Larry Rulison in the Albany Times-Union reports that the Finger Lakes region, the Southern Tier area, and Central New York each won one of the $500 million Upstate Revitalization Awards announced Dec. 10. Dubbed by critics as Governor Andrew Cuomo's "Hunger Games," in the contest between regions for tax dollars the Capitol Region and Hudson Valley area lost to the competition. The Capital Region did get a consolation prize of $98.1 million for economic development, and the Mid-Hudson region also got a $90.4 million consolation prize. Among the local winners, in Greene County, the American Dance Institute was awarded $500,000 to convert the old Dunn’s Builders and Supply complex along the Catskill Creek. The institute is relocating its headquarters from Baltimore to Catskill. The Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill will receive $105,000 to assist with renovations and upgrades to its performing arts space. Support also went to the county's Skywalk Project, a new walking-and-exercise trail at the Conine Field Recreation Complex between Windham and Hunter mountains, and a community and waterfront revitalization project in Tannersville. In Columbia County, Redburn Development Companies received funding for the conversation of the former Kaz warehouse, now the Stageworks theater space, into the Hudson Hotel. The Hudson Opera House was awarded $1.3 million for a number of projects related to the ongoing renovation of the historic building. And the city was granted $248,000 to replace catch basins with trees on upper Union St. The green infrastructure project will use stormwater tree planters to intercept rainfall and prevent it from entering the combined sewer system. Approximately 15 catch basins will be replaced with planters as part of this pilot program.

Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.