Lt. Gov. Duffy sets course for state aid

After having New York's 10 regions compete last year for economic development dollars, state officials now want them to collaborate in boosting the economy, Lt. Gov. Robert J. Duffy said Tuesday in Farmingdale.

Like 2011, Long Island and the other regions will again vie for up to $1 billion in state tax credits and grants. But Duffy said priority would be given to building projects that involve more than one region and where disparate groups work together.

While there's going to be some competition for funding, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is "going to look for much more collaboration, teamwork and connecting these dots and relationships across the state," Duffy said at a meeting of the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council.

The council is one of 10 appointed by Cuomo last summer to develop five-year plans for creating jobs and securing aid for key projects. In December, Cuomo announced the Island was one of four winning regions; it received more than $100 million in aid.

Cooperation among the councils is expected to be discussed at the state Capitol on Monday, said local council co-vice chairman Kevin Law, who plans to be there. "Long Island benefits if the state is doing better economically."

Stuart Rabinowitz, the other co-vice chairman, said a couple of projects not recommended for state funding last year because they weren't Island-centric should now be reconsidered in light of Cuomo's directive.