1
00:00:09,786 --> 00:00:13,986
Good morning, everyone. Let's get started now.

2
00:00:16,192 --> 00:00:21,592
welcome to the october 9 hearing on economic development hosted

3
00:00:22,332 --> 00:00:26,532
by myself and my colleagues, assemblywoman buttenschon.

4
00:00:33,276 --> 00:00:38,676
let's see. We are going to give asd five

5
00:00:42,850 --> 00:00:44,821
minutes-- esd five minutes for testimony and if you need more

6
00:00:44,821 --> 00:00:48,425
time after that, we'll give you more time and then we'll go to

7
00:00:48,425 --> 00:00:48,958
questions. Okay.

8
00:00:48,958 --> 00:00:50,293
are you ready? Go ahead.

9
00:00:50,293 --> 00:00:53,429
>> I just want to say good morning to everyone and I

10
00:00:53,429 --> 00:00:57,290
appreciate our colleagues being here also.

11
00:00:57,567 --> 00:01:03,567
so again, chair stirpe and I sincerely appreciate those that

12
00:01:05,342 --> 00:01:11,942
have come in to do testimony today and more importantly, to

13
00:01:12,248 --> 00:01:19,356
hear from you so that as chair of small business, we ensure

14
00:01:19,356 --> 00:01:22,592
that the foundation of those businesses throughout the state

15
00:01:22,592 --> 00:01:25,261
of new york can continue to thrive.

16
00:01:25,261 --> 00:01:31,861
so, again, thank you, everyone. >> would you guys like to say

17
00:01:35,672 --> 00:01:39,609
anything? >> just say thank you for being

18
00:01:39,609 --> 00:01:42,900
here. >> any other comments?

19
00:01:47,750 --> 00:01:49,750
no? Okay.

20
00:01:53,189 --> 00:01:54,290
all right. Thank you.

21
00:01:54,290 --> 00:01:57,460
you can get started now. >> good morning.

22
00:01:57,460 --> 00:02:00,896
thank you chairman stirpe, chairwoman buttenschon and

23
00:02:00,896 --> 00:02:03,400
distinguished members of the state assembly.

24
00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:07,404
my name is hope knight. I serve as president and c.e.o.

25
00:02:07,404 --> 00:02:10,372
of empire state development and commissioner of the department

26
00:02:10,372 --> 00:02:15,772
of economic development. I'm joined today by esd chief

27
00:02:17,381 --> 00:02:21,581
operating officer and deputy commissioner kevin younis.

28
00:02:22,318 --> 00:02:25,722
new york's economic resiliency remains strong despite federal

29
00:02:25,722 --> 00:02:29,322
uncertainty. As new tariffs and failed

30
00:02:30,460 --> 00:02:33,462
policies create economic head winds nationally, we are taking

31
00:02:33,462 --> 00:02:36,333
proactive measure to mitigate impacts and identify

32
00:02:36,333 --> 00:02:39,403
opportunities for growth and help businesses and stakeholders

33
00:02:39,403 --> 00:02:43,273
navigate these challenges. We have diversified our economy,

34
00:02:43,273 --> 00:02:46,876
continue to support small businesses and created new job

35
00:02:46,876 --> 00:02:49,212
opportunities for all new yorker s.

36
00:02:49,212 --> 00:02:52,582
since governor hochul took office, new york has gained more

37
00:02:52,582 --> 00:02:57,982
than 800,000 new private sector jobs, a growth rate of 10.4%

38
00:02:58,210 --> 00:03:01,210
outpacing the national rate of 8.6%.

39
00:03:01,758 --> 00:03:06,362
esd is taking an active role in analyzing the impacts of

40
00:03:06,362 --> 00:03:09,565
tariffs. At the governor's direction, esd

41
00:03:09,565 --> 00:03:14,237
to provide a comprehensive tariff report and understanding

42
00:03:14,237 --> 00:03:16,973
of the reeled world consequences that federal policies have

43
00:03:16,973 --> 00:03:20,577
imposed on our economy. This will lead to better equip

44
00:03:20,577 --> 00:03:23,113
the state's businesses we created a user friendly tariff

45
00:03:23,113 --> 00:03:27,250
guide and launched an online tariff impact survey for

46
00:03:27,250 --> 00:03:29,186
businesses to share direct feedback.

47
00:03:29,186 --> 00:03:33,986
over the past year, eds expansion in rome.

48
00:03:40,997 --> 00:03:45,135
this project, which will be the largest investment in natural

49
00:03:45,135 --> 00:03:48,671
food manufacturing in the nation , will create over 1,000

50
00:03:48,671 --> 00:03:53,276
jobs and use 12 million pounds of milk per day, all sourced

51
00:03:53,276 --> 00:03:57,882
from new york farmers. Which I bony is locating it's

52
00:03:57,882 --> 00:04:05,820
project on the site prepared under esd new york program cho y

53
00:04:10,593 --> 00:04:13,363
chobani is one of several companies making up new york's

54
00:04:13,363 --> 00:04:16,966
ecosystem which continues to grow under governor hochul's

55
00:04:16,966 --> 00:04:18,968
leadership. At esd we recognize a thriving

56
00:04:18,968 --> 00:04:21,304
economy needs a skilled workforce.

57
00:04:21,304 --> 00:04:25,400
I'm proud to share that through the on ramp initiate workforce

58
00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:27,910
development training will soon begin at temporary facilities in

59
00:04:27,910 --> 00:04:31,214
syracuse. This commitment to expanding our

60
00:04:31,214 --> 00:04:34,316
workforce will continue throughout the state at the

61
00:04:34,316 --> 00:04:39,255
initiatives three other centers located in the capital region

62
00:04:39,255 --> 00:04:45,255
finger lakes and mohawk valley. And provided through the office

63
00:04:46,996 --> 00:04:48,598
of strategic workforce development.

64
00:04:48,598 --> 00:04:51,600
central to esd mission is removing barriers for new york's

65
00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:57,000
small businesses which represent over 90% of the state's business

66
00:04:59,740 --> 00:05:00,677
community. And we want to thank governor

67
00:05:00,677 --> 00:05:02,745
hochul and the state legislature for their support.

68
00:05:02,745 --> 00:05:06,115
this year's budget effectively doubled funding for the

69
00:05:06,115 --> 00:05:10,915
new york's link program, to an unprecedented $1.1 billion.

70
00:05:10,954 --> 00:05:15,691
this program provides lower interest rate loans to micro and

71
00:05:15,691 --> 00:05:18,360
small businesses which is increasingly important during

72
00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:21,300
this time of rising costs nationally.

73
00:05:21,300 --> 00:05:25,702
we are continuing our commitment to new york's minority and women

74
00:05:25,702 --> 00:05:28,571
owned business enterprise community and addressing

75
00:05:28,571 --> 00:05:32,641
workforce disparities. Over the past year,we have

76
00:05:32,641 --> 00:05:38,410
maintained the nation's highest mwbe partnerships rate at more

77
00:05:38,114 --> 00:05:40,983
than 32% and streamlined the certification process

78
00:05:40,983 --> 00:05:44,583
significantly decreasing wait times for applicants.

79
00:05:44,853 --> 00:05:48,524
furthermore, in partnership with the legislature,we recently

80
00:05:48,524 --> 00:05:53,924
extended the mwbe program through 2028 and are launching a

81
00:05:54,597 --> 00:05:57,767
comprehensive policy study to provide recommendations on how

82
00:05:57,767 --> 00:06:01,403
to further strengthen and improve the program.

83
00:06:01,403 --> 00:06:03,806
I am proud of the strides we've made this year.

84
00:06:03,806 --> 00:06:08,578
we are building a more resilient, equitable and

85
00:06:08,578 --> 00:06:10,413
prosperous new york for all and we are doing it together.

86
00:06:10,413 --> 00:06:14,617
thank you for your continued support and I look forward to

87
00:06:14,617 --> 00:06:17,553
our ongoing participate partnership and I'm happy to

88
00:06:17,553 --> 00:06:19,755
take your questions. >> okay.

89
00:06:19,755 --> 00:06:25,155
thank you. You know, I would like to focus

90
00:06:25,496 --> 00:06:28,310
a little bit on workforce development.

91
00:06:28,310 --> 00:06:33,669
I know that we have appropriated a great deal of money over the

92
00:06:33,669 --> 00:06:39,669
last four budgets, probably close to a billion dollars in

93
00:06:41,811 --> 00:06:46,149
workforce workforce development. Sometimes I hear that it's very

94
00:06:46,149 --> 00:06:50,385
difficult to access the funding. I don't know exactly what the

95
00:06:50,385 --> 00:06:57,192
process is, but if you could tell me how much of that funding

96
00:06:57,192 --> 00:07:03,192
has actually gone out into training programs, how much is

97
00:07:03,432 --> 00:07:10,320
still available, and what the process is by which-- and I

98
00:07:11,700 --> 00:07:15,278
would say some not-for-profit organizations, who do some

99
00:07:15,278 --> 00:07:20,678
specialized stuff, especially with people who maybe have had

100
00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,620
or been incarcerated or had other issues that they have

101
00:07:24,620 --> 00:07:27,690
dealt with as we are looking desperately for people to fill

102
00:07:27,690 --> 00:07:32,294
all these jobs. So, can you give me a little

103
00:07:32,294 --> 00:07:34,694
information on that? >> absolutely.

104
00:07:36,980 --> 00:07:40,898
so the entire workforce development effort across the

105
00:07:42,639 --> 00:07:46,576
state is spread across a number of agencies.

106
00:07:46,576 --> 00:07:50,580
esd has stood up the office of strategic workforce development

107
00:07:50,580 --> 00:07:55,520
in the 22-23 budget. We were allocated $150 million

108
00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:58,921
to support that office and effort, really focused on

109
00:07:58,921 --> 00:08:03,721
providing support to train workers for high-skilled jobs:

110
00:08:09,532 --> 00:08:14,670
we have put forward a new strategy, sort of enhanced

111
00:08:14,670 --> 00:08:19,956
strategy to provide workers with wrap around services, so, as you

112
00:08:19,956 --> 00:08:25,956
talk about not for rost,-- not-for-profit, we are asking

113
00:08:26,295 --> 00:08:29,565
workforce providers to join in consortiums to have

114
00:08:29,565 --> 00:08:33,769
not-for-profits that may provide support like mentoring or child

115
00:08:33,769 --> 00:08:39,708
care or transportation in trying to remove barriers that are

116
00:08:39,708 --> 00:08:45,708
created for folks that want to access training and employment

117
00:08:45,848 --> 00:08:51,848
so we have provided $68 million in grants of that $150 museum--

118
00:08:54,857 --> 00:08:59,395
$150 million to p 7 workforce organizations and we are working

119
00:08:59,395 --> 00:09:02,532
with 500 business partners, so folks that are actually hiring

120
00:09:02,532 --> 00:09:05,601
these people that are being trained.

121
00:09:05,601 --> 00:09:09,872
and we are seeing success with folks getting trained in areas

122
00:09:09,872 --> 00:09:15,272
like construction and photonics and areas in the semiconductor

123
00:09:16,145 --> 00:09:19,548
sector, that are providing living wage jobs for individuals

124
00:09:19,548 --> 00:09:23,148
here in new york state. >> okay.

125
00:09:23,687 --> 00:09:30,660
as far as how much funding is still available to go out, do we

126
00:09:30,660 --> 00:09:33,162
have any idea what that number is?

127
00:09:33,162 --> 00:09:37,133
>> so in addition to the $68 million in training grants,

128
00:09:37,133 --> 00:09:43,733
there is another $30 million that went out for the on ramp

129
00:09:45,708 --> 00:09:48,108
program. >> there you go.

130
00:09:48,112 --> 00:09:52,848
for a red-green color blind guy, these are hard to know whether

131
00:09:52,848 --> 00:09:53,515
they're on. Excuse me.

132
00:09:53,515 --> 00:09:57,115
we have roughly 50 of the 150 remaining.

133
00:09:57,486 --> 00:10:02,658
there was on ramp utilized about 30 of the 150, the 68 hope

134
00:10:02,658 --> 00:10:07,863
talked about and I think there are a couple of other programs

135
00:10:07,863 --> 00:10:13,263
supported from that funding. >> has there been an evaluation

136
00:10:17,272 --> 00:10:21,343
you've done on the effectiveness of these programs and, you

137
00:10:21,343 --> 00:10:27,343
know,especially for training and maybe some other as nurses,

138
00:10:27,950 --> 00:10:31,421
teachers, anything like that? Because I know we are struggling

139
00:10:31,421 --> 00:10:37,226
in those areas, too. >> I know that some of the other

140
00:10:37,226 --> 00:10:41,960
agencies have been working on training programs like for

141
00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:44,166
nurses and teachers, et cetera. I would have to follow up and

142
00:10:44,166 --> 00:10:47,770
find out if they've done any evaluation in those areas.

143
00:10:47,770 --> 00:10:53,242
we have put out an annual report, first annual report last

144
00:10:53,242 --> 00:10:59,515
year on our programs that speak to some of the results of the

145
00:10:59,515 --> 00:11:02,515
office of strategic workforce development.

146
00:11:11,260 --> 00:11:15,460
and the excelsior job tax credit program.

147
00:11:16,999 --> 00:11:21,336
can you provide an update on the new semiconductor workforce

148
00:11:21,336 --> 00:11:26,275
training program and expand empire job retention program as

149
00:11:26,275 --> 00:11:30,479
far as this past year's budget? >> those are programs that we

150
00:11:30,479 --> 00:11:32,348
have been working on regulations for.

151
00:11:32,348 --> 00:11:37,850
we are going to post those up for comment and they should be,

152
00:11:37,850 --> 00:11:41,285
you know, available in the coming months.

153
00:11:46,762 --> 00:11:51,562
>> my favorite subject, centers of excellence and advanced

154
00:11:55,370 --> 00:11:58,637
technology. You know, my constant question

155
00:12:00,176 --> 00:12:06,181
is why we sort of keep them at the same level every year and

156
00:12:06,181 --> 00:12:10,386
it's, you know, hard to get them an increase when what we see is

157
00:12:10,386 --> 00:12:15,991
the return on investment in these programs is, if not the

158
00:12:15,991 --> 00:12:19,395
highest one of the highest that we have in any of our economic

159
00:12:19,395 --> 00:12:22,798
development programs, do you see anything in the future that

160
00:12:22,798 --> 00:12:28,937
would lead us to believe that we might be able to expand in some

161
00:12:28,937 --> 00:12:35,537
of these areas, provide some additional funding to see if the

162
00:12:36,479 --> 00:12:40,616
return on investment continues at the same or better rate?

163
00:12:40,616 --> 00:12:46,160
>> so, you know, our nystar division which oversees the

164
00:12:48,424 --> 00:12:53,950
(inaudible), has a broad range of innovation assets that

165
00:12:53,950 --> 00:12:59,301
support these cats and codes and enhances and lyncheses their I

166
00:12:59,301 --> 00:13:03,105
am leverages their impact so we are happy to have that

167
00:13:03,105 --> 00:13:06,705
discussion during the cycle. >> good morning.

168
00:13:15,651 --> 00:13:18,353
thank you. We have been joined by another

169
00:13:18,353 --> 00:13:21,353
colleague of ours, assemblymember dais.

170
00:13:23,590 --> 00:13:29,590
thank you for being here. But ceerly my colleague asked

171
00:13:29,131 --> 00:13:35,737
some of the questions but I want to switch to the tax credit

172
00:13:35,737 --> 00:13:39,740
program. And I want to talk a little bit

173
00:13:39,740 --> 00:13:45,740
about the small businesses that would be involved within this.

