LI projects' advocates cheer state grants

The region was among four in New York awarded more than $100 million each in state aid for initiatives deemed economic and job engines.

In total, 66 Long Island projects received $101.6 million, to be allocated before the end of the fiscal year in March.

Among the largest grants were millions toward sewer improvements as part of the Hempstead Village downtown revitalization, transit plaza infrastructure for the Wyandanch Rising development, and money to fund the design phase of a sewage treatment plant for the Ronkonkoma Hub project.

For Hempstead, Mayor Wayne Hall said the village's $5 million in state aid would help create jobs while working to improve the village's aging infrastructure, including the sewer system. "This is going to help Hempstead and the region. It is going to create jobs," Hall said. "Hempstead is on the right track."

"This is a win," Lesko said, noting that the town Thursday recommended a master developer for the project.

Stanley served on the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, which recommended to the state which projects deserved funding. He said he abstained from votes related to his university.

Other funded science projects included Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, which received $2 million for an advanced drug testing facility linked to its cancer research.

"The injection of state economic development funds to Long Island is well deserved and will help catalyze our growing research cluster, particularly in the area of biomedicine," said lab president Dr. Bruce Stillman.