Seven upstate New York regions, including the North Country, will have a chance to compete for $1.5 billion in economic development funding under Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.

This competition will replicate the Buffalo Billion initiative, a program that focused on jumpstarting the economy of the entire Western New York region.

The seven regions eligible to compete for one of three $500 million upstate revitalization funds: Mid-Hudson, Capital Region, Mohawk Valley, Central New York, North Country, Southern Tier and Finger Lakes.

The proposed competition uses Buffalo Billion’s model to “deliver results and drive community revitalization, job growth, and population sustainability across upstate New York.

According Gov. Cuomo, projects exhibiting region-wide impact will be made a priority and should focus on strengthening critical infrastructure, revitalizing communities, bolstering workforce development, growing tourism, and improving quality of life.

Cuomo says competition will combine the expertise and structure of the Regional Economic Development Councils with what the governor calls successful elements of Western New York’s Buffalo Billion “to develop regional investment plans that identify existing assets, highlight needs and recommend areas of opportunity.”

Gov. Cuomo today also announced the appointment of Richard Tobe, currently Deputy Erie County Executive, to serve as Director of Upstate Revitalization and lead the efforts of the competition.

The competition and process for winning upstate revitalization funds will be guided by a five-member Strategic Plan Review Committee comprised of Bruce Katz, Brookings Institution; Marc Morial, President; National Urban League; Cesar Perales, New York Secretary of State; Susan Christopherson, Professor and Chair of City and Regional Planning, Cornell University; RoAnn Destito, Commissioner, Office of General Services.

Between now and April, regions will plan and engage parties interested in participating in the competition, which will formally launch on April 15. Submissions will be due July 1st and winners will be announced in the fall.