

The website that applicants are supposed to use had been shut down briefly by an undisclosed technical problem. “We’ve extended the deadline out of an abundance of caution to ensure everyone has time to complete the application process,” said Austin Shafran, a spokesman for Empire State Development Corp.

This is first time a universal application has been used for state grants and tax credits. The move is part of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s initiative to streamline government services.

The projects will be judged on a point system with 20 percent awarded by a local council of 22 leaders from business and education that was appointed by Cuomo.

Allocation of the $1 billion in state aid will be announced by Cuomo in mid December.

-------------------
Visit newsday.com/biz to read more local business news.