Budget cuts won't touch Midtown project

The economic outlook is getting worse and that's putting some extra pressures on the state budget. Earlier this week, Governor Eliot Spitzer dropped his revenue projections by $384 million. That means cuts to the budget, but he says that won't affect his plans to revitalize Upstate New York, and those plans include turning Midtown Plaza into PAETEC’s new headquarters.

“We will preserve the critical long-term investments and those investments are the billion dollar upstate fund and the 4 billion dollar endowment for higher ed,” Spitzer said.

The initiative still has to be approved by the state legislature, a process that will not be easy. But Spitzer's plans are getting a big boost from local leaders. In Rochester Wednesday morning, it was announced more than 300 business, labor and education officials have signed on in support of the funds for upstate.

"The determination is absolutely not to stop,” said Sandy Parker, Rochester Business Alliance President and CEO. “I think for the first time people in upstate realize the importance of getting together, launching a campaign like this and making themselves heard."

The coalition of supporters is still growing. Along with Spitzer, they hope their efforts will persuade both upstate and downstate legislators to say yes to the billion dollar plan.

“We need to muster the political fortitude the political strengths to go back to Albany to say pass the budget that includes the billion dollar fund,” Spitzer said. “It's necessary for Rochester, it’s necessary for Monroe County, and it’s necessary for upstate.”

The budget is due April 1.