NYS Drone usage takes off
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo
recently announced that New
York’s ongoing investment in
the growing Unmanned Aircraft
Systems industry in Central
New York and the Mohawk
Valley is expected to create at
least 200 local jobs and $39.5
million in private investments.
Six companies—including
two international fi rms—
have committed to creating
opportunities in both regions
following the state’s $30
million investment to support
and develop the nation’s fi rstof
its-kind 50-mile fl ight
traffi c management system
located between Syracuse and
Griffi ss International Airport
in Rome.
“New York’s investment in
the unmanned aerial systems
industry has transformed
Central New York and the
Mohawk Valley into global
leaders in this cutting-edge
technology, creating jobs and
boosting local economies,”
Governor Cuomo said. “We
will continue to support these
innovative companies as they
help to grow the drone corridor
Cuomo rewards development
and strengthen these regions
for generations to come.”
18 AIRPORT V OICE, FEBRUARY 2019
Since 2015, New York State
has established itself as the
nation’s premiere destination
for drones and businesses at
the forefront of innovation.
The state has invested over
$40 million to position itself
to become the nation’s drone
capital, including funding for
the 50-mile “drone highway”
and GENIUS NY. This
signifi cant investment has
pioneered the development of
New York’s drone industry.
The six companies include:
AutoModality, Inc. Round
one winner has committed
to creating a location
in Syracuse targeting
infrastructure inspections as
it pertains to UAS industry
and commercialization of
the company’s Perceptive
Navigation drone technology
Total Project Cost:
$16 Million/Total State
Investment: $2 Million ($500K
in CNY Rising Upstate
Revitalization Initiative
Funding, $1 Million in
Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit
Program. $500,000 from an
ESD funded program - UAS
Central Job Fund.)
Northeast Information
Discovery, Inc. - The cyber
security research and
development enterprise will
construct and equip a new
facility in Canastota, Madison
County which will be home to
state-of-the-art laboratories.
Total Project Cost: Close to
$1 million.
Total State Investment
$974,000. ($200,000 in Regional
Council Capital Fund funding,
$90,000 in Excelsior Benefi ts,
and $684,000 from an ESD
funded program -UAS Central
Job Fund)
Thales USA, Inc. - One
of Europe’s biggest defense
contractors, Thales will
establish a UAS center of
excellence in Central New
York. The company will have a
presence in both the Mohawk
Valley and Central New York.
Total Project Cost: A little
more than $4.6 Million/Total
State Investment: $1.5 ($1
Million through Excelsior Jobs
Tax Credit Program; $500,000
(from an ESD funded program
-UAS Central Job Fund.)
Microdrones - The
company, which provides
aircraft, services and solution
for a wide range of drone
applications is taking part
in START-UP NY program
partnership with Mohawk
Valley Community College
in an effort to have access
to facilities and resources
and MVCC students gain
internships, workforce
development and career
opportunities. They have
committed to creating up
to four jobs but has already
created a total of seven jobs in
the region.
Assured Information
Security, Inc. - A startup
company that grew out of the
Air Force Research Lab to
one of the fastest growing tech
fi rms in Central New York and
the Mohawk Valley. AIS will
launch a division focused on
the cybersecurity of unmanned
systems. 12 new jobs.
Total Project Cost: $900,000/
Total State Investment: $240,000
(from an ESD funded program-
UAS Central Job Fund.)
Unifl y - Based in Belgium,
and in partnership with
Northeast UAS Airspace
Integration Research Alliance
(NUAIR Alliance) and Griffi ss
International Airport, the
company will create up to 39
new jobs as it establishes its
North American Headquarters
in Central New York to deploy
its software platform and
support traffi c management
testing.
Total Project Cost: $10
Million in Salaries over fi ve
years.
Total State Investment:
$1.5 million from (an ESD
funded program -UAS Central
Job Fund.)
In addition, the state
has committed funding to
creating a $7 million “Sky
Dome” at Griffi ss to help
draw companies to the
region who are dedicated
to locating operations at
the airport facility. The
total state investment is a
$1.4 million grant through
the Consolidated Funding
Application process.
DRONE RESEARCH AND USAGE TO INCREASE IN NYS UNDER GOV. CUOMO