Governor Cuomo Announces 20 Finalists Selected for Round Two of the $3 Million Grow-NY Global Food and Agriculture Business Competition
More Than 260 Startups from 27 Countries Applied to Compete in Innovative Mentoring Program
The Food and Agriculture Industry Competition is Funded through Upstate Revitalization Initiatives - CNY Rising, Finger Lakes Forward and Southern Tier Soaring - Regional Comprehensive Strategies Aimed at Revitalizing Communities and Growing the Economy
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the 20 finalists selected to participate in round two of Grow-NY, a food innovation and agriculture technology business challenge focused on enhancing the emerging food, beverage and agriculture innovation cluster in Central New York, the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions. Finalists were chosen from a field of over 260 startups that applied to be part of the initiative. The Grow-NY region includes a broad 22-county swath that includes Upstate New York's farming community as well as several major urban centers, including Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca and Binghamton. Cornell University's Center for Regional Economic Advancement is administering the competition and New York State is providing funding for the Grow-NY competition through the Governor's Upstate Revitalization Initiative connected with the three regions - CNY Rising, Finger Lakes Forward and Southern Tier Soaring.
Leep Foods has been selected as a finalist in the international 2020 competition.
"New York State is committed to supporting our world-renowned food and agricultural industry," Governor Cuomo said. "Once again, the Grow-NY competition has attracted a group of diverse, innovative entrepreneurs who are ready to focus on finding new, innovative ways to further transform this critical industry. It is through targeted efforts like Grow-NY that we will continue to bolster these regional economies, fostering statewide growth as we work to build back better."