174
00:13:46,515 --> 00:13:51,200
and the first question I ask is can you tell me how many small

175
00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:54,290
businesses that are taking advantage of the tax credit

176
00:13:54,290 --> 00:13:57,894
program that you have offered? >> and I want to confirm that

177
00:13:57,894 --> 00:14:00,295
you are talking about the excelsior tax credit program?

178
00:14:00,295 --> 00:14:03,566
>> yes. >> so I would have to get you an

179
00:14:03,566 --> 00:14:07,770
exact number, but I know that roughly 50%, 40% of our

180
00:14:07,770 --> 00:14:10,639
businesses that take advantage of the program are small

181
00:14:10,639 --> 00:14:12,639
businesses. >> okay.

182
00:14:12,974 --> 00:14:18,848
and is there any emphasis placed on in-state versus out of state

183
00:14:18,848 --> 00:14:20,316
businesses? >> no emphasis.

184
00:14:20,316 --> 00:14:22,851
we are just looking for businesses that are looking to

185
00:14:22,851 --> 00:14:23,453
grow. >> beautiful.

186
00:14:23,453 --> 00:14:25,921
>> that's right. >> and I just wanted to

187
00:14:25,921 --> 00:14:32,521
reconfirm that because we have, as you had talked about chobani

188
00:14:32,861 --> 00:14:35,931
coming, we realize that nobody can do it alone, so our small

189
00:14:35,931 --> 00:14:40,335
businesses that have been 100, 50 years, are looking to see how

190
00:14:40,335 --> 00:14:43,839
they can support, as new folks come to town.

191
00:14:43,839 --> 00:14:46,942
but we certainly don't want to forget them.

192
00:14:46,942 --> 00:14:48,144
>> absolutely. That's right.

193
00:14:48,144 --> 00:14:52,481
>> is there a little bit that you could talk to about how

194
00:14:52,481 --> 00:14:56,752
empire state development ensures those businesses that have been

195
00:14:56,752 --> 00:15:00,622
in rooted within communities, how we strengthen them also?

196
00:15:00,622 --> 00:15:02,624
>> absolutely. As you know, empire state

197
00:15:02,624 --> 00:15:04,827
development has a regional office system.

198
00:15:04,827 --> 00:15:09,631
so our regional directors are in touch with business

199
00:15:09,631 --> 00:15:12,702
organizations; some of the businesses directly.

200
00:15:12,702 --> 00:15:18,400
and we are, you know, involved in providing, you know,

201
00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:21,710
information regarding access to capital, lower cost capital

202
00:15:21,710 --> 00:15:25,447
opportunities, opportunities for growth when we have new

203
00:15:25,447 --> 00:15:28,784
industries coming into the state and will provide small

204
00:15:28,784 --> 00:15:30,518
businesses tremendous opportunities.

205
00:15:30,518 --> 00:15:33,655
so we are always having those conversations with our small

206
00:15:33,655 --> 00:15:36,792
business community. >> that is able to provide that

207
00:15:36,792 --> 00:15:38,792
support. >> yes.

208
00:15:39,610 --> 00:15:43,865
>> could we just talk a little bit about the tech transfer

209
00:15:43,865 --> 00:15:49,265
program for small businesses? And primarily the question is,

210
00:15:51,740 --> 00:15:54,760
again, how is the success rate on that one?

211
00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,946
and what do we see with the sttr program?

212
00:15:57,946 --> 00:16:02,884
>> yes, so as you know, thanks to the governor and the

213
00:16:02,884 --> 00:16:07,684
legislature, we have this $6 million fund to provide

214
00:16:08,890 --> 00:16:12,494
matching funds for small businesses that get grants from

215
00:16:12,494 --> 00:16:16,564
the federal government. We have exhausted virtually all

216
00:16:16,564 --> 00:16:21,670
of that $6 million for 60 companies that have won awards

217
00:16:21,670 --> 00:16:24,670
in the sttr program. >> okay.

218
00:16:27,509 --> 00:16:31,913
and those counties are listed on the website?

219
00:16:31,913 --> 00:16:34,480
or how would I be able to brag about it?

220
00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:36,118
>> we can get you a copy of that.

221
00:16:36,118 --> 00:16:37,854
>> probably my colleagues would like to see it, too.

222
00:16:37,854 --> 00:16:39,854
>> sure. >> all right.

223
00:16:40,255 --> 00:16:46,128
how about new york rush? Another one that I do contact

224
00:16:46,128 --> 00:16:53,328
your office quite frequently on. And the concern that we have in

225
00:16:53,701 --> 00:16:55,871
the mohawk valley is workforce housing.

226
00:16:55,871 --> 00:17:02,677
and I understand that I will continue to ask you to take a

227
00:17:02,677 --> 00:17:06,915
look at the importance of workforce housing as we

228
00:17:06,915 --> 00:17:12,915
understand that many individuals need housing but as we are

229
00:17:13,922 --> 00:17:17,626
trying to attract individuals to the area, we need what is

230
00:17:17,626 --> 00:17:18,961
identified within workforce housing.

231
00:17:18,961 --> 00:17:22,764
I just wondered if there was any further conversation on how

232
00:17:22,764 --> 00:17:27,564
funding could be directed to those individuals that

233
00:17:28,170 --> 00:17:30,906
interested in working in small businesses or colleges or

234
00:17:30,906 --> 00:17:32,442
anywhere in that effect. >> absolutely.

235
00:17:32,442 --> 00:17:36,178
we foe that there is a housing crisis and then you couple that

236
00:17:36,178 --> 00:17:40,449
with, you know, significant growth and specific regions

237
00:17:40,449 --> 00:17:43,185
around the projects and it puts more pressure on the housing

238
00:17:43,185 --> 00:17:47,385
supply. So thanks to the go rush

239
00:17:48,790 --> 00:17:53,729
program, we have support for infrastructure that we are

240
00:17:53,729 --> 00:17:57,800
housing that would be created. We know that a lot of the sites

241
00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:02,638
around the state would require very extensive and expensive

242
00:18:02,638 --> 00:18:07,750
infrastructure to be able to think about providing advancing

243
00:18:07,750 --> 00:18:10,675
housing projects forward. And approximately $150 million

244
00:18:15,450 --> 00:18:21,890
of the of rush fund is committed for projects that have been put

245
00:18:21,890 --> 00:18:25,494
forward that are virtually shovel ready, ready to go and we

246
00:18:25,494 --> 00:18:30,170
look forward to continuing to talk to communities around the

247
00:18:30,170 --> 00:18:34,507
state, including yours, about advancing workforce housing and

248
00:18:34,507 --> 00:18:37,644
specific communities. >> and I would sincerely

249
00:18:37,644 --> 00:18:41,844
appreciate that because, again, emphasizing those individuals

250
00:18:42,249 --> 00:18:46,586
that we need within our community but they need a place

251
00:18:46,586 --> 00:18:51,591
to live that is something that is affordable as well as

252
00:18:51,591 --> 00:18:55,191
appropriate for them and their families.

253
00:18:56,663 --> 00:19:01,401
how about, as my colleague did ask many of the questions, can

254
00:19:01,401 --> 00:19:07,607
we talk a little about of the-- an update on the link deposit

255
00:19:07,607 --> 00:19:09,142
program that you have? >> yes.

256
00:19:09,142 --> 00:19:13,480
>> and what is the average loan that you are supporting for

257
00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:17,680
individuals? >> so, as you know, the link

258
00:19:18,218 --> 00:19:22,489
deposit program now known as link has been available for many

259
00:19:22,489 --> 00:19:26,359
years. The capacity of the program was

260
00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:31,970
about $550 million. It was doubled in last year's

261
00:19:31,970 --> 00:19:37,437
budget, a billion dollars. And I know that there is about

262
00:19:37,437 --> 00:19:41,641
132 million-dollar pipeline of loans now in the system against

263
00:19:41,641 --> 00:19:47,514
about the cap of $550 million. And so, you know, we see

264
00:19:47,514 --> 00:19:50,116
tremendous uptake in this product because it does provide

265
00:19:50,116 --> 00:19:53,920
a lower interest rate for small businesses, with respect to the

266
00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:57,190
average loan size I have to get back to you on that.

267
00:19:57,190 --> 00:19:59,190
>> okay. Downtown revitalization.

268
00:20:01,127 --> 00:20:03,697
>> yes. >> as we know, the collaboration

269
00:20:03,697 --> 00:20:09,680
that occurs as well as with new york forward.

270
00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:15,442
is there any information that is published from your agency that

271
00:20:15,442 --> 00:20:19,145
identifies the effectiveness of this program and kind of

272
00:20:19,145 --> 00:20:23,945
highlights the positives? >> we have reports related to

273
00:20:25,552 --> 00:20:29,890
downtown revitalization initiative projects and we can

274
00:20:29,890 --> 00:20:33,920
provide those to you. >> and success rates that you

275
00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:36,430
are seeing? Bragging in the last year that

276
00:20:36,430 --> 00:20:41,340
you could talk about with... >> we see tremendous success in

277
00:20:41,340 --> 00:20:44,304
the program. I think, you know, the program

278
00:20:44,304 --> 00:20:47,908
requires communities to come together and do planning, so

279
00:20:47,908 --> 00:20:52,746
just that process in itself provides a community with

280
00:20:52,746 --> 00:20:58,510
tremendous assets to kind of build upon as they execute their

281
00:20:58,510 --> 00:21:02,251
projects. >> and the final one is the

282
00:21:02,322 --> 00:21:04,524
supportive housing. Could you just talk a little bit

283
00:21:04,524 --> 00:21:07,270
about how you are working with your fellow commissioners in

284
00:21:07,270 --> 00:21:10,630
regards to ensuring that individuals that need housing as

285
00:21:10,630 --> 00:21:12,463
well as support? >> absolutely.

286
00:21:13,967 --> 00:21:19,405
so as you know, housing is in the purview of the dhcr but I

287
00:21:19,405 --> 00:21:22,942
work very closely with the commissioner in that agency to

288
00:21:22,942 --> 00:21:27,347
advance supportive housing; primarily in the space where

289
00:21:27,347 --> 00:21:30,416
there are state-owned facilities, kind of look at what

290
00:21:30,416 --> 00:21:34,554
the opportunities are, what the needs of the community are and,

291
00:21:34,554 --> 00:21:38,891
you know, advance projects where we believe supportive housing is

292
00:21:38,891 --> 00:21:41,291
extremely necessary. >> thank you.

293
00:21:42,495 --> 00:21:46,695
at this point, I'm good. >> member bendett.

294
00:21:53,573 --> 00:21:54,541
questions? >> thank you.

295
00:21:54,541 --> 00:21:56,509
I'm a small business owner and have been for 30 years.

296
00:21:56,509 --> 00:21:59,578
in fact I own three different businesses.

297
00:21:59,578 --> 00:22:03,384
when you talk about chairman stirpe was talking about

298
00:22:03,384 --> 00:22:05,985
workforce development, what are we doing for workforce

299
00:22:05,985 --> 00:22:08,521
development to get people interested in starting their own

300
00:22:08,521 --> 00:22:10,191
business and helping them succeed?

301
00:22:10,191 --> 00:22:13,126
when I first started, I didn't even know what a z report was.

302
00:22:13,126 --> 00:22:17,196
I didn't have that information. What are we doing as a state to

303
00:22:17,196 --> 00:22:21,333
encourage people to open up brick and mortar stores and

304
00:22:21,333 --> 00:22:25,472
people that basically employ all the people other than the state

305
00:22:25,472 --> 00:22:29,208
workforce? >> yes, so thank you for that

306
00:22:29,208 --> 00:22:31,811
question. You know, we have many small

307
00:22:31,811 --> 00:22:36,349
business resources available for folks that are aspiring

308
00:22:36,349 --> 00:22:39,886
entrepreneurs. You can start with our

309
00:22:39,886 --> 00:22:41,870
entrepreneurial assistance centers.

310
00:22:41,870 --> 00:22:45,240
those are centers that give folks the ability to put

311
00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:49,762
together business plan, road map for opening a business.

312
00:22:49,762 --> 00:22:53,433
will be able to point them toward access to capital, you

313
00:22:53,433 --> 00:22:57,370
know, whether those are community banks or

314
00:22:57,370 --> 00:23:00,573
not-for-profits, that are provide small business loans.

315
00:23:00,573 --> 00:23:03,510
>> and how do people find those, that information?

316
00:23:03,510 --> 00:23:06,445
that's one of the challenges that I have found as a small

317
00:23:06,445 --> 00:23:08,582
business owner is finding these types of things.

318
00:23:08,582 --> 00:23:12,520
and I know you can do a google search but are we doing

319
00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:15,521
outreach? Like yesterday we had career jam

320
00:23:15,521 --> 00:23:18,525
at hudson valley. Are we doing outreach for that?

321
00:23:18,525 --> 00:23:20,527
>> we are doing tremendous outreach.

322
00:23:20,527 --> 00:23:23,130
we are using the organizations that exist within communities,

323
00:23:23,130 --> 00:23:27,330
you know, chambers of commerce organizations, not-for-profits

324
00:23:27,401 --> 00:23:31,100
that focus on advancing small businesses.

325
00:23:31,300 --> 00:23:35,274
we work through the legislature and sometimes we send out, you

326
00:23:35,274 --> 00:23:39,279
know, literature that speaks to events that we are having that

327
00:23:39,279 --> 00:23:41,614
promote our products and services.

328
00:23:41,614 --> 00:23:43,750
>> okay. And as a small business owner, I

329
00:23:43,750 --> 00:23:46,886
can just say that I think we need as a state to do a better

330
00:23:46,886 --> 00:23:49,889
job of getting that out there. I think people have a really

331
00:23:49,889 --> 00:23:51,758
challenging time finding this information.

332
00:23:51,758 --> 00:23:55,628
I had a little bit of a challenging time finding it, and

333
00:23:55,628 --> 00:24:01,700
I just put on my facebook page a link to the main street grant

334
00:24:01,700 --> 00:24:05,171
for small businesses. But it wasn't an easy thing for

335
00:24:05,171 --> 00:24:09,709
me to find. It really was a little bit

336
00:24:09,709 --> 00:24:12,812
challenging. On your new york forward grants,

337
00:24:12,812 --> 00:24:15,714
as chairwoman buttenschon said, I think those are very good.

338
00:24:15,714 --> 00:24:20,530
I've had three communities in my district receive them and they

339
00:24:20,530 --> 00:24:21,855
have been, you know, very effective.

340
00:24:21,855 --> 00:24:25,325
but I also think that they're not as much economic development

341
00:24:25,325 --> 00:24:30,263
as they are monies to improve the quality of life of the

342
00:24:30,263 --> 00:24:33,399
people in those villages. I don't know that they're

343
00:24:33,399 --> 00:24:36,399
definitely to help small businesses.

344
00:24:38,204 --> 00:24:44,778
what do you think about minimum wage and about-- I don't want to

345
00:24:44,778 --> 00:24:49,882
use the word child, but I want to use the word young worker in

346
00:24:49,882 --> 00:24:51,751
the workforce. Many of us in the small business

347
00:24:51,751 --> 00:24:55,488
community are consistently asked by friends and family and

348
00:24:55,488 --> 00:24:59,225
different community members to hire their kids to give them an

349
00:24:59,225 --> 00:25:03,763
entreé into the workforce, to show them how to work and to

350
00:25:03,763 --> 00:25:06,499
teach them an ethic, et cetera, et cetera.

