
Governor Cuomo Unveils Design for New Finger Lakes Welcome Center
Welcome Center Will Open in Geneva in Spring 2018 - Renderings Available HereProject Complements “Finger Lakes Forward” – The Region’s Successful Blueprint to Grow the Economy and Create New Opportunities
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today unveiled renderings of the new Finger Lakes
Welcome Center in Geneva, Ontario County. The Welcome Center, one of 10
being built throughout the state, advances the Governor’s commitment
to continue growing the tourism industry statewide by promoting local
attractions, foods, craft beverages and other destinations. Work on the
Finger Lakes Welcome Center is expected to begin after Labor Day and be
open to visitors next spring. The Governor unveiled the designs in a PowerPoint
presentation available
here.
“The Finger Lakes Welcome Center will be a fantastic gateway to
the region, introducing visitors to the natural beauty and vibrant towns
and cities of the Finger Lakes,"
Governor Cuomo said. "Our investments in tourism allow us to showcase our finest assets,
attract residents and visitors alike, and drive local economies."
The facility will be built at the site where the current Geneva Visitors
Center now stands at 35 Lakefront Drive.Funding for the regional welcome
centers was included in the FY 2018 New York State budget.
The Finger Lakes Welcome Center Will Feature:
- I Love NY Kiosks with videos and directions to the Finger Lakes renowned tourism destinations.
- A Taste NY market showcasing local food, wine, beer, cider and spirits sourced from across the Finger Lakes.
- Children's playground, electric vehicle charging stations and a farmers' market
The State has partnered with the New York Wine & Culinary Center,
a premier attraction in the Finger Lakes that showcases New York’s
dynamic and diverse agriculture, food and beverage industries through
its classes, events, and farm-to-table restaurant, to help design the
Finger Lakes Welcome Center. The NYWCC's highest quality standards
in the agriculture, food and hospitality industries will ensure the new
Welcome Center celebrates New York's best locally sourced craft beverages
and foods and is an engaging and exciting destination for visitors. More
information about NYWCC is available here:
https://www.nywcc.com/.
The Finger Lakes Welcome Center will be a fantastic gateway to the region, introducing visitors to the natural beauty and vibrant towns and cities of the Finger Lakes.
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “This investment in downtown Geneva will transform the current waterfront
facility into a regional Welcome Center that will attract even more visitors
while highlighting a wide range of destinations, products and local businesses
that call the Finger Lakes home. This new facility builds upon Governor
Cuomo’s unprecedented support for and investment in tourism, which
is leading to a record number of visitors and historic economic impact
in New York State.”
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, "The Finger Lakes is one of our largest agricultural regions in the
State, growing a wide array of crops and specializing in the production
of wine, yogurt, cheese and many other food and beverages. The Governor's
vision for the Finger Lakes Welcome Center and the Taste NY market will
highlight the area's strengths in agriculture and promote its many
unique agribusinesses and agritourism destinations."
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Matthew J. Driscoll said, “Governor Cuomo is leading the way on transportation improvements
across New York State. This new Finger Lakes Welcome Center is one more
way we are enhancing safety and mobility while supporting economic growth
and promoting all the things that make this region and New York State
great.”
Senator Pamela Helming said, "This new, state-of-the-art welcome center will help promote our
local businesses and tourist destinations throughout the Finger Lakes
region. The growing focus and new investments in our region’s agricultural
and tourism industries builds on the progress we have made over the last
few years, and will help attract new businesses and families to the area.
I want to thank Governor Cuomo, the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development
Council, Geneva Mayor Ron Alcock, City Manager Matt Horn and the Geneva
City Council for their commitment to investing in our region."
Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb said, “It is important that we continue to make investments that promote
the unmatched beauty, natural resources and world-class attractions of
the Finger Lakes Region. The new welcome center will highlight the area’s
unique natural landscape and encourage more visitors to experience all
that the Finger Lakes has to offer. I look forward to the new welcome
center’s construction and am eager to watch our region continue
to thrive.”
Geneva Mayor Ron Alcock said, “Governor Cuomo’s devotion to moving the Finger Lakes forward
is commendable. Our upstate communities, especially Geneva are rich with
history, commerce, culture and untapped natural beauty. Showcasing and
improving our regional splendor with the new Welcome Center will continue
to attract many visitors and promote economic growth.”
Geneva City Manager Matt Horn said, "Geneva’s new Welcome Center will be an ideal gateway to the
great Finger Lakes. Our communities attract many visitors each year and
this Welcome Center will continue to enhance this, while supporting economic
development. Governor Cuomo and the Regional Economic Development Council
have secured a bright future for the Finger Lakes and have done an excellent
job of showcasing all of the regional wonder.”
NYWCC President Ginny Clark said, “We are very excited to provide our assistance in the design of
the new Finger Lakes Welcome Center that will help shine the spotlight
on the region’s diverse agricultural offerings and must-see tourism
destinations. The New York Wine and Culinary Center was built with a dedication
to the promotion of New York’s agriculture, tourism, and beverage
industries and we are honored to have been a part of the design team to
ensure that the Welcome Center reflects and showcases the very best of
the Finger Lakes.”
Last October, Governor Cuomo announced the grand opening of the Long Island
Welcome Center in Dix Hills, Suffolk County. Since then, the New York
City Welcome Center has opened in the Javits Center in Manhattan, and
the Mohawk Valley Welcome Center is also open for business at Lock E-13,
between Fultonville and Canajoharie along the New York State Thruway.
Since taking office 2011, Governor Cuomo has made unprecedented investments
in the tourism industry throughout New York State, leading to historic
levels of visitors and direct spending. In 2016, New York welcomed a record
239 million visitors who spent nearly $65 billion, generating a total
economic impact of more than $100 billion for the third straight year.
Additionally, tourism remains the state’s fourth largest employer,
supporting more than 914,000 jobs annually.
Accelerating Finger Lakes Forward
Today’s announcement complements “Finger Lakes Forward,”
the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic
growth and community development. The State has already invested more
than $3.4 billion in the region since 2012 to lay the groundwork for the
plan – investing in key industries including photonics, agricultureý
and food production, and advanced manufacturing. Today, unemployment is
down to the lowest levels since before the Great Recession; personal and
corporate income taxes are down; and businesses are choosing places like
Rochester, Batavia and Canandaigua as a destination to grow and invest in.
Now, the region is accelerating Finger Lakes Forward with a $500 million
State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, announced
by Governor Cuomo in December 2015. The State’s $500 million investment
will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion –
and the region’s plan, as submitted, projects up to 8,200 new jobs.
More information is available
here.