Cuomo saved his grandest North Country announcement for last, unveiling Wednesday afternoon a plan to infuse the Plattsburgh International Airport with $38 million through a second round of the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition. The governor describes it as a jump-start to the airport’s $43 million overhaul as a “North Country aviation gateway.”

Cuomo touts that the former Air Force facility will become a “state-of-the-art transportation and economic development hub,” creating 825 construction jobs as well.

In his first week serving as assemblyman for state District 115, which stretches from Plattsburgh to Tupper Lake, Billy Jones said he was elated about the news and credited collaborative work by Clinton County officials, the North Country Chamber of Commerce, and the Clinton County Development Corporation to secure the governor’s award.

“This is going to bring economic prosperity to the North Country,” said Jones (D-Chateaugay). “It’s going to create construction jobs, 60 permanent airport jobs, and that is great for our region’s success.

Renderings of a cafe are shown as part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State plan to invest $38 million into the Plattsburgh International Airport. (Image courtesy of the governor’s office)

“Having a strong, viable airport can attract businesses here, can attract conferences,” Jones continued. “And that will certainly trickle down into other businesses, in which it will create jobs and opportunities for the people of the North Country.”

State Sen. Betty Little, R-Queensbury, also expressed excitement for the airport improvements and singled out how customs will be handled more efficiently – this is promoted as Montreal’s southern airport – there will be more space for planes, and jobs will be created within and outside of the airport.

“It creates jobs in Plattsburgh and the surrounding area and brings more people to the area, and hopefully it will get people to move here,” Little said. “We need more people living here full time.”

Jim McKenna, CEO of the Lake Placid-based Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, attended the State of the State speech in Albany on Wednesday, as did Barb Rice and Randy Preston, new chairs of the Franklin and Essex County boards respectively.

McKenna said the airport improvements would help Plattsburgh to have a “destination airport” that, along with the Adirondack Regional Airport in Lake Clear, would help to bring in more international events and conferences to the Tri-Lakes region.

Renderings of a Clinton County Transit Terminal are shown as part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State plan to invest $38 million into the Plattsburgh International Airport. (Image courtesy of the governor’s office)

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Ride sharing

Throughout his presentation in Albany on Wednesday, Cuomo repeatedly flashed the same slide on the screen. It read: “Upstate matters!”

At the heart of the governor’s proposals this year to benefit upstate regions like the North Country is to expand ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft beyond New York City.

Cuomo hailed ride sharing services as a positive form of transportation with flexible job opportunities for New Yorkers. Both are notions Little agrees with. The senator, who said she’s used Uber in New York City and enjoyed it, supports the proposal provided the right oversight, compliance and consumer protections are ensured.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks Wednesday during his final State of the State address in Albany. (Photo courtesy of the governor's office)

“It might be a good way for some people to make some extra money, to get certified and be able to be a driver, because they can be part-time jobs and full-time jobs as well,” Little said. “I’m interested in looking at security requirements and background checks, and don’t want to see it taxed but do want to see it become available.”

In Lake Placid, a couple of restaurant owners aren’t sure how much ride sharing services such as Uber may be needed in the region. Lisa Grigoriadis, owner of Lisa G’s restaurant at the corner of Station Street and Sentinel Road, said ridesharing may only be useful in the village when big events such as the annual Ironman triathlon are in town.

Kelsey Torrance-Cassidy, brewery manager at Great Adirondack Steak and Seafood and Brewery, also said she wasn’t sure if it is an immediate need in the area, though she did add that customers have asked if ride sharing is available in Lake Placid.

“During really busy times it might be a good opportunity to get people around, when town is packed out with very few cabs available,” she said. “During the lacrosse tournament and the horse show weekends, it might be nice to give people the option.”

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Empire State Bike Trail

Another Cuomo transportation proposal won’t come through the heart of the Tri-Lakes region, rather skirting the Adirondacks up the Route 9 corridor in the Champlain Valley. But his proposed completion of a new 750-mile paved bike trail network that will connect Lake Erie to the Capital Region and the New York City harbor to Quebec could have a positive impact on the region.

The statewide trail, which would be entirely paved and have a smartphone application, would connect with State Bike Route 9 through Essex County towns such as Westport, utilizing roadways along Lake Champlain to the Canadian border.

Speaking Wednesday evening at the cyclery shop he owns in Lake Placid, Kenny Boettger of Placid Planet Bicycles said he hadn’t heard of the trail concept but said it was “awesome.”

“I would like to see more of the details, but anything he wants to promote bicycle-based tourism is great,” Boettger said. “It’s a very active clientele, and there are people who really want to do tours like that, and they are not afraid to spend money, which is great.”

He said the Olympic Region is becoming a hub for “credit card touring” — cyclists who travel and stay in lodging establishments and eat in restaurants. He said the Olympic Region is becoming a hub for that.

“This area is on a lot of people’s radar with cross-country riding, long rides, with the Olympic connection,” he said. Boettger also cited Cycle Adirondacks planning its annual tour, as an example of that.

McKenna also complimented the Empire State Bike Trail proposal and said it was at the core of a speech Wednesday where, of any topic, the governor seemed to speak more about tourism efforts than any other — a good sign for the North Country.

“ROOST represents along the Lake Champlain region and there is a lot of bike activity there now,” McKenna said. “The trail going up there will only help that.”