351
00:25:06,499 --> 00:25:10,436
unfortunately with the rise of the minimum wage, it's been more

352
00:25:10,436 --> 00:25:13,506
challenging for people like me and my brothers and sisters, who

353
00:25:13,506 --> 00:25:17,911
are in small business to help people get into that.

354
00:25:17,911 --> 00:25:21,714
do you think that maybe we should have a conversation about

355
00:25:21,714 --> 00:25:25,651
something like that so that small business owners have the

356
00:25:25,651 --> 00:25:28,788
ability to help their communities, help their kids get

357
00:25:28,788 --> 00:25:31,991
better work ethic but not have to carry the burden of giving a

358
00:25:31,991 --> 00:25:37,129
kid a living wage? >> there may be opportunities to

359
00:25:37,129 --> 00:25:39,198
discuss work training programs and would be happy to talk to

360
00:25:39,198 --> 00:25:44,203
you about that. >> yeah, also, many of our small

361
00:25:44,203 --> 00:25:47,340
businesses are the people that collect our sales tax.

362
00:25:47,340 --> 00:25:51,611
that's a big part of our life, you know, we are retailers, we

363
00:25:51,611 --> 00:25:54,681
collect the sales tax. We put it into the bank and we

364
00:25:54,681 --> 00:25:58,170
pay it to the state. Do you think that it might be

365
00:25:58,170 --> 00:26:02,688
effective in the future to consider incentivizing people to

366
00:26:02,688 --> 00:26:06,358
go into small business and to be partners with the state in

367
00:26:06,358 --> 00:26:09,428
collecting that sales tax? >> I think that growing our

368
00:26:09,428 --> 00:26:13,299
small business community is critical and working to create

369
00:26:13,299 --> 00:26:17,360
more small businesses in communities is essential.

370
00:26:17,360 --> 00:26:21,141
>> we are on the same page. I agree with you 100% and I'm

371
00:26:21,141 --> 00:26:23,710
willing to discuss any of these issues with anybody in the small

372
00:26:23,710 --> 00:26:28,115
business community. And one of my, that I feel like

373
00:26:28,115 --> 00:26:32,185
we have a shortcoming on is that we don't do a good enough job of

374
00:26:32,185 --> 00:26:33,921
communicating with our small businesses.

375
00:26:33,921 --> 00:26:37,856
I know you said that you have terrific outreach, but I really

376
00:26:37,856 --> 00:26:42,462
do, as a person in the community, who attends chamber

377
00:26:42,462 --> 00:26:45,331
events, who is close with the chamber, who knows people in

378
00:26:45,331 --> 00:26:50,731
your organization and others, people have not really been

379
00:26:53,406 --> 00:26:55,340
forthcoming with trying to help me.

380
00:26:55,340 --> 00:26:58,677
it seems like it is more of a reactive approach than a

381
00:26:58,677 --> 00:27:01,380
proactive approach. Would you agree with that?

382
00:27:01,380 --> 00:27:03,816
>> I look forward to working with you and the community and

383
00:27:03,816 --> 00:27:06,819
the organizations there to really push out the information

384
00:27:06,819 --> 00:27:09,489
and resources that we have to deliver to small businesses.

385
00:27:09,489 --> 00:27:11,910
>> yeah, I think we really need to.

386
00:27:11,910 --> 00:27:14,691
thank you very much. >> thank you.

387
00:27:15,940 --> 00:27:18,940
>> member dais. >> good morning, commissioner.

388
00:27:21,300 --> 00:27:23,169
>> good morning. A couple quick questions.

389
00:27:23,169 --> 00:27:25,771
first on workforce development, last week on september 30 I held

390
00:27:25,771 --> 00:27:29,971
a rally for veterans around veteran poverty.

391
00:27:30,176 --> 00:27:33,912
about 35% of our veterans are struggling, 65% are doing well.

392
00:27:33,912 --> 00:27:37,850
we have a lot of veteran-owned businesses in new york state

393
00:27:37,850 --> 00:27:40,353
that we need to support. But my question on workforce

394
00:27:40,353 --> 00:27:43,856
development is what are we doing as a state towards workforce

395
00:27:43,856 --> 00:27:47,393
development for veterans; for example, I was with gary from

396
00:27:47,393 --> 00:27:50,797
the building trades helmets to hard hats.

397
00:27:50,797 --> 00:27:52,898
what is your organization doing in reference to veterans?

398
00:27:52,898 --> 00:27:57,136
>> so we work with workforce development providers that do

399
00:27:57,136 --> 00:27:59,338
significant outreach to veterans.

400
00:27:59,338 --> 00:28:04,877
and we look at fields such as construction in the

401
00:28:04,877 --> 00:28:06,946
semiconductor area as well as advanced manufacturing.

402
00:28:06,946 --> 00:28:11,885
so we definitely work with organizations that are focused

403
00:28:11,885 --> 00:28:14,870
on helping veterans. >> and veteran businesses?

404
00:28:14,870 --> 00:28:17,824
>> we have resources to support businesses like access to

405
00:28:17,824 --> 00:28:19,458
capital and other technical assistance.

406
00:28:19,458 --> 00:28:22,428
and we definitely outreach to them as well.

407
00:28:22,428 --> 00:28:25,498
>> do we have a good centralized-- I have been

408
00:28:25,498 --> 00:28:27,700
working with the legislature for centralized information for

409
00:28:27,700 --> 00:28:29,302
veterans. Do you think we can streamline

410
00:28:29,302 --> 00:28:33,706
funding for these veteran-owned businesses better and if so, how

411
00:28:33,706 --> 00:28:36,309
would you go about that? >> I would like to talk to you

412
00:28:36,309 --> 00:28:39,645
more about that. We have streamlined a lot of our

413
00:28:39,645 --> 00:28:43,783
processes to provide access to our resources businesses

414
00:28:43,783 --> 00:28:45,783
including veterans. >> okay.

415
00:28:46,386 --> 00:28:48,821
a quick flip. In reference to economic

416
00:28:48,821 --> 00:28:51,990
development on our small and medium-sized businesses which

417
00:28:51,990 --> 00:28:54,727
you focused on. Tariffs are taking a small chunk

418
00:28:54,727 --> 00:28:58,198
out of our small businesses. Some of our large corporations

419
00:28:58,198 --> 00:29:02,100
they love the tax breaks they're receiving but our small and

420
00:29:02,100 --> 00:29:04,300
medium-sized businesses are getting crunched.

421
00:29:04,300 --> 00:29:08,541
you mentioned chobani, one of our largest use of dairy

422
00:29:08,541 --> 00:29:10,770
farmers. I know it's not the agricultural

423
00:29:10,770 --> 00:29:14,877
committee but our agricultural industry is getting really

424
00:29:15,381 --> 00:29:17,416
squeezed. The parts that they need to use

425
00:29:17,416 --> 00:29:21,221
for their tractors, even john deere tractors, the parts come

426
00:29:21,221 --> 00:29:26,240
from other countries. What can we do to support our

427
00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:30,362
agricultural as a city, assemblymember, how can I

428
00:29:30,362 --> 00:29:33,533
support the north country and other businesses that are key to

429
00:29:33,533 --> 00:29:35,340
new york state's economy as they're or dealing with the

430
00:29:35,340 --> 00:29:39,834
tariff situation? >> so you know, this summer, the

431
00:29:41,441 --> 00:29:47,130
governor directed esd to do a couple of things around tariffs.

432
00:29:47,130 --> 00:29:49,582
particularly esd put together a tariff guide to support

433
00:29:49,582 --> 00:29:52,985
businesses that were managing tariffs, providing information

434
00:29:52,985 --> 00:29:58,458
on how to mitigate the impact, some export guide information,

435
00:29:58,458 --> 00:30:00,793
et cetera. And so we put that out there to

436
00:30:00,793 --> 00:30:04,864
support small businesses, how to manage tariffs better.

437
00:30:04,864 --> 00:30:09,535
we have also put together an online survey to collect

438
00:30:09,535 --> 00:30:14,935
information with respect to how tariffs are impacting businesses

439
00:30:15,740 --> 00:30:17,677
across the state. And we expect-- we are getting

440
00:30:17,677 --> 00:30:23,770
some of that information and synthesizing it to better

441
00:30:25,151 --> 00:30:27,553
understand how to help businesses that are or dealing

442
00:30:27,553 --> 00:30:32,353
with tariffs. >> I think my time is up.

443
00:30:33,826 --> 00:30:37,426
>> member lemondes. >> thank you, chair stirpe.

444
00:30:37,697 --> 00:30:40,499
thank you for being here. I just want to read a brief

445
00:30:40,499 --> 00:30:42,101
statement and I will ask several questions.

446
00:30:42,101 --> 00:30:45,771
the premise is energy, as all businesses, we know all

447
00:30:45,771 --> 00:30:49,642
businesses need energy. Goldman sachs research institute

448
00:30:49,642 --> 00:30:54,246
estimates 160% growth in data center power demand by 2030.

449
00:30:54,246 --> 00:30:58,517
only five years from now with a potentially representing 19% of

450
00:30:58,517 --> 00:31:04,490
that demand by as early as 2028. Other states are facing similar

451
00:31:04,490 --> 00:31:08,394
challenges with virginia already experiencing energy drains from

452
00:31:08,394 --> 00:31:12,732
a.I. Data centers. Do you support bringing nuclear

453
00:31:12,732 --> 00:31:18,132
plants back online or exploring other innovative solutions like

454
00:31:18,304 --> 00:31:22,809
small modular nuclear energy? >> so thank you for that

455
00:31:22,809 --> 00:31:27,790
question. We joined nyserda last week at a

456
00:31:27,790 --> 00:31:32,551
nuclear summit that focused on advancing nuclear to new york.

457
00:31:32,551 --> 00:31:36,155
the governor is taking the lead on this discussion and knows

458
00:31:36,155 --> 00:31:42,495
that we need a large mix of energy sources to power the

459
00:31:42,495 --> 00:31:46,632
industries of the future. And so the governor has

460
00:31:46,632 --> 00:31:51,103
definitely, you know, voiced that moving advanced nuclear

461
00:31:51,103 --> 00:31:53,906
forward is something that new york state is look at.

462
00:31:53,906 --> 00:31:58,706
>> that's fantastic. That's a very big departure from

463
00:31:59,245 --> 00:32:01,125
her previous position over the last several years.

464
00:32:01,125 --> 00:32:03,328
we all know how important energy is.

465
00:32:03,328 --> 00:32:09,928
and as you know, we pay for businesses, 50% higher than the

466
00:32:10,335 --> 00:32:14,272
national average for commercial energy in this state and 62%

467
00:32:14,272 --> 00:32:18,542
higher for residential energy. So all of our-- everybody in

468
00:32:18,542 --> 00:32:25,820
here, every rate payer in this room is watching their energy.

469
00:32:25,820 --> 00:32:28,953
no matter what you put in to create efficiency in your own

470
00:32:28,953 --> 00:32:32,556
use, personal use or business use, your bill is skyrocketing

471
00:32:32,556 --> 00:32:36,694
upward in this state and having a devastating impact on our

472
00:32:36,694 --> 00:32:39,163
businesses, especially heavy, commercial energy intensive

473
00:32:39,163 --> 00:32:42,500
businesses and I represent a steel plant in my district.

474
00:32:42,500 --> 00:32:48,506
and there is no way, ever, that they're going to use solar

475
00:32:48,506 --> 00:32:53,511
energy to do what they do. And this is more of a statement,

476
00:32:53,511 --> 00:33:01,520
but my question at the end of this is: I sure hope that there

477
00:33:01,520 --> 00:33:04,521
is recognition that we are paying too much.

478
00:33:04,521 --> 00:33:09,594
and the notion that rate payers are going to pay for solar and

479
00:33:09,594 --> 00:33:14,665
wind and all of this other stuff and the school bus initiative.

480
00:33:14,665 --> 00:33:16,200
that doesn't work in my district.

481
00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:21,739
you can't use electric school buses in winter conditions in

482
00:33:21,739 --> 00:33:23,674
hilly terrain. They just don't work.

483
00:33:23,674 --> 00:33:27,378
so is there recognition that this comprehensive

484
00:33:27,378 --> 00:33:33,451
new york state energy policy has to be reviewed and has to be

485
00:33:33,451 --> 00:33:35,820
changed? >> so new york state is going

486
00:33:35,820 --> 00:33:40,620
through a planning exercise with respect to energy.

487
00:33:42,250 --> 00:33:46,497
nyserda is taking the lead on creating a new york state energy

488
00:33:46,497 --> 00:33:50,901
plan. We know that we need a range of

489
00:33:50,901 --> 00:33:56,301
energy sources to power industries of the future and

490
00:33:57,709 --> 00:34:01,909
provide more capacity that will be needed.

491
00:34:03,470 --> 00:34:07,385
>> that's fantastic. I hope that we recognize our

492
00:34:07,385 --> 00:34:10,188
need for alternative energy. Thank you.

493
00:34:10,188 --> 00:34:14,392
thank you, chair. >> let me say we have been

494
00:34:14,392 --> 00:34:20,992
joined by a couple more members. Daniel norber and judy griffin.

495
00:34:25,269 --> 00:34:31,269
I want to take this opportunity, member tapia got some

496
00:34:31,342 --> 00:34:33,945
miscommunication. She thought this was down at 50

497
00:34:33,945 --> 00:34:36,481
broadway and she is sitting there waiting to ask questions.

498
00:34:36,481 --> 00:34:39,950
I promised I would ask her questions for her.

499
00:34:39,950 --> 00:34:45,289
so I will do these as quickly as possible.

500
00:34:45,289 --> 00:34:47,425
good morning, commissioner knight.

501
00:34:47,425 --> 00:34:50,494
my first question concerns the state's response to the federal

502
00:34:50,494 --> 00:34:54,231
government's attack on our state we have seen the trump

503
00:34:54,231 --> 00:34:57,101
administration pause or cancel funding for several projects

504
00:34:57,101 --> 00:35:00,571
across new york state, including both large scale projects like

505
00:35:00,571 --> 00:35:05,175
the gateway project, but also smaller projects as well.

506
00:35:05,175 --> 00:35:09,113
how is esd responding to this? And is the state using funding

507
00:35:09,113 --> 00:35:14,850
to back all these projects? >> thank you for that question.

508
00:35:14,850 --> 00:35:20,850
you know, there is certainly a certain amount of uncertainty

509
00:35:20,859 --> 00:35:27,131
with respect to much federal nund funding and esd is in touch

510
00:35:27,131 --> 00:35:32,531
with our state and federal partners to understand better,

511
00:35:33,537 --> 00:35:36,540
you know, what funding cuts are happening.

512
00:35:36,540 --> 00:35:42,540
and we haven't had to manage through anything very specific

513
00:35:42,613 --> 00:35:46,217
to our esd portfolio, but continue to monitor the

514
00:35:46,217 --> 00:35:48,217
situation. >> okay.

515
00:35:48,352 --> 00:35:51,488
thank you. Last year's hearing there was a

516
00:35:51,488 --> 00:35:56,288
lot of discussion around mwbe. Accord together 2024 disparity

517
00:35:57,628 --> 00:36:02,428
report, 15% of available firms were hispanic-owned yet their

518
00:36:03,100 --> 00:36:06,360
utilization rate was only about 1.8%.

