CHENANGO COUNTY – Chenango County is in the running to benefit from the fourth round of the New York State Regional Economic Development Council initiative that was officially launched on Monday.

Round four of the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) initiative will provide up to $750 million in state funding and tax incentives for business and community projects that boost local economy, investment opportunities and job growth, making communities throughout the state more viable.

More than $2 billion has been allocated to the 10 different Economic Development Councils in the state through the previous three rounds of REDC funding. The Southern Tier Region alone – which encompasses Chenango, Broome, Delaware, Tioga, Tompkins, Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben counties – has received more than $222 million to date.

In 2013, $81.9 million was awarded to the REDC in the Southern Tier, $1 million of which went to eight separate projects in Chenango County. Proposed projects in the county included $266,416 to the Chenango ARC for renovations of three group homes and five supportive housing apartments; $150,000 to Development Chenango for rehabilitation of two properties in the City of Norwich; $100,000 to the Family Enrichment Network for startup of a child care center; and $500,000 to Save the Sherburne Inn Restoration Project for building renovations.

Steve Craig, Commerce Chenango President and county representative on the Southern Tier REDC, said the challenge each year is finding a viable project in the county. When a project is presented, funding might be obtained through a consolidated funding application which the state will begin accepting on Thursday.