After a recent report found that 25 percent of Tompkins County does not have access to “reliable and affordable” Internet access, competing options have emerged for expanding access to rural areas of the Southern Tier region.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) awarded the Southern Tier region up to $49.4 million of a total $785 million in December in state aid designated to promote economic growth. The Southern Tier received the smallest amount of aid of the 10 regional councils vying for a portion of the funds.

The Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council, co-chaired by President David Skorton, presented the final version of its strategic plan to stimulate job creation and economic growth to New York State officials in Albany on Tuesday.

The Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council, co-chaired by President David Skorton, unveiled on Monday the final version of its strategic plan to stimulate economic growth and generate job creation in the region.