519
00:36:06,360 --> 00:36:08,439
has empire state development taken any specific action since

520
00:36:08,439 --> 00:36:11,842
then to close that gap? And can you share what

521
00:36:11,842 --> 00:36:15,646
measurable progress has been made to increase contracting

522
00:36:15,646 --> 00:36:20,446
opportunities for hispanic-owned businesses since the report came

523
00:36:20,984 --> 00:36:25,184
out? >> so we have been working very

524
00:36:25,656 --> 00:36:31,560
diligently in our mwbe program to increase utilization of

525
00:36:34,932 --> 00:36:40,337
businesses across the spectrum. And we have been involved in

526
00:36:40,337 --> 00:36:44,608
working with our agencies and authorities to give them more

527
00:36:44,608 --> 00:36:49,408
guidance around the availability of has to firms.

528
00:36:49,813 --> 00:36:56,320
we provide our online directory. We have been having webinars to

529
00:36:56,320 --> 00:36:59,424
get agencies and authorities to understand accessibility of

530
00:36:59,424 --> 00:37:06,430
these mwbes and so with respect to benchmarks, I would have to

531
00:37:06,430 --> 00:37:10,100
come back to assemblywoman about that, but we certainly have been

532
00:37:10,100 --> 00:37:14,900
making strides to increase utilization in the area.

533
00:37:18,176 --> 00:37:20,244
>> okay. I guess this is a comment more

534
00:37:20,244 --> 00:37:25,116
than a question. To express my support for the

535
00:37:25,116 --> 00:37:28,116
downtown revitalization initiative application for

536
00:37:28,986 --> 00:37:33,323
fordham road, while the bronx has received a dri award in

537
00:37:33,323 --> 00:37:37,995
another neighborhood, fordham road remains one of our most

538
00:37:37,995 --> 00:37:41,465
important commercial corridors and the dri would help

539
00:37:41,465 --> 00:37:45,665
strengthen those connections and support our community.

540
00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:49,400
>> noted. >> all right.

541
00:37:51,475 --> 00:37:55,750
>> we are joined by senator sanders.

542
00:37:55,612 --> 00:37:58,120
>> hi there. Mr. Norber.

543
00:38:00,840 --> 00:38:01,218
>> thank you. Thank you very much for being

544
00:38:01,218 --> 00:38:06,180
here today. As we all know, our world,

545
00:38:06,424 --> 00:38:09,827
new york state the u.s. In general, we are going towards an

546
00:38:09,827 --> 00:38:12,960
a.I. Initiatives. A lot of businesses are going to

547
00:38:12,960 --> 00:38:17,701
be transferring over to phs ises done by a.I. Agented agents,

548
00:38:17,701 --> 00:38:20,438
deliveries or other industries. Are there any types of programs

549
00:38:20,438 --> 00:38:24,842
that you guys are going to be looking at or starting in order

550
00:38:24,842 --> 00:38:28,112
to adapt to this new change? Maybe the programs that can

551
00:38:28,112 --> 00:38:34,251
actually benefit businesses that want to start use using a.I.

552
00:38:34,251 --> 00:38:36,187
because is something that is going to be happening, no

553
00:38:36,187 --> 00:38:37,788
question about it. Are there things that you guys

554
00:38:37,788 --> 00:38:41,926
are looking at? >> we know that a.I. Action in

555
00:38:41,926 --> 00:38:48,526
businesses is happening rapidly and the response to that is this

556
00:38:48,933 --> 00:38:53,470
last past budget, harmony a.I. Was passed and a common of that

557
00:38:53,470 --> 00:38:58,750
is to provide training to small businesses with a.I. Tools.

558
00:38:58,750 --> 00:39:02,875
we are working with our eac, entrepreneurial assistance

559
00:39:03,815 --> 00:39:07,180
centers to roll that program out, and we should be-- I think

560
00:39:07,180 --> 00:39:10,487
we are in the process of hiring a vendor to deliver it and

561
00:39:10,487 --> 00:39:14,357
should be delivering it in the coming months.

562
00:39:14,357 --> 00:39:16,160
there will be training for businesses across

563
00:39:16,160 --> 00:39:16,695
new york state. >> yes.

564
00:39:16,695 --> 00:39:19,630
>> to adapt to this? >> to provide tools for aicht,

565
00:39:19,630 --> 00:39:22,800
that's right. >> so there is an effort to push

566
00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:25,903
businesses to that? I'm just asking, what is the

567
00:39:25,903 --> 00:39:28,973
opinion that... >> we know that it is coming so

568
00:39:28,973 --> 00:39:32,573
we want businesses to be prepared.

569
00:39:32,978 --> 00:39:38,449
>> I have a question regarding, has there been any progress of

570
00:39:38,449 --> 00:39:41,852
achieving the goal of 100% broadband connectivity in the

571
00:39:41,852 --> 00:39:44,288
rural areas in new york state? >> yes.

572
00:39:44,288 --> 00:39:51,488
so we have just-- the comment period ended just a couple of

573
00:39:51,529 --> 00:39:57,100
weeks ago, and we were able to submit our application to the

574
00:39:57,100 --> 00:40:02,939
federal authorities and to ntia. And we are waiting to, you know,

575
00:40:02,939 --> 00:40:06,277
get awarded this funding so that we can roll the program out.

576
00:40:06,277 --> 00:40:08,879
>> have there been delays on that?

577
00:40:08,879 --> 00:40:11,816
>> there were a few delays on that, absolutely.

578
00:40:11,816 --> 00:40:14,752
>> okay. But you see it happening this

579
00:40:14,752 --> 00:40:15,752
year? >> we do.

580
00:40:15,752 --> 00:40:19,357
we think it's going to happen in the coming weeks, months.

581
00:40:19,357 --> 00:40:21,559
>> okay. >> in terms of being awarded the

582
00:40:21,559 --> 00:40:24,559
funding. >> thank you very much.

583
00:40:25,280 --> 00:40:29,228
>> member griffin, do you have a question?

584
00:40:29,300 --> 00:40:34,700
>> thank you, chair. I have a question about the

585
00:40:40,711 --> 00:40:44,311
policy study on the mwbe program.

586
00:40:44,582 --> 00:40:50,587
I just wondered, how are you con-- are business owners being

587
00:40:50,587 --> 00:40:56,860
contacted to find out about the program and services or like who

588
00:40:56,860 --> 00:40:59,663
will-- how will the study be done?

589
00:40:59,663 --> 00:41:02,866
who are you asking for information from?

590
00:41:02,866 --> 00:41:04,668
like their experience with this program?

591
00:41:04,668 --> 00:41:07,471
>> yeah, no, thank you for that question.

592
00:41:07,471 --> 00:41:12,900
yeah, as you know, the disparity study was completed last year

593
00:41:12,900 --> 00:41:15,212
and working with the governor and the legislature, this policy

594
00:41:15,212 --> 00:41:18,816
study was agreed to. And effectively what the policy

595
00:41:18,816 --> 00:41:22,553
study is going to do is provide context for the disparity study.

596
00:41:22,553 --> 00:41:27,224
I think provide a brief legal analysis, understand utilization

597
00:41:27,224 --> 00:41:30,427
patterns better and make recommendations to strengthen

598
00:41:30,427 --> 00:41:35,966
and improve the program. We will be issuing an rfp at the

599
00:41:35,966 --> 00:41:44,375
end of this year to hire a firm to do the policy study and focus

600
00:41:44,375 --> 00:41:46,578
on those items that I just mentioned.

601
00:41:46,578 --> 00:41:47,511
>> okay. Thank you.

602
00:41:47,511 --> 00:41:54,111
and I know many minority and women owned businesses in my

603
00:41:54,985 --> 00:41:57,588
district, 8021 on long island, a lot of them come to me and they

604
00:41:57,588 --> 00:41:59,123
just don't know how to get started.

605
00:41:59,123 --> 00:42:02,393
they don't know, like where they can avail themselves of services

606
00:42:02,393 --> 00:42:04,928
, they don't really know how to get certified.

607
00:42:04,928 --> 00:42:11,469
and I wondered is there a contact that I can direct them

608
00:42:11,469 --> 00:42:15,672
to, an actual person to maybe help transition them into this

609
00:42:15,672 --> 00:42:17,741
system? Because I feel like there is a

610
00:42:17,741 --> 00:42:22,790
lot of minority women-owned businesses that are not part of

611
00:42:22,790 --> 00:42:24,414
the program and don't know how to be part of the program.

612
00:42:24,414 --> 00:42:28,850
>> so we would be happy to work with your office to provide a

613
00:42:28,850 --> 00:42:32,285
contact person. We have been having forums

614
00:42:34,558 --> 00:42:38,929
around the state to provide exactly the information that you

615
00:42:38,929 --> 00:42:42,366
are talking about. We had one about a week and a

616
00:42:42,366 --> 00:42:48,366
half ago in southeast queens abutting long island, to provide

617
00:42:48,572 --> 00:42:52,376
that information to small businesses that are interested

618
00:42:52,376 --> 00:42:58,616
in the mwbe program as well as certified mwbes to help them

619
00:42:58,616 --> 00:43:00,117
have greater access opportunities throughout state.

620
00:43:00,117 --> 00:43:03,120
>> okay, great. We'll touch base off line.

621
00:43:03,120 --> 00:43:06,720
thank you so much. >> senator sanders.

622
00:43:09,194 --> 00:43:11,394
do you have a question? >> yes, sir.

623
00:43:11,394 --> 00:43:14,398
first I would like to thank the chairs for allowing me to sit in

624
00:43:14,398 --> 00:43:17,935
with you. I appreciate the courtesy.

625
00:43:17,935 --> 00:43:20,671
I want to-- good morning, good morning.

626
00:43:20,671 --> 00:43:24,207
good to see you again. I want to speak of the studies

627
00:43:24,207 --> 00:43:27,878
that you are doing. I applaud you for doing the

628
00:43:27,878 --> 00:43:30,130
policy study. It's good to understand the

629
00:43:30,130 --> 00:43:33,817
bigger picture of things. And I suggest two things to you.

630
00:43:33,817 --> 00:43:38,288
the first, of course, is that we really drill down on the

631
00:43:38,288 --> 00:43:42,358
disparity within the disparity ies as has been alluded

632
00:43:42,358 --> 00:43:46,290
to earlier by one of my assemblymember colleagues.

633
00:43:46,290 --> 00:43:50,829
the disparity within the disparity, the decision and

634
00:43:52,235 --> 00:43:57,107
recent supreme court decision allow extra help or extra work

635
00:43:57,107 --> 00:44:01,578
for those people in the disparity within the disparity.

636
00:44:01,578 --> 00:44:08,720
the second is consider, in new york city they give a grade

637
00:44:08,720 --> 00:44:15,258
to how agencies are doing, on how they're doing for complying

638
00:44:15,258 --> 00:44:17,661
with mwbe. Consider that we need to do that

639
00:44:17,661 --> 00:44:25,268
up here in albany; that we need to grade the agencies and the

640
00:44:25,268 --> 00:44:29,740
development ideas, whatever else is out there, we need to grade

641
00:44:29,740 --> 00:44:35,346
everyone on how we are complying with the governor's edict.

642
00:44:35,346 --> 00:44:37,348
consider those things. Thank you very much to the

643
00:44:37,348 --> 00:44:39,748
chairs. >> you are welcome.

644
00:44:41,418 --> 00:44:48,618
I have a few more questions. Has your deem determined or been

645
00:44:49,760 --> 00:44:52,829
determining which economic incentive programs may shut down

646
00:44:52,829 --> 00:44:58,368
due to the federal funding cuts? >> we continue to monitor the

647
00:44:58,368 --> 00:45:01,772
situation. As I said, for example, the

648
00:45:01,772 --> 00:45:06,110
manufacturing extension program, that funding expires at the end

649
00:45:06,110 --> 00:45:10,980
of the year and we are looking to see if, you know, funding

650
00:45:10,980 --> 00:45:14,580
gets extended past that time. >> okay.

651
00:45:15,785 --> 00:45:19,985
of all the proposed semiconductor projects in

652
00:45:20,657 --> 00:45:25,495
new york state, how many are qualifying for the green chips

653
00:45:25,495 --> 00:45:27,598
tax incentive and how many are not?

654
00:45:27,598 --> 00:45:34,198
>> so, as you know, the green chips incentive has a threshold

655
00:45:34,872 --> 00:45:38,942
and two of our projects have qualified.

656
00:45:38,942 --> 00:45:44,942
global foundries and micron. What programs do they offer to

657
00:45:55,492 --> 00:46:00,292
maintain ecofriendly practices? >> so we offer incentives that

658
00:46:03,367 --> 00:46:05,767
really encourage ecofriendly practices.

659
00:46:07,582 --> 00:46:10,582
>> I guess two things, assemblymember.

660
00:46:11,454 --> 00:46:15,257
one is we have a division that really supports small businesses

661
00:46:15,257 --> 00:46:19,795
in terms of compliance with environmental regulations and

662
00:46:19,795 --> 00:46:22,195
rules. It's the environmental

663
00:46:23,732 --> 00:46:26,100
business-- we have a team of folks who work with businesses

664
00:46:26,100 --> 00:46:28,671
all the time to help with compliance.

665
00:46:28,671 --> 00:46:34,343
and then, you know, per state law, we are also required to

666
00:46:34,343 --> 00:46:40,343
ensure some degree of alignment with environmental goals for the

667
00:46:40,649 --> 00:46:43,485
state when we award state funding.

668
00:46:43,485 --> 00:46:47,556
usually it's done through, verified the seqr process but

669
00:46:47,556 --> 00:46:50,492
otherwise we engage in assessment to make sure that

670
00:46:50,492 --> 00:46:54,363
folks are thinking about those goals and adhering to the

671
00:46:54,363 --> 00:46:56,763
broader requirements regarding utilization.

672
00:46:57,899 --> 00:47:00,435
>> okay. How does the restore

673
00:47:00,435 --> 00:47:04,640
new york city program ensure projects are community-driven

674
00:47:04,640 --> 00:47:07,843
and not subsidies for private developers that could afford

675
00:47:07,843 --> 00:47:11,443
them otherwise, avoiding gentrification and displacement?

676
00:47:12,715 --> 00:47:17,520
>> with respect to the restore program, that funding is

677
00:47:17,520 --> 00:47:21,560
generally provided through the municipality to support the

678
00:47:21,560 --> 00:47:26,456
project, and so municipalities really do the screen around

679
00:47:27,363 --> 00:47:31,563
assessing that information. >> we understand the many

680
00:47:39,141 --> 00:47:41,210
technological research and development projects around a.I.

681
00:47:41,210 --> 00:47:44,880
are occurring upstate new york. How is your team ensuring the

682
00:47:44,880 --> 00:47:47,817
benefits and jobs from these developments also come downstate

683
00:47:47,817 --> 00:47:53,622
to communities like the bronx? >> there are a number of

684
00:47:53,622 --> 00:47:59,161
projects that are going on in new york city with respect to

685
00:47:59,161 --> 00:48:05,967
a.I., and you know, we work with city government to make sure

686
00:48:05,967 --> 00:48:11,106
that there are opportunities for workforce kept development, for

687
00:48:11,106 --> 00:48:14,242
training so that underserved communities are getting access

688
00:48:14,242 --> 00:48:17,242
to these programs. >> thank you.

689
00:48:22,318 --> 00:48:24,320
member buttenschon. >> thank you.

690
00:48:24,320 --> 00:48:27,923
every comment and question that my colleagues brought up are

691
00:48:27,923 --> 00:48:31,528
very important to me, whether we are talking about agriculture,

692
00:48:31,528 --> 00:48:35,728
small business, energy costs, minority women-owned businesses

693
00:48:37,199 --> 00:48:41,400
and clearly the emphasis that has been placed on our small

694
00:48:41,400 --> 00:48:44,940
business and the needs they have , I have hosted roundtables

695
00:48:44,940 --> 00:48:51,146
for our small business and I have heard from my chambers.

