ALBANY COUNTY — Albany County has entered into an agreement to purchase the former Gateway Sports Complex facility in the Spindle City, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy announced in a news release issued after his recent State of the County address at the MVP Arena.
Before the sports complex became Gateway Sports Complex it was the Cohoes Community Center and is located at 22 Remsen St. #40.
McCoy, a Democrat, said the purchase of the sports facility will allow the county to enhance the Life Guard Certification program and establish a new “Learn to Swim” program, among other important initiatives. Additionally, it was announced that Albany County will build a state-of-the-art sports complex allowing for new recreation opportunities regardless of weather, including basketball, volleyball, baseball, golf, soccer, football, and indoor walking/running track. According to the release, both of these facilities will be available to the public at no cost.
“Our strength is measured by the health of us, as a community, as people, and as a government. Indeed, the health of one is indelibly intertwined with the health of the whole,” McCoy said in the news release. “And our health is not solitary, but rather compounded and inclusive of our physical health, mental health, social health, and financial health. Here in Albany County, we have broken down walls, broken down barriers and broken-down silos to ease access to government services, to stimulate economic growth, and to strengthen our communities.”
“I have made access to health and recreation a cornerstone of my administration,” McCoy added. “These projects are significant as they represent our commitment to the wellness needs of our community. Recreation should not only be available to those with deeper pockets. For the sake of our entire community, our youth, our seniors, and our vulnerable population, we must provide opportunities regardless of income.”
Additionally, to promote economic development and attract future projects, the release said the Albany County Department of Economic Development, Conservation and Planning, and the Advance Albany County Alliance are developing two major “shovel-ready” sites near the Albany County International Airport.
One is the Ann Lee Home/Heritage Park site and the other is the former Al Tech Steel site in Watervliet. These are prime locations for future development in strategic industries like nanotechnology, life sciences, and renewable energy.
McCoy said Albany County is using funds provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to make strategic investments in the community to help support these economic development initiatives. In addition to job creation, the county executive said he working to create a pipeline of talent in the county. More than $2.2 million has been awarded to 15 organizations that will expand job training and career advancement programs and support wrap-around services in the county, he noted.
“This targeted funding will result in hundreds of new training opportunities in the County that will help meet the workforce needs of high-demand industries like health care and manufacturing,” McCoy said. “We will ensure that workers have access to the technical training and education they need to succeed in this ever-changing labor market.”
McCoy also made a commitment of $1.5 million to the arts through these same ARPA funds. The arts were one of the hardest-hit industries during the pandemic, the release said, and have yet to make a full recovery.
“We are committed to continuing funding for arts programs, particularly ones that engage our youth and open their eyes, ears, and hearts to the expression inside of them,” said McCoy.
The county executive said the county also continues to combat food insecurity in the region, announcing a commitment of $250,000 in this year’s county budget to support the Food Bank of Northeastern New York. This growing health concern has only gotten worse since the pandemic and this investment emphasizes the importance of tackling the root causes behind this complex problem, the release said.
“Here in Albany County, we are taking action, but there is more to do. We must work collaboratively, as a county, as a state, and as a country to address systemic problems that are the root causes of hunger and food insecurities, including underemployment, family and housing instability, inflation, and generational discrimination,” McCoy said. “We have worked with the United Way, and its CEO Peter Gannon and the Food Bank of Northeastern New York, as well as nearly 60 food pantries and soup kitchens, to get healthy food to families within our neighborhoods that need it most.”
McCoy also noted how the county remains deeply committed to protecting the environment and unveiled the Responsible Paper Reduction Act (RPRA), a new County policy that aims to reduce paper use by County Departments.
“Cutting back on printing aligns with our efforts to combat climate change and will encourage innovation. Embracing digital alternatives not only reduces carbon emissions associated with paper production and disposal but also streamlines workflow processes, leading to cost savings and increased productivity. We will also use this as an opportunity to explore the newest technologies, including AI, making services more accessible, efficient, and user-friendly for residents,” McCoy said.
Albany County Legislator Frank Maruiello, a Republican in the Legislature’s minority, was also pleased with the state of the county but warned about failed policies at the state and federal levels.
“The fiscal state of Albany County is strong,” Frank Maruiello said in a statement sent after McCoy’s address. “Thanks to our responsible stewardship of tax dollars over the last several years, and a constructive partnership between the Legislature and executive, we are in a better position today than perhaps ever before as a County. We must not become complacent, however.
“We must not recklessly spend taxpayer dollars on questionable pet projects and programs. We must remain vigilant in the face of failed policies at the state and federal levels — whether it’s on taxes, public safety or immigration — and the threats they pose to County residents,” he added. “Moving forward, we must continue working on a bipartisan basis to better the lives of our constituents across Albany County. The communities we represent are counting on us to serve them and address cost-of-living, quality-of-life, and all the issues that matter most to hardworking taxpayers and families.”
The 2024 State of the County address may be read in its entirety at albanycounty.com/sotc.
