Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the completion of a traffic management drone corridor in central New York on Tuesday.

The corridor runs 50 miles from Syracuse to Rome, NY. The drone corridor will help companies test drone platforms and tracking technology. It is the first of its kind in the nation and will support the use of drone technology in industries, such as agriculture, transportation and public safety.

Cuomo announced the expansion of The Tech Garden in downtown Syracuse to host the GENIUS NY competition for drones and unmanned systems Tuesday at Syracuse Hancock International Airport. The competition is entering its fourth round, according to the press release.

The expansion of The Tech Garden, current home to CenterState CEO, includes adding two floors and a total of 46,000 square feet to the facility in order to host 100 resident members of the competition and 200 virtual members.

The Tech Garden’s expansion will anchor the Syracuse’s City Center Innovation Hub, a major part of the Syracuse Surge initiative, an economic growth and neighborhood revitalization strategy.

Empire State Development will give up to $12.5 million to the expansion project through the CNY Rising Upstate Revitalization Initiative, a long-term economic development plan launched by Cuomo in 2015.

The expansion of The Tech Garden is meant to attract industry innovators and support the “targeted Drone Zone,” which will include space dedicated to businesses in the unmanned systems industry that want to move to central New York.

New York state Sen. Rachel May said in a press release that the project will attract business and continue the “momentum of economic growth” in the region.

“It is exciting to see continued investment in Upstate New York,” May said.

The completion of the drone corridor solidifies central New York’s position as a “global leader” in the unmanned systems industry, said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. Walsh said the corridor is a step forward for the Syracuse Surge initiative.

The growth of the unmanned systems industry in central New York is “integral” to the CNY Rising Upstate Revitalization Initiative, said Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon. He said the Tech Garden’s expansion will support Syracuse Surge by drawing attention from innovators in the unmanned systems industry.

“Our region is truly establishing itself as the global hub for this innovative industry and growing the regional economy.” McMahon said in the release.

Published on November 13, 2019 at 12:00 am

Contact Natalie: nrrubiol@syr.edu