696
00:48:51,146 --> 00:48:56,785
and the echoing thought is, again, they're not sure how to

697
00:48:56,785 --> 00:48:58,887
navigate. And I appreciate you sending

698
00:48:58,887 --> 00:49:03,258
someone to my last roundtable because the face-to-face

699
00:49:03,258 --> 00:49:07,162
interaction is very helpful because it does provide that

700
00:49:07,162 --> 00:49:10,310
insight. So I ask you to challenge your

701
00:49:10,310 --> 00:49:15,503
team on how that can happen at a higher level to ensure that each

702
00:49:15,503 --> 00:49:18,373
region of the state in new york is represented.

703
00:49:18,373 --> 00:49:21,973
you also have the entrepreneurship assistance

704
00:49:23,511 --> 00:49:26,915
centers. Well, where I am, there isn't

705
00:49:26,915 --> 00:49:31,653
one close by, so it is a great asset.

706
00:49:31,653 --> 00:49:35,190
how can we bring it closer to many of our small businesses or

707
00:49:35,190 --> 00:49:37,525
what are you doing to bring them closer?

708
00:49:37,525 --> 00:49:42,130
>> I think we are working with organizations within communities

709
00:49:42,130 --> 00:49:45,667
that support entrepreneurship to try to bring our services closer

710
00:49:45,667 --> 00:49:48,690
to the businesses where they exist.

711
00:49:48,690 --> 00:49:54,810
and we can continue to work with , you know, your teams, your

712
00:49:54,810 --> 00:50:00,682
organizations and communities to bring them closer and even more

713
00:50:00,682 --> 00:50:01,816
frequently to the small businesses.

714
00:50:01,816 --> 00:50:07,956
>> so do you have the funds to expand this program so that it

715
00:50:07,956 --> 00:50:13,270
is within the regions and obviously the mohawk valley is

716
00:50:13,270 --> 00:50:16,165
very near and dear to me, but I'm sure my colleagues would say

717
00:50:16,165 --> 00:50:19,834
the same. >> so last year, you know, for

718
00:50:19,834 --> 00:50:23,405
many years, we had 24 entrepreneurial centers.

719
00:50:23,405 --> 00:50:27,800
we expanded to 26. It was done through a

720
00:50:27,800 --> 00:50:29,310
competitive process. If we were to expand further,

721
00:50:29,310 --> 00:50:33,783
that would have to be during a part of the budget negotiations.

722
00:50:33,783 --> 00:50:37,786
>> and how much of that budget is utilized for this program?

723
00:50:37,786 --> 00:50:41,386
>> they received 173,000 each. >> each one does?

724
00:50:46,728 --> 00:50:50,265
>> yes. And can you talk a little bit

725
00:50:50,265 --> 00:50:55,604
about the relationship between the grants for the incubators as

726
00:50:55,604 --> 00:51:00,542
well as the innovative hotspots? Is there a crossover or just

727
00:51:00,542 --> 00:51:04,346
talk a little bit about that. >> those are competitively

728
00:51:04,346 --> 00:51:07,346
awarded. >> the incubators are called

729
00:51:09,884 --> 00:51:11,987
new york state certified incubators so it's a process by

730
00:51:11,987 --> 00:51:16,910
which the state does a competitive sort of solicitation

731
00:51:16,910 --> 00:51:19,961
and incubators meet certain standards are provided that

732
00:51:19,961 --> 00:51:22,431
certification and level of funding.

733
00:51:22,431 --> 00:51:25,300
new york state incubators is the next level up.

734
00:51:25,300 --> 00:51:28,503
so in addition to providing this baseline service, they're

735
00:51:28,503 --> 00:51:32,641
providing an enhanced support, maybe something over and above

736
00:51:32,641 --> 00:51:37,713
what the baseline services are. And they, in turn, get that

737
00:51:37,713 --> 00:51:41,850
hotspot designation and they get a higher level of funding.

738
00:51:41,850 --> 00:51:43,850
>> so... >> they're aligned.

739
00:51:43,986 --> 00:51:46,521
very much aligned. >> how about the grant

740
00:51:46,521 --> 00:51:52,521
distribution because the area that I come from, the colleges

741
00:51:52,728 --> 00:51:55,732
are highly involved. >> yes, almost all instances,

742
00:51:55,732 --> 00:51:58,802
there is at least strong partnership with the colleges

743
00:51:58,802 --> 00:52:02,300
and universities. The hotspots, I think, receive

744
00:52:02,300 --> 00:52:05,474
$500,000 a year, and the incubators are $250,000.

745
00:52:05,474 --> 00:52:09,745
would I have to verify that but I think that's right.

746
00:52:09,745 --> 00:52:11,745
>> 500 each? >> 500 each.

747
00:52:15,350 --> 00:52:17,350
yeah. >> thank you.

748
00:52:21,757 --> 00:52:23,759
>> mr. Lemondes. >> thank you.

749
00:52:23,759 --> 00:52:26,761
thank you, chair. Thank you, colleagues and thank

750
00:52:26,761 --> 00:52:29,965
you again for being here. One of my colleagues had brought

751
00:52:29,965 --> 00:52:35,965
up helping agriculture. I want to give you a simple

752
00:52:37,406 --> 00:52:42,311
scenario, and this is of a farm that came to me for help.

753
00:52:42,311 --> 00:52:46,181
the minimum wage in pennsylvania is approximately half of what it

754
00:52:46,181 --> 00:52:50,986
is in new york. So a slaughter run of livestock

755
00:52:50,986 --> 00:52:56,386
for this particular farm, done equi distance in pennsylvania

756
00:52:57,659 --> 00:53:00,729
versus a slaughterhouse in new york, the slaughterhouse in

757
00:53:00,729 --> 00:53:04,799
new york costs twice as much. Is there any thought or

758
00:53:04,799 --> 00:53:09,137
recognition that perhaps our minimum wage and our just cost

759
00:53:09,137 --> 00:53:13,608
structure on business in general is too high?

760
00:53:13,608 --> 00:53:18,814
>> so, you know, I work closely with the commissioner of ag and

761
00:53:18,814 --> 00:53:21,616
markets on farm issues. So I really want to have, you

762
00:53:21,616 --> 00:53:24,653
know, a further discussion with him about this.

763
00:53:24,653 --> 00:53:29,491
>> I would love to be involved in that because this is what

764
00:53:29,491 --> 00:53:32,695
farms, you know, as you know, agriculture is our state's

765
00:53:32,695 --> 00:53:36,432
number one industry. It's my assembly district's

766
00:53:36,432 --> 00:53:39,768
number one industry. If were you to walk around any

767
00:53:39,768 --> 00:53:43,438
street in any one of our cities, what is our state's number one

768
00:53:43,438 --> 00:53:46,375
industry, they wouldn't come up with that answer.

769
00:53:46,375 --> 00:53:50,446
you know, that's unfortunate. But nonetheless, as our

770
00:53:50,446 --> 00:53:55,246
businesses are being strangled by costs, and overregulation,

771
00:53:55,517 --> 00:54:00,389
what are we doing simply to just remove some of those burdens so

772
00:54:00,389 --> 00:54:05,189
businesses won't feel like they have to leave?

773
00:54:06,610 --> 00:54:11,600
>> as you know, esd is not a regulatory agency, and we don't

774
00:54:11,600 --> 00:54:16,405
look to talk to our colleagues about, you know, structure and--

775
00:54:16,405 --> 00:54:18,607
>> right. It was just general in nature.

776
00:54:18,607 --> 00:54:24,790
I mean this is a team sport. And if it's not looked at that

777
00:54:24,790 --> 00:54:27,616
way, then we all fail is my point.

778
00:54:27,616 --> 00:54:30,552
so thank you. Thank you, chair.

779
00:54:30,552 --> 00:54:37,152
>> I have one more question. We talked, or you mentioned how

780
00:54:37,191 --> 00:54:43,191
the process to become eligible for mwbe has been streamlined

781
00:54:43,564 --> 00:54:50,172
and is much shorter because I know that my office got many

782
00:54:50,172 --> 00:54:54,420
phone calls for numbers of years about how painful and how long

783
00:54:54,420 --> 00:54:59,981
it took to get certified mwbe. So what actually happened?

784
00:54:59,981 --> 00:55:04,181
I mean how did it get streamlined?

785
00:55:06,654 --> 00:55:10,391
what are you doing that-- what are you not doing that you used

786
00:55:10,391 --> 00:55:12,727
to do before? >> thank you for that question.

787
00:55:12,727 --> 00:55:15,530
esd worked very hard to streamline the process, thanks

788
00:55:15,530 --> 00:55:19,000
to the government and legislature providing

789
00:55:19,000 --> 00:55:24,600
$11 million to do a couple of things to help us increase

790
00:55:24,600 --> 00:55:28,143
staffing, to get rid of the backlog because you had a

791
00:55:28,143 --> 00:55:30,278
backlog of several thousand sand applications.

792
00:55:30,278 --> 00:55:35,150
we also had I backlog of appeals that needed to be gone through.

793
00:55:35,150 --> 00:55:41,750
so we did staff up temporarily to get through the backlog.

794
00:55:42,557 --> 00:55:48,557
we engineered our process. We didn't eliminate any of the

795
00:55:48,563 --> 00:55:54,563
review required by 15a, but just streamlined and had greater

796
00:55:55,637 --> 00:55:57,839
resources. You know, before we did that,

797
00:55:57,839 --> 00:56:01,710
the average cycle time for application review and approval

798
00:56:01,710 --> 00:56:07,710
was several hundred days. Now we quote 90 to 120 days, but

799
00:56:08,650 --> 00:56:15,560
our average is about 65 days. And I think one of the big

800
00:56:15,560 --> 00:56:18,593
frustrations for a lot of companies was not when they

801
00:56:18,593 --> 00:56:23,993
initially became an mwbe but getting recertified, it seemed

802
00:56:24,465 --> 00:56:30,465
like, you know, they were going into this endless cycle.

803
00:56:31,720 --> 00:56:33,408
I'm assuming that's easier now than it used to be?

804
00:56:33,408 --> 00:56:38,280
>> it is the same process, but we have, like I said, have been

805
00:56:38,280 --> 00:56:42,884
able to reduce the cycle time. I would also like to note, with

806
00:56:42,884 --> 00:56:47,955
the current leadership of the mwbe program, we've tried to

807
00:56:47,955 --> 00:56:51,626
create much more transparency into the process and so

808
00:56:51,626 --> 00:56:56,497
companies better understand what they need to put forth with

809
00:56:56,497 --> 00:56:58,897
respect to recertification. >> okay.

810
00:57:00,268 --> 00:57:04,372
>> thank you very much. Are we okay.

811
00:57:04,372 --> 00:57:06,775
everybody is set. Thank you.

812
00:57:06,775 --> 00:57:10,445
>> one more. My question has to do with

813
00:57:10,445 --> 00:57:14,282
outreach regarding the proposed propelled transmission line

814
00:57:14,282 --> 00:57:17,119
project. In my area nassau county, we

815
00:57:17,119 --> 00:57:20,188
have northern boulevard which is the home of house of businesses,

816
00:57:20,188 --> 00:57:23,125
small businesses. I mean some businesses might be

817
00:57:23,125 --> 00:57:26,394
affected, some might not. Is there some type of outreach

818
00:57:26,394 --> 00:57:32,330
regarding how we can help these tiny stores get through the

819
00:57:32,330 --> 00:57:33,735
projects because this is not just happening in nassau county.

820
00:57:33,735 --> 00:57:37,272
it's happening all over the state in one form or another.

821
00:57:37,272 --> 00:57:40,343
so is there some type of way of handling this issue?

822
00:57:40,343 --> 00:57:46,343
>> so, you know, I am familiar with the pipeline projects.

823
00:57:47,415 --> 00:57:50,952
esd is not involved in these projects but I can certainly,

824
00:57:50,952 --> 00:57:55,490
you know, check in with my colleagues at the other agencies

825
00:57:55,490 --> 00:58:00,280
to see what kind of outreach is happening with the small

826
00:58:00,280 --> 00:58:01,662
businesses. >> thank you.

827
00:58:01,662 --> 00:58:02,797
that's it. >> thank you very much.

828
00:58:02,797 --> 00:58:08,197
>> thank you very much. >> our next panel... Randy van

829
00:58:18,120 --> 00:58:21,120
waggoner and dr. Christopher spence.

830
00:59:11,573 --> 00:59:18,173
>> thank you for being here, as randall van wagoner from mohawk

831
00:59:20,515 --> 00:59:23,419
valley community college in utica new york and you are both

832
00:59:23,419 --> 00:59:26,655
doctors, dr. Christopher spence from the utica school

833
00:59:26,655 --> 00:59:31,760
district that has recently added a career and tech program and

834
00:59:31,760 --> 00:59:36,465
the bridge that the two of you will continue to transpire is

835
00:59:36,465 --> 00:59:43,650
amazing and I appreciate that. I believe we will start with

836
00:59:44,606 --> 00:59:48,206
president van wagoner. >> good morning, chairwoman

837
00:59:49,210 --> 00:59:52,347
buttenschon, chairman stirpe and members of the committee.

838
00:59:52,347 --> 00:59:55,685
I'm in my 19th year as president of mohawk valley

839
00:59:55,685 --> 00:59:58,587
community college located in utica and rome new york.

840
00:59:58,587 --> 01:00:01,222
pleasure to share testimony in workforce development grounded

841
01:00:01,222 --> 01:00:04,959
in our experiences. Community colleges are power

842
01:00:04,959 --> 01:00:08,163
engines of workforce development across new york in partnership

843
01:00:08,163 --> 01:00:10,498
with empire state development and various state agencies, we

844
01:00:10,498 --> 01:00:13,568
deliver solutions closely aligned with local employer

845
01:00:13,568 --> 01:00:17,439
needs and today's workforce landscape is shaped by several

846
01:00:17,439 --> 01:00:21,743
factors that place growing pressure on our workforce

847
01:00:21,743 --> 01:00:25,580
systems and as a.I. Technologies accelerate, I encourage state to

848
01:00:25,580 --> 01:00:28,817
strongly consider supporting community colleges to help

849
01:00:28,817 --> 01:00:32,654
employers develop strategies to leverage a.I. Effectively and

850
01:00:32,654 --> 01:00:38,540
retain workers accordingly. Let me share ow we have

851
01:00:38,590 --> 01:00:40,595
leveraged several workforce development initiatives.

852
01:00:40,595 --> 01:00:45,395
since 2017, mvcc has led advanced manufacturing and other

853
01:00:45,867 --> 01:00:49,467
industries. Nearly mvcc has supported more

854
01:00:50,806 --> 01:00:53,806
than 2700 apprenticeship experiences and nearly 2,000

855
01:00:54,776 --> 01:00:57,612
registered apprentices across suny colleges in coordination

856
01:00:57,612 --> 01:01:00,682
with new york state department of labor.

857
01:01:00,682 --> 01:01:04,882
, alongside suny schenectady, we administer $23 million in

858
01:01:05,687 --> 01:01:09,557
apprenticeship related funding. Mvcc created the free fast track

859
01:01:09,557 --> 01:01:12,494
training model to better serve adult learners after conducting

860
01:01:12,494 --> 01:01:16,694
community focus groups. And offers flee short-term

861
01:01:18,366 --> 01:01:21,369
skill-based training that lead directly to quality jobs and

862
01:01:21,369 --> 01:01:23,439
career pathways. Since january of 2023, almost

863
01:01:23,439 --> 01:01:27,639
3,000 students have enrolled for the 70% completion rate.

