New York wiring money to IT
- By Eric Kulisch
- Dec 10, 2000
New York is continuing its full-court press to attract high-tech businesses
to the state by offering developers up to $75,000 each to help install wiring
in existing commercial buildings.
Companies and organizations have until Jan. 15 to tap the $1 million
committed to the Wired Building initiative. Grants, which must be matched
by the applicant, will be awarded by March.
The initiative, first outlined by Gov. George Pataki in his 2000 State
of the State address, is designed to make wired workspace more affordable
for small IT businesses.
Empire State Development, the state's
economic development authority, will select proposals that meet IT business
needs, according to spokesman Eric Mangan. Such needs include hardware-hosting
facilities and business incubators where start-up companies share telecommunications
infrastructure until they can expand and relocate.
Grant money can be used for projects related to wiring buildings, such
as upgrading electrical, temperature control and security systems. Grants
also will cover costs associated with upgrading existing lines to high-speed
Internet connections.
Eligible applicants include real estate developers, local economic development
authorities, educational institutions and public/private partnerships.