Gov. Kathy Hochul was in the Southern Tier Wednesday outlining the impacts of her proposed budget on the area.

"The era of ignoring the needs of people with mental health challenges is officially over and that's why I am so excited about what we are going to be doing here, and again, this is an important part or rural and small town health as well, that there be services provided, it's often hard to attract professionals to our smaller communities, I know that," Hochul said.

Her plan includes a hefty investment in education, including $1.4 billion in School Aid for the Southern Tier, $50 million for Binghamton University to continue establishing a hub for battery technology innovation and $24 million in capital investments at regional colleges.

“This region really punches above its weight in terms of your population and size to have world class institutions," Hochul said. "Within this region, it attracts bright, bright professors and students. And so, let's just see that as part of our state, our narrative, our story of what makes this area so attractive."

She also wants to invest more than $151 million in DOT capital projects. Those projects include spending $45 million for pavement renewal on Route 17 and $10.3 million to replace and repair bridges throughout the region.

Johnson City was also announced as a winner of the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The village will receive $10 million.

“It's so exciting. There's a lot of great things happening in Johnson City right now. And this one is just going to push this over the top,” said Johnson City Mayor Martin Meanney.

It’s not clear how the $10 million will be spent yet.

Hochul also announced $4.5 million each for the villages of Montour Falls and Waverly.

They’re the Southern Tier region’s winners for the first round of the New York Forward program. The program is intended to build on the DRI’s momentum and support a “more equitable downtown recovery for New York’s smaller and rural communities."