864
01:01:27,909 --> 01:01:33,309
and pre-fast track is amplified by outreach, 17 braided funding

865
01:01:33,581 --> 01:01:37,385
streams, many of which are from the state and strategic mix of

866
01:01:37,385 --> 01:01:41,456
credit and non-credit offerings that extend our community reach.

867
01:01:41,456 --> 01:01:44,593
mvcc was one of four institution as warded the designation for

868
01:01:44,593 --> 01:01:46,928
the win network for regional advanced manufacturing

869
01:01:46,928 --> 01:01:50,598
partnership, the on ramp effort, in collaboration with local

870
01:01:50,598 --> 01:01:54,269
partners we are conducting stakeholder engagement and labor

871
01:01:54,269 --> 01:01:58,607
market analysis during phase 1 to inform a phase 2 proposal

872
01:01:58,607 --> 01:02:03,545
which includes up $20 some will in operating and $20 million

873
01:02:03,545 --> 01:02:05,213
some capital investment over the nement three years.

874
01:02:05,213 --> 01:02:09,170
the on ramp center will expand the free fast track model in our

875
01:02:09,170 --> 01:02:13,221
region to support major employers like the new chobani

876
01:02:13,221 --> 01:02:17,225
facility in roam. The mohawk valley regional

877
01:02:17,225 --> 01:02:21,163
economic development council plays a key role, three notable

878
01:02:21,163 --> 01:02:26,101
examples include the recent mv power efforts where they

879
01:02:26,101 --> 01:02:28,637
received 2.3 million of the 10 million grant to expand free

880
01:02:28,637 --> 01:02:34,370
fast track training and to herkimer fulton montgomery and

881
01:02:34,343 --> 01:02:37,846
oswego county and other suny institutions in the region.

882
01:02:37,846 --> 01:02:41,650
the advanced institute for manufacturing or aim as it is

883
01:02:41,650 --> 01:02:45,987
known at mvcc where we are the only community college in the

884
01:02:45,987 --> 01:02:50,187
state designated as a regional manufacturing extension

885
01:02:50,392 --> 01:02:53,328
partnership site. Aim supports small and medium

886
01:02:53,328 --> 01:02:55,497
sized manufacturers across six counties with consulting

887
01:02:55,497 --> 01:02:59,468
training and technology services and has helped create or retain

888
01:02:59,468 --> 01:03:04,268
more than 2900 jobs and contributed over $245 million in

889
01:03:05,607 --> 01:03:09,807
economic impact. Since 2014, mvcc has center the

890
01:03:10,878 --> 01:03:14,882
hotspot grant to fund operations at the incubator, located next

891
01:03:14,882 --> 01:03:19,287
to aim, the think u baiter offers meant oreship training to

892
01:03:19,287 --> 01:03:23,487
entrepreneurs and helps launch nearly 20 ventures annually.

893
01:03:23,758 --> 01:03:26,627
it also houses the mohawk valley small business development

894
01:03:26,627 --> 01:03:31,990
center as our region is the only one to co-locate both entities

895
01:03:31,990 --> 01:03:34,699
maximizing regional entrepreneurial support I urge

896
01:03:42,711 --> 01:03:45,179
you to continue supporting and investing in these proven

897
01:03:45,179 --> 01:03:46,581
efforts. Today is a sample of how

898
01:03:46,581 --> 01:03:50,284
community colleges can maximize state resources and why they

899
01:03:50,284 --> 01:03:53,454
should be seen as the most significant leaver to deploy

900
01:03:53,454 --> 01:03:56,525
statewide workforce strategies. We are nimble, employer

901
01:03:56,525 --> 01:04:00,128
connected and mission aligned to support economic mobility and

902
01:04:00,128 --> 01:04:02,731
regional growth throughout new york.

903
01:04:02,731 --> 01:04:05,500
with your continued support and strategic investments I've

904
01:04:05,500 --> 01:04:07,469
mentioned today, community colleges can serve as the

905
01:04:07,469 --> 01:04:10,472
foundation for new york's next generation of workforce

906
01:04:10,472 --> 01:04:14,672
innovation. Thank you for your support and

907
01:04:15,143 --> 01:04:17,543
type. >> thank you, superintendent

908
01:04:21,817 --> 01:04:25,553
spence, please. And who do have you with you

909
01:04:25,553 --> 01:04:27,953
today? >> good morning all

910
01:04:35,764 --> 01:04:38,433
distinguished members of the committee, I'm dr. Christopher

911
01:04:38,433 --> 01:04:39,569
spence, superintendent of schools for the utica city

912
01:04:39,569 --> 01:04:43,104
school district. I'm joined here today by our

913
01:04:43,104 --> 01:04:46,108
chief operations officer as well as our director of cte who have

914
01:04:46,108 --> 01:04:48,777
been instrumental in this work. And so we are here today to talk

915
01:04:48,777 --> 01:04:56,577
about our new cte wing that we have are happy to have brought

916
01:04:56,718 --> 01:05:01,560
into fruition and designed to exspanned educational attainment

917
01:05:01,560 --> 01:05:04,559
as well as occupational attainment, particularly

918
01:05:04,559 --> 01:05:06,610
postsecondary opportunities within our region.

919
01:05:06,610 --> 01:05:09,970
based on a work that you all have done to provide grants and

920
01:05:09,970 --> 01:05:13,297
funding streams for multiple partners supporting local

921
01:05:13,735 --> 01:05:16,371
businesses, we are now developing the human capital

922
01:05:16,371 --> 01:05:19,274
which will help us provide the labor force for those businesses

923
01:05:19,274 --> 01:05:24,674
immediately within our area. It's been an amazing endeavor

924
01:05:26,248 --> 01:05:28,283
because it has been receiving sounding community support from

925
01:05:28,283 --> 01:05:31,486
our local businesses that the work with us to help develop the

926
01:05:31,486 --> 01:05:34,488
pathways and the content, knowledge and skills necessary

927
01:05:34,488 --> 01:05:38,759
for these post secondary opportunities to come to

928
01:05:38,759 --> 01:05:40,695
fruition. In other words, what skills,

929
01:05:40,695 --> 01:05:44,632
habits of mine and content knowledge to students need

930
01:05:44,632 --> 01:05:47,568
postsecondary in order to be immediately employable?

931
01:05:47,568 --> 01:05:51,372
as we are expanding small businesses within the area we

932
01:05:51,372 --> 01:05:55,777
can say definitively that we have a workforce that is ready

933
01:05:55,777 --> 01:05:59,514
to engage upon graduation from high school or take those skills

934
01:05:59,514 --> 01:06:03,985
and go and pursue tertiary education in business and

935
01:06:03,985 --> 01:06:06,721
whatever they would like. I would like to use some of this

936
01:06:06,721 --> 01:06:12,721
time here to talk about intricacies of the pathways and

937
01:06:13,194 --> 01:06:16,731
how we are developing our young people to ensure immediate

938
01:06:16,731 --> 01:06:19,133
success postsecondary so I'm going to allow michelle to talk

939
01:06:19,133 --> 01:06:23,500
about our pathways. And just so we don't miss it,

940
01:06:23,500 --> 01:06:25,974
some of the things that you are asking what pathways we are

941
01:06:25,974 --> 01:06:30,110
talking about, we have our health professions, construction

942
01:06:30,110 --> 01:06:32,411
technologies, advanced manufacturing, robotics,

943
01:06:34,548 --> 01:06:37,819
automation, fiber opennics, electricity and so many other

944
01:06:37,819 --> 01:06:43,491
high demand fields where we know there is a scarcity in the labor

945
01:06:43,491 --> 01:06:45,560
force, fiber optic. >> thank you very much for

946
01:06:45,560 --> 01:06:48,290
having us. >> we have a systematic k-12

947
01:06:48,290 --> 01:06:50,965
approach that we have implemented in the utica city

948
01:06:50,965 --> 01:06:53,968
district. We are starting in the

949
01:06:53,968 --> 01:06:56,705
elementary schools with exes pose your-- exposure to business

950
01:06:56,705 --> 01:06:59,207
and industry, their local community and different

951
01:06:59,207 --> 01:07:02,110
occupations. We take a deeper dive in middle

952
01:07:02,110 --> 01:07:03,711
school. As the students move into high

953
01:07:03,711 --> 01:07:05,847
school, the cte wing is beautiful.

954
01:07:05,847 --> 01:07:08,616
it's state-of-the-art. We are very fortunate when we

955
01:07:08,616 --> 01:07:14,160
were planning, we are offering electricity and fiber optics,

956
01:07:14,255 --> 01:07:18,326
cybersecurity, future educators, construction tech, ev auto,

957
01:07:18,326 --> 01:07:21,326
advanced manufacturing, robotics, health professions

958
01:07:22,463 --> 01:07:25,463
media productions entrepreneurial zone, computer

959
01:07:25,934 --> 01:07:28,737
applications, business, finance and marketing and business

960
01:07:28,737 --> 01:07:30,938
analytics. Students are able, once they

961
01:07:30,938 --> 01:07:35,610
have had exposure k-9 they are able to apply at the end of

962
01:07:35,610 --> 01:07:39,800
ninth grade in experience cte in 10-12.

963
01:07:39,800 --> 01:07:43,618
one thing we have done currently because we backward designed

964
01:07:43,618 --> 01:07:46,821
this, we have pre-apprenticeships so we have

965
01:07:46,821 --> 01:07:49,157
pre-apprenticeship in all of the pathways and what that

966
01:07:49,157 --> 01:07:52,894
pre-apprenticeship does is it allows us to connect to local

967
01:07:52,894 --> 01:07:55,498
businesses. We have over 200 business

968
01:07:55,498 --> 01:08:01,636
partners and it really started because it started with mack any

969
01:08:01,636 --> 01:08:07,108
and we put students through the pre-apprenticeship who sent to

970
01:08:07,108 --> 01:08:09,844
class and mirrored that in all of the pathways that we offer.

971
01:08:09,844 --> 01:08:15,244
we work went priceses, wynne hospital, indium and prea

972
01:08:16,851 --> 01:08:19,520
apprenticeship is allow students to develop technical skills,

973
01:08:19,520 --> 01:08:22,791
career prad practices, work in those businesses and industries

974
01:08:22,791 --> 01:08:25,793
and learning what they like, what they don't like and

975
01:08:25,793 --> 01:08:28,463
connecting to their community and hopes to keep them here.

976
01:08:28,463 --> 01:08:32,133
>> and if I could just expand on that.

977
01:08:32,133 --> 01:08:36,871
not only are we developing or have we developed programs in

978
01:08:36,871 --> 01:08:40,808
line with new york's aspire portrait of a graduate and where

979
01:08:40,808 --> 01:08:45,880
we are going, we are also in discussion with our regional

980
01:08:45,880 --> 01:08:49,351
partners omh and boces to talk about the ways in which we can

981
01:08:49,351 --> 01:08:52,286
expand access to our cte programming so that the impact

982
01:08:52,286 --> 01:08:55,423
that utica will experience is shared more broadly with our

983
01:08:55,423 --> 01:08:58,960
partners in the area as we are looking to further rejuvenate

984
01:08:58,960 --> 01:09:01,829
and develop this region. Along those same lines, would I

985
01:09:01,829 --> 01:09:05,700
like to give chief operational officer time to talk about the

986
01:09:05,700 --> 01:09:08,302
impact locally as we work with our vendors in the community and

987
01:09:08,302 --> 01:09:11,902
things like that. >> good afternoon everyone.

988
01:09:13,774 --> 01:09:16,111
how are you? It's a huge impact.

989
01:09:16,111 --> 01:09:19,981
being in the operation side for over 22 years in the district,

990
01:09:19,981 --> 01:09:24,652
we know how vital it is for the skilled labor in our community.

991
01:09:24,652 --> 01:09:27,989
we know the struggle we have to fill those positions throughout

992
01:09:27,989 --> 01:09:35,196
the years and know that it's a huge impact for everybody in the

993
01:09:35,196 --> 01:09:38,134
community with those skilled labor positions.

994
01:09:38,134 --> 01:09:41,569
and we also you through these projects feed the local economy

995
01:09:41,569 --> 01:09:45,769
with those skilled labor positions moving forward.

996
01:10:00,822 --> 01:10:05,260
>> I will ask my first question to mr. Van wagoner.

997
01:10:05,260 --> 01:10:09,831
looking at your testimony, things seem to be very rosie.

998
01:10:09,831 --> 01:10:14,631
very successful in all areas. Everything is great.

999
01:10:14,736 --> 01:10:20,308
but tell me, I mean what obstacles do you see, you know,

1000
01:10:20,308 --> 01:10:26,247
in your community that needs to be addressed so that we can help

1001
01:10:26,247 --> 01:10:30,785
you be even more successful. >> I'm in my 19th year and

1002
01:10:30,785 --> 01:10:37,385
when I talk to my colleagues around the country, it is

1003
01:10:37,625 --> 01:10:39,327
reaffirmed how fortunate I feel to be in new york state and the

1004
01:10:39,327 --> 01:10:44,866
way in which the state values education, both k-12 and

1005
01:10:44,866 --> 01:10:47,936
postsecondary. However, it is a great challenge

1006
01:10:47,936 --> 01:10:54,536
in that all of these varied funding streams that I mentioned

1007
01:10:54,742 --> 01:11:00,749
that mvcc takes great advantage of and we are proud of and

1008
01:11:00,749 --> 01:11:06,149
grateful for the administrative costs that comes with managing

1009
01:11:07,555 --> 01:11:11,826
multiple funding streams when there is all of this workforce

1010
01:11:11,826 --> 01:11:15,296
development effort and yet community colleges at our core,

1011
01:11:15,296 --> 01:11:19,500
we are workforce development. When we look at our base aid,

1012
01:11:19,500 --> 01:11:25,173
while it has been probable the best we have ever been,

1013
01:11:25,173 --> 01:11:31,412
certainly in my 19 years, it's hard to look at the four-year

1014
01:11:31,412 --> 01:11:34,982
sector getting 3.5 times per student what community colleges

1015
01:11:34,982 --> 01:11:39,587
get so our-- the base infrastructure and the core of

1016
01:11:39,587 --> 01:11:41,322
our operation to support the workforce development is

1017
01:11:41,322 --> 01:11:46,122
probably our greatest challenge, to be quite frank.

1018
01:11:46,260 --> 01:11:51,600
and working with employers, sometimes working through some

1019
01:11:52,668 --> 01:11:56,871
of the with apprenticeship, the department of labor has made

1020
01:11:56,871 --> 01:12:00,708
great strides in breaking down red tape but there are still

1021
01:12:00,708 --> 01:12:03,878
miles to go. We have seen, in the last three

1022
01:12:03,878 --> 01:12:09,751
years, a great accelerating in the numbers that we are able to

1023
01:12:09,751 --> 01:12:11,685
bring into pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship because of

1024
01:12:11,685 --> 01:12:14,555
changes that the department of labor has made in streamlining

1025
01:12:14,555 --> 01:12:19,955
the process. >> I mean I guess I would have

1026
01:12:20,962 --> 01:12:27,167
to agree with you, when the on-ramp program was started and

1027
01:12:27,167 --> 01:12:29,971
you saw all these dollars in the budget for everything, I was a

1028
01:12:29,971 --> 01:12:33,708
little confused as to why the majority of that didn't already

1029
01:12:33,708 --> 01:12:37,912
go through the community colleges since they happen to be

1030
01:12:37,912 --> 01:12:44,852
kind of the centers of where we would train people for high need

1031
01:12:44,852 --> 01:12:51,592
jobs, you know, in the area. And I'm still hoping that, as we

1032
01:12:51,592 --> 01:12:56,663
go through the process, we can direct more and more of that

1033
01:12:56,663 --> 01:13:00,802
funding to a community colleges. They have facilities, I mean

1034
01:13:00,802 --> 01:13:03,738
they could use some more equipment probably, things like

1035
01:13:03,738 --> 01:13:08,538
that. But I know in our area, onondaga

1036
01:13:09,411 --> 01:13:13,486
community college, we've put a great deal on their shoulder to

1037
01:13:13,486 --> 01:13:17,423
train all these people from micron and the supply chain

1038
01:13:17,423 --> 01:13:20,760
companies that are coming along with it.

