The Finger Lakes, the Southern Tier and central New York have each won $500 million in state funds as part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's upstate economic development competition.
The funding was announced Thursday. The revitalization contest pitted seven regions against each other for $1.5 billion. The competition was quickly dubbed Cuomo's "Hunger Games" when it was announced.
Central New York will invest its prize into high-tech manufacturing and logistics and aerial drone research.
The Finger Lakes' plan includes investments in photonics, other high-tech industries and workforce development.
The Southern Tier plans to use the money to spur tourism and manufacturing.
All three winners also plan investments in agribusiness.
The prize money comes on top of $750 million in regular economic development funding divided throughout the state.
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