1039
01:13:20,760 --> 01:13:25,560
nursing, all the healthcare shortages we have now.

1040
01:13:26,990 --> 01:13:31,304
so I think that you are correct. >> thank you for that.

1041
01:13:31,304 --> 01:13:34,507
if I could add one more, and really appreciate the support

1042
01:13:34,507 --> 01:13:38,707
with that. Looking forward, you know, the

1043
01:13:38,778 --> 01:13:43,116
carnegie classifications changed this past year for postsecondary

1044
01:13:43,116 --> 01:13:48,200
institutions which you think of r-1 research institutions and

1045
01:13:48,200 --> 01:13:49,457
r-2. It used to be community colleges

1046
01:13:49,457 --> 01:13:53,793
now there are 31 different rankings of classification for

1047
01:13:53,793 --> 01:13:57,393
postsecondary institutions. Community colleges are now

1048
01:13:57,797 --> 01:14:01,201
ranked on low, medium and high in the graduation rate,

1049
01:14:01,201 --> 01:14:06,100
accessibility based on pell grants and your post-graduate

1050
01:14:06,272 --> 01:14:13,472
outcomes and new york state, in my opinion, has one of the

1051
01:14:15,748 --> 01:14:19,352
weakest data systems when it comes to employment and our

1052
01:14:19,352 --> 01:14:23,289
ability to track postgraduate outcomes as the accountability

1053
01:14:23,289 --> 01:14:27,193
ramps up, I would hope that the state pays close attention to

1054
01:14:27,193 --> 01:14:30,696
the infrastructure that will be needed to provide those

1055
01:14:30,696 --> 01:14:33,166
outcomes. I can tell you 70% of our free

1056
01:14:33,166 --> 01:14:39,166
fast track students have completed the class but then the

1057
01:14:39,506 --> 01:14:45,311
extent to which I can truly get those data points on their job

1058
01:14:45,311 --> 01:14:49,516
placements, very difficult under the direction of the suny

1059
01:14:49,516 --> 01:14:51,786
chancellor, very excited about the digital transformation

1060
01:14:51,786 --> 01:14:58,386
effort that suny is putting in place, selecting a vendor for

1061
01:14:58,858 --> 01:15:01,994
non-credit data system for the entire suny system.

1062
01:15:01,994 --> 01:15:07,670
that is very exciting and it can help the state shore up it's

1063
01:15:07,670 --> 01:15:09,670
system on employment and post-graduate outcomes.

1064
01:15:09,670 --> 01:15:14,470
>> thank you. >> thank you again for both of

1065
01:15:15,608 --> 01:15:19,211
your testimony. Dr. Spence, how many students

1066
01:15:19,211 --> 01:15:26,411
are in the utica school system? >> as of our most recent pupil

1067
01:15:28,755 --> 01:15:33,560
count 9,178 in our enrollment and we have otherses in out of

1068
01:15:33,560 --> 01:15:38,360
district placement and charters. >> how many lang languages.

1069
01:15:38,898 --> 01:15:42,235
>> over 52 languages. >> I want to emphasize the

1070
01:15:42,235 --> 01:15:45,972
demographics of the community. And this question is to both of

1071
01:15:45,972 --> 01:15:53,172
you, can you talk about your partnership as you opened up the

1072
01:15:53,480 --> 01:15:56,582
center and worked with the college to see how the great

1073
01:15:56,582 --> 01:16:00,386
programs that were discussed are going to blend if a student

1074
01:16:00,386 --> 01:16:02,188
chooses? >> well first I think should we

1075
01:16:02,188 --> 01:16:05,392
talk about-- I mean we have a couple do you want to talk about

1076
01:16:05,392 --> 01:16:09,395
the fast track or mvcc bridge program?

1077
01:16:09,395 --> 01:16:13,466
>> it goes back 25 years the millennial project with the

1078
01:16:13,466 --> 01:16:17,536
bridge program, dual enrollment, having those in place.

1079
01:16:17,536 --> 01:16:21,700
the high school is literally across the street for those who

1080
01:16:21,700 --> 01:16:23,209
don't know. Probably 300 yards away from our

1081
01:16:23,209 --> 01:16:27,413
utica campus. And when it came to the-- as the

1082
01:16:27,413 --> 01:16:30,283
school district was designing and developing the programming

1083
01:16:30,283 --> 01:16:36,220
for the cte wing, our free fast track model was just coming into

1084
01:16:36,220 --> 01:16:42,950
play january of 23, that we sat down faculty and staff to design

1085
01:16:42,950 --> 01:16:45,297
all of those pathways that they spoke of.

1086
01:16:45,297 --> 01:16:51,771
each one of our free fast track classes, it can only be access

1087
01:16:51,771 --> 01:16:55,841
free fast track funding if it is in a career pathway; for

1088
01:16:55,841 --> 01:16:58,579
example, cdl training would be great.

1089
01:16:58,579 --> 01:17:01,914
get that free fast track, get that job in 12 weeks, make six

1090
01:17:01,914 --> 01:17:05,184
figures as a truck driver but where is the pathway with that?

1091
01:17:05,184 --> 01:17:07,921
so all of these programs have pathways for them.

1092
01:17:07,921 --> 01:17:11,792
>> I think one that is most critical for us is the one for

1093
01:17:11,792 --> 01:17:13,993
for the rta, teaching assistants.

1094
01:17:13,993 --> 01:17:17,630
we have a program where people can get a certification and

1095
01:17:17,630 --> 01:17:21,534
allows us to really fill high needs, critical areas within the

1096
01:17:21,534 --> 01:17:25,134
organization so these partnerships are instrumental

1097
01:17:26,720 --> 01:17:28,941
number one, it's a testament to us being a good steward of

1098
01:17:28,941 --> 01:17:32,111
public resources but also these partnerships helping us to

1099
01:17:32,111 --> 01:17:35,882
address human capital issues within the region while also

1100
01:17:35,882 --> 01:17:39,418
expanding educational attainment and, again, occupational attain

1101
01:17:39,418 --> 01:17:40,886
many. So two things we are looking at

1102
01:17:40,886 --> 01:17:43,489
is how are we creating opportunities for students to

1103
01:17:43,489 --> 01:17:47,689
fulfill their educational aspirations while providing a

1104
01:17:48,428 --> 01:17:53,700
pathway and avenue for students to be pursuing employment

1105
01:17:53,700 --> 01:17:55,100
opportunities postsecondary. And another thing that we

1106
01:17:55,100 --> 01:17:58,237
haven't discussed is the percentage of students that

1107
01:17:58,237 --> 01:18:02,608
economically disadvantaged in our school system that really

1108
01:18:02,608 --> 01:18:07,246
need an opportunity to postsecondary provide and find

1109
01:18:07,246 --> 01:18:09,849
employment and help them feed their families and support their

1110
01:18:09,849 --> 01:18:12,251
families. So it has been a really great

1111
01:18:12,251 --> 01:18:14,854
partnership and again, we appreciate the support of

1112
01:18:14,854 --> 01:18:19,654
assemblywoman buttenschon as you have given the district.

1113
01:18:20,459 --> 01:18:24,330
>> I think president van wagoner, you brought up a point

1114
01:18:24,330 --> 01:18:29,735
that you know I do bring up to both of you is assessment and

1115
01:18:29,735 --> 01:18:35,875
the importance of state dollars that have been put into these

1116
01:18:35,875 --> 01:18:39,445
great programs. And as you stated, you are

1117
01:18:39,445 --> 01:18:44,751
hiring people just to manage how we jockey everything and it is

1118
01:18:44,751 --> 01:18:47,286
frustrating and I understand the regulations as my colleague

1119
01:18:47,286 --> 01:18:49,822
brought up. But more importantly, do you see

1120
01:18:49,822 --> 01:18:56,495
something on your end that could be done to track those students?

1121
01:18:56,495 --> 01:18:59,132
and listen, I have worked with the department of labor and I

1122
01:18:59,132 --> 01:19:04,603
will continue to emphasize them to provide that data to you, but

1123
01:19:04,603 --> 01:19:10,642
is there something legislatively that we can do to help support

1124
01:19:10,642 --> 01:19:15,114
you or any other means to say how could you track those

1125
01:19:15,114 --> 01:19:19,319
students to see their success? >> yeah, right now our approach

1126
01:19:19,319 --> 01:19:25,919
has been we have taken what we have developed through our

1127
01:19:26,859 --> 01:19:31,397
guided pathways efforts with our credit students going to a

1128
01:19:31,397 --> 01:19:35,200
single point of contact, student support adviser, case manage

1129
01:19:35,200 --> 01:19:38,570
many in recent years we have done the same in the non-credit

1130
01:19:38,570 --> 01:19:42,542
workforce side so we have workforce navigators and it's

1131
01:19:42,542 --> 01:19:46,812
literally personal followup. So absent a statewide data

1132
01:19:46,812 --> 01:19:50,416
system, it's that personal followup and that's costly in

1133
01:19:50,416 --> 01:19:54,353
terms of human capital; which goes back to our base funding

1134
01:19:54,353 --> 01:19:57,957
challenges that we have. >> and it would be the same in

1135
01:19:57,957 --> 01:20:00,493
k-12. I mean we look at it

1136
01:20:00,493 --> 01:20:03,462
longitudinal study over time. How have people performed in the

1137
01:20:03,462 --> 01:20:07,967
system after looking at these different interventions as the

1138
01:20:07,967 --> 01:20:10,436
initiatives and the state change over time.

1139
01:20:10,436 --> 01:20:14,973
and hour challenge is the same. How do we track that while

1140
01:20:14,973 --> 01:20:16,909
managing existing student base that we have.

1141
01:20:16,909 --> 01:20:21,914
so to denote efficacy long-term, we need a department that is

1142
01:20:21,914 --> 01:20:24,784
research-based, to study the impact of our initiatives and

1143
01:20:24,784 --> 01:20:29,122
interventions over time whether as we are assess social

1144
01:20:29,122 --> 01:20:32,192
mobility, educational atiniment or occupational attain many.

1145
01:20:32,192 --> 01:20:35,928
there are models that do that. It comes down to what you said,

1146
01:20:35,928 --> 01:20:38,131
the human capital aspect of it. >> you have been to conferences

1147
01:20:38,131 --> 01:20:41,534
with other states, haven't seen anybody that is that could give

1148
01:20:41,534 --> 01:20:46,672
us a hand with that? >> I started my career in

1149
01:20:46,672 --> 01:20:49,942
institutional research and 30 years ago the state of colorado,

1150
01:20:49,942 --> 01:20:53,213
I could submit my graduation file, get the unemployment

1151
01:20:53,213 --> 01:20:57,883
insurance file and know where my graduates were new york state,

1152
01:20:57,883 --> 01:21:02,621
it is not that easy. >> it's on us is what you are

1153
01:21:02,621 --> 01:21:04,824
saying. >> there are special-- there is

1154
01:21:04,824 --> 01:21:08,961
a special mou, there are things in motion, but been working on

1155
01:21:08,961 --> 01:21:13,165
it for 18 years now. >> I do know of another system

1156
01:21:13,165 --> 01:21:17,370
that has sort of that institutional research mechanism

1157
01:21:17,370 --> 01:21:21,375
built in the k-12 structure. I forget the particular district

1158
01:21:21,375 --> 01:21:24,844
but have I colleagues that left r-1s that do that work.

1159
01:21:24,844 --> 01:21:27,179
human capital. It's funding, you know, to fund

1160
01:21:27,179 --> 01:21:30,850
a department, specifically designed to track student

1161
01:21:30,850 --> 01:21:34,987
outcomeses over time, we would need additional revenues to

1162
01:21:34,987 --> 01:21:38,724
support that type of initiative. >> and as chair of small

1163
01:21:38,724 --> 01:21:43,129
business, could you tell me what emphasis, as we talked about, is

1164
01:21:43,129 --> 01:21:48,467
the great programs you have, are placed on small businesses in a

1165
01:21:48,467 --> 01:21:51,537
percentage, would you say? >> I would say our cte program

1166
01:21:51,537 --> 01:21:53,940
is designed to do just that. As a small business owner

1167
01:21:53,940 --> 01:22:00,413
myself, I understand the dirth scarcity of being able to find

1168
01:22:00,413 --> 01:22:03,483
people to do the work, you know, the demand is growing in the

1169
01:22:03,483 --> 01:22:06,352
area. And as you all continue to

1170
01:22:06,352 --> 01:22:09,355
invest across the state and provide nishs and grants to

1171
01:22:09,355 --> 01:22:15,955
expand small businesses, we must-- so too must we have the

1172
01:22:16,561 --> 01:22:20,566
human capital and the people to fulfill those roles and so it

1173
01:22:20,566 --> 01:22:23,635
really is a perfect marriage and we place the emphasis,

1174
01:22:23,635 --> 01:22:26,839
especially as we are looking to revitalize our local economy,

1175
01:22:26,839 --> 01:22:30,376
when a school district wins, so, too, does the local economy

1176
01:22:30,376 --> 01:22:34,980
because we are providing the next generation of leaders and

1177
01:22:34,980 --> 01:22:37,184
employees for many of our small businesses and many of the

1178
01:22:37,184 --> 01:22:40,986
people that exit ours schools, we have some that directly

1179
01:22:40,986 --> 01:22:44,923
across from the school that became small business owners so

1180
01:22:44,923 --> 01:22:48,861
it's an amazing endeavor and we are looking to bridge that gap

1181
01:22:48,861 --> 01:22:54,660
while providing our small business owners with a citizenry

1182
01:22:54,660 --> 01:22:57,469
and employee base that we have done the training up front.

1183
01:22:57,469 --> 01:23:00,500
and that's evidenced by the certifications and pathways

1184
01:23:00,500 --> 01:23:06,605
because when we designed them, it was not divorced from the

1185
01:23:07,130 --> 01:23:09,140
business. Our captains of industry came to

1186
01:23:09,140 --> 01:23:12,618
us and said these are the particular skill sets we need in

1187
01:23:12,618 --> 01:23:15,621
order to be effective in our work and how can you design a

1188
01:23:15,621 --> 01:23:20,421
pathway to make sure the students post-secondary mirror

1189
01:23:20,625 --> 01:23:22,894
the skills needed once they enter.

1190
01:23:22,894 --> 01:23:24,362
less training for the businesses.

1191
01:23:24,362 --> 01:23:26,298
they can have more immediate I am pack and we hope to see

1192
01:23:26,298 --> 01:23:29,902
growth in our local economy. >> thank you.

1193
01:23:29,902 --> 01:23:36,108
I have to put in a plug for agriculture as well as possibly

1194
01:23:36,108 --> 01:23:41,470
as we know the future farmers of america program that is the

1195
01:23:41,470 --> 01:23:42,647
largest, with my colleagues in new york city.

1196
01:23:42,647 --> 01:23:49,847
so clearly we see the importance of that as well as veteran

1197
01:23:50,673 --> 01:23:51,809
minority-owned businesses. Thank you for your time.

1198
01:23:51,809 --> 01:23:54,809
>> thank you all. >> mr. Lemondes.

1199
01:23:55,612 --> 01:23:58,482
>> thank you, chair thank you all for being here.

1200
01:23:58,482 --> 01:24:02,486
I think what you are doing is fantastic.

1201
01:24:02,486 --> 01:24:06,890
very simple question and it has to do with chair stirpe's

1202
01:24:06,890 --> 01:24:08,158
initial question. He talked about, and you

1203
01:24:08,158 --> 01:24:11,962
responded to some of the things that you need.

1204
01:24:11,962 --> 01:24:16,333
could you just give a ball park of the funding that you need to

1205
01:24:16,333 --> 01:24:20,533
go with this additional level of support?

1206
01:24:21,238 --> 01:24:26,510
>> as it relates to a statewide data system, I don't even know

1207
01:24:26,510 --> 01:24:31,182
what a number would be on that. But what we have, the community

1208
01:24:31,182 --> 01:24:34,117
college sector within suny we have asked the last two years

1209
01:24:34,117 --> 01:24:39,123
for $100 million, which the way we arrived at that when we would

1210
01:24:39,123 --> 01:24:43,526
talk about the state, why is it that you take the public funding

1211
01:24:43,526 --> 01:24:49,666
that goes to suny four-year and suny community colleges and it's

1212
01:24:49,666 --> 01:24:52,936
three and a half times per student.

1213
01:24:52,936 --> 01:24:57,874
and yet the state is all about equity and underserved

1214
01:24:57,874 --> 01:25:00,878
population support and economic mobility and yet you have this

1215
01:25:00,878 --> 01:25:04,881
huge inequity. And the response is, it's the

1216
01:25:04,881 --> 01:25:06,160
county. The counties.

1217
01:25:06,160 --> 01:25:07,283
have you to talk to the counties.

1218
01:25:07,283 --> 01:25:10,787
when you look at the counties, the counties provide more than

1219
01:25:10,787 --> 01:25:14,758
$100 million more than the state in supporting dlujs so that has

1220
01:25:14,758 --> 01:25:18,394
been our ask the last two years, just come close to the dunes.

1221
01:25:18,394 --> 01:25:23,434
we are not even trying to get to equal the three and a half.

1222
01:25:23,434 --> 01:25:27,504
just equal the counties. >> thank you very much.

1223
01:25:27,504 --> 01:25:29,904
appreciate it. >> anybody else?

1224
01:25:33,110 --> 01:25:34,511
mr. Dais. >> is it still morning?

1225
01:25:34,511 --> 01:25:37,181
yes, it is. First off, thank you guys for

1226
01:25:37,181 --> 01:25:39,449
coming. I'm a big believer in community

1227
01:25:39,449 --> 01:25:42,886
colleges first and foremost. Actually got a lot of love for

1228
01:25:42,886 --> 01:25:44,655
utica. I worked over on a production

1229
01:25:44,655 --> 01:25:47,391
site in utica and we hired directly from some of the

1230
01:25:47,391 --> 01:25:53,263
community colleges there and utica is a great town, great

1231
01:25:53,263 --> 01:25:55,663
food and. >> ocean blue.

1232
01:25:56,466 --> 01:26:00,504
>> ocean blue, yeah. I also have a background in

1233
01:26:00,504 --> 01:26:02,606
advanced manufacturing where I worked with a community college

1234
01:26:02,606 --> 01:26:05,209
in california and we built an innovation center, hired

1235
01:26:05,209 --> 01:26:07,610
directly and they did a really good job in putting placement.

1236
01:26:07,610 --> 01:26:12,820
I have also did workforce development programs and the

1237
01:26:12,820 --> 01:26:15,753
biggest-- the thing that I hated most when you had dedicate the

1238
01:26:15,753 --> 01:26:18,210
young people who went through the entire program and didn't

1239
01:26:18,210 --> 01:26:21,580
have a job lined up for them at the end, right?

1240
01:26:21,580 --> 01:26:24,428
they were on their second or third strike and needed that

1241
01:26:24,428 --> 01:26:26,696
chance. We only have a 15-20% placement.

1242
01:26:26,696 --> 01:26:29,633
I wish I could get that number up higher.

1243
01:26:29,633 --> 01:26:32,569
so what would you recommend so that we can get those

1244
01:26:32,569 --> 01:26:34,704
placements, those numbers higher so that your students who do the

1245
01:26:34,704 --> 01:26:38,375
right things, who show up every day and work their tails off we

1246
01:26:38,375 --> 01:26:40,844
can get them into the jobs across the state that would help

1247
01:26:40,844 --> 01:26:43,180
our economy? >> yeah, did you say you wanted

1248
01:26:43,180 --> 01:26:46,383
to... >> I just wanted to say that our

1249
01:26:46,383 --> 01:26:49,919
district is pleased that in real time we have employers reaching

1250
01:26:49,919 --> 01:26:55,920
out to us to talk about employment opportunities once

1251
01:26:55,920 --> 01:26:57,600
students complete the pathways and apprenticeships and we are

1252
01:26:57,600 --> 01:27:00,664
working on that in real time. Do you want to say anything

1253
01:27:00,664 --> 01:27:02,664
about that? >> sure.

1254
01:27:04,668 --> 01:27:07,805
actually, on the way out here, I had a business reach out to me.

1255
01:27:07,805 --> 01:27:13,577
now that they know we have our cte wing, these

1256
01:27:13,577 --> 01:27:14,879
pre-apprenticeships, everybody wants in on that.

1257
01:27:14,879 --> 01:27:19,817
we are very fortunate in that way one thing that we can do is

1258
01:27:19,817 --> 01:27:21,885
really fine tune that pre-apprenticeship.

1259
01:27:21,885 --> 01:27:24,421
we want to give you the career and tech stills.

1260
01:27:24,421 --> 01:27:27,758
we wanted connected to the business but what is the

1261
01:27:27,758 --> 01:27:31,962
businesses, you know, what is their obligation afterward?

1262
01:27:31,962 --> 01:27:35,698
what are you willing to do to commit to these students?

1263
01:27:35,698 --> 01:27:39,236
people are being very creative. On the way out here, I had a

1264
01:27:39,236 --> 01:27:42,973
call and we are meeting next week to design a new

1265
01:27:42,973 --> 01:27:45,475
pre-apprenticeship but they're going to be giving students

1266
01:27:45,475 --> 01:27:50,460
opportunities to work at their place of business and build that

1267
01:27:50,460 --> 01:27:53,350
connection and jump into a pre-apprenticeship and they're

1268
01:27:53,350 --> 01:27:56,653
also a new york state certified apprenticeship business so they

1269
01:27:56,653 --> 01:28:00,190
can move their way in there. >> thank you.

1270
01:28:00,190 --> 01:28:03,126
additionally, what are you guys doing directly with veterans?

1271
01:28:03,126 --> 01:28:05,328
what is your enrollment with veterans in your schools and

1272
01:28:05,328 --> 01:28:08,397
what can we do to help the veterans get into the workforce

1273
01:28:08,397 --> 01:28:10,667
development programs to make sure they get the job

1274
01:28:10,667 --> 01:28:13,604
opportunities they deserve? >> I didn't hear the first part

1275
01:28:13,604 --> 01:28:15,600
of the question. >> veterans.

1276
01:28:15,600 --> 01:28:17,540
how many veterans. >> school district a little

1277
01:28:17,540 --> 01:28:19,540
challenging. >> I'm sorry.

1278
01:28:20,843 --> 01:28:24,140
>> for veterans we work very closely with the veterans

1279
01:28:24,140 --> 01:28:26,949
outreach center and several non-profits in the area that we

1280
01:28:26,949 --> 01:28:31,455
will often host roundtables of those non-profits that support

1281
01:28:31,455 --> 01:28:35,550
veterans. Utica doesn't have an excessive

1282
01:28:37,360 --> 01:28:40,696
concentration of veterans in contrast on other areas of the

1283
01:28:40,696 --> 01:28:44,330
state, but we have a veterans coordinator and work through,

1284
01:28:44,330 --> 01:28:47,637
not just the veterans but also their family members coming to

1285
01:28:47,637 --> 01:28:52,437
college on the g.I. Bill. >> thank you.

1286
01:28:53,510 --> 01:28:55,779
>> mr. Norber. >> thank you for being here

1287
01:28:55,779 --> 01:28:58,115
today. There are not many things

1288
01:28:58,115 --> 01:29:00,317
important than getting people to work after they are done with

1289
01:29:00,317 --> 01:29:03,320
college or high school, making sure they have the skills

1290
01:29:03,320 --> 01:29:06,122
necessary to get them to work and full fulfill their lives as

1291
01:29:06,122 --> 01:29:09,926
quickly as possible. My question has to do more with

1292
01:29:09,926 --> 01:29:12,196
the tracking, like you said before that is so difficult

1293
01:29:12,196 --> 01:29:18,796
without a statewide data system. A normal one, one that is

1294
01:29:19,136 --> 01:29:25,800
efficient and works. We don't really know why or how

1295
01:29:25,800 --> 01:29:27,744
kids or students after school are working and what is the

1296
01:29:27,744 --> 01:29:30,613
reason behind that? Why they can't find a job.

1297
01:29:30,613 --> 01:29:33,450
what is going on with them. If they're going to a different

1298
01:29:33,450 --> 01:29:35,170
state is important and it's important to understand what is

1299
01:29:35,170 --> 01:29:39,155
going on in terms of tracking of businesses businesses leaving

1300
01:29:39,155 --> 01:29:41,825
the state because that's something that also might have

1301
01:29:41,825 --> 01:29:47,225
an effect. So is there any plan to track

1302
01:29:47,297 --> 01:29:51,501
also businesses or-- or push more to make sure that we know

1303
01:29:51,501 --> 01:29:55,701
what is going on with the students?

1304
01:29:57,306 --> 01:30:00,376
>> I'm not aware of anything tracking the businesses but

1305
01:30:00,376 --> 01:30:05,916
looking at a state like texas that I think florida also have

1306
01:30:05,916 --> 01:30:06,916
very strong data tracking systems.

1307
01:30:06,916 --> 01:30:11,716
>> there you go. And that helps inform decision

1308
01:30:12,255 --> 01:30:14,524
makers at all levels of government as well as the

1309
01:30:14,524 --> 01:30:19,797
college on a daily basis where we provide-- at this time we try

1310
01:30:19,797 --> 01:30:24,268
to do what we can in terms of we do a high school feedback report

1311
01:30:24,268 --> 01:30:28,872
to all of our local school districts to give them some data

1312
01:30:28,872 --> 01:30:33,476
points. And for us, as I said, it just

1313
01:30:33,476 --> 01:30:36,480
remains a challenge. Yeah and it's-- I know it would

1314
01:30:36,480 --> 01:30:38,948
take time for that, but I just really appreciate the

1315
01:30:38,948 --> 01:30:41,686
opportunity to put this on your radar screen.

1316
01:30:41,686 --> 01:30:45,422
>> there are states implementing that and do have an efficient

1317
01:30:45,422 --> 01:30:48,291
system. Can't we just copy and paste

1318
01:30:48,291 --> 01:30:52,429
that and find a way to do the same?

1319
01:30:52,429 --> 01:30:56,629
>> not to reinvent the wheel. >> it's fascinating.

1320
01:30:56,768 --> 01:30:59,368
>> is there somebody you are talking to in other government

1321
01:30:59,368 --> 01:31:02,368
agencies? >> that, I don't know.

1322
01:31:03,272 --> 01:31:05,672
>> thank you. >> mr. Griffin.

1323
01:31:11,381 --> 01:31:13,617
-- ms. Grirve. Thank you again to chair stirpe

1324
01:31:13,617 --> 01:31:15,919
and chair buttenschon and welcome to all of you.

1325
01:31:15,919 --> 01:31:21,919
thank you for being here. My first question is to

1326
01:31:22,792 --> 01:31:24,728
president van wagoner. I am impressed with the programs

1327
01:31:24,728 --> 01:31:31,928
you have developed and the focus on workforce despite the lack of

1328
01:31:34,838 --> 01:31:36,406
funding, you have done quite well.

1329
01:31:36,406 --> 01:31:38,875
I want you to describe a little further.

1330
01:31:38,875 --> 01:31:41,344
you mentioned developing a.I. Programming and I wonder if you

1331
01:31:41,344 --> 01:31:43,747
could describe a little further what you would like to put in

1332
01:31:43,747 --> 01:31:48,285
place at mohawk valley? >> earlier this spring so we

1333
01:31:48,285 --> 01:31:53,685
have trained a couple hundred and certified more than 100

1334
01:31:55,558 --> 01:32:01,558
individuals working with local employers in what is a 30 day

1335
01:32:01,565 --> 01:32:04,835
agility challenge. We are working with human skills

1336
01:32:04,835 --> 01:32:09,840
that a.I. And their c.e.o. Todd mccleese who developed this,

1337
01:32:09,840 --> 01:32:14,510
designed for 15 minutes a day online self-paced for 30 days,

1338
01:32:14,510 --> 01:32:18,382
built on that notion of if you are working with a.I. On a daily

1339
01:32:18,382 --> 01:32:22,853
basis, for 30 days, you are going to build good habits, and

1340
01:32:22,853 --> 01:32:29,993
kind of the theory of action here is that if we let a.I.

1341
01:32:29,993 --> 01:32:34,798
happen to us the same way we let social media happen to us,we'll

1342
01:32:34,798 --> 01:32:41,710
end up with the a.I. Equivalent of the doom scroll where you

1343
01:32:41,710 --> 01:32:44,341
lose all sense of human agency and the 30-day agility challenge

1344
01:32:44,341 --> 01:32:51,541
is a human first method, if you will where it reinforces the

1345
01:32:52,282 --> 01:32:58,555
need to maintain your sense of agency with a.I. And human

1346
01:32:58,555 --> 01:33:01,826
skills, we believe community colleges is the mechanism, the

1347
01:33:01,826 --> 01:33:04,293
community college level is the mechanism to deploy this

1348
01:33:04,293 --> 01:33:06,163
statewide. With a.I. It's not access to the

1349
01:33:06,163 --> 01:33:08,665
technology. It's ac stoats right kind of

1350
01:33:08,665 --> 01:33:11,434
training. And we believe we have that

1351
01:33:11,434 --> 01:33:15,439
right kind ever training. Human skills working with suny

1352
01:33:15,439 --> 01:33:19,442
orange, suny adirondack, we are the first ones to come through

1353
01:33:19,442 --> 01:33:23,913
with mvc dr now suny broom, finger lakes, multiple colleges,

1354
01:33:23,913 --> 01:33:28,984
the intent is to develop some regional hubs around community

1355
01:33:28,984 --> 01:33:35,458
colleges to deploy this training not just to workers but to

1356
01:33:35,458 --> 01:33:39,662
new yorkers in general. We have it available in our

1357
01:33:39,662 --> 01:33:41,397
community education flyer that goes out each term.

1358
01:33:41,397 --> 01:33:45,535
>> it sounds like excellent idea and is there a level of funding

1359
01:33:45,535 --> 01:33:51,441
you believe to really accomplish the goals that you have?

1360
01:33:51,441 --> 01:33:55,544
>> actually we are working on a proposal on that that hopefully

1361
01:33:55,544 --> 01:33:59,349
we see soon. >> thank you very much and

1362
01:33:59,349 --> 01:34:02,349
quickly. Superintendent spence and team,

1363
01:34:02,419 --> 01:34:06,956
I think you have done an amazing job with your program and I

1364
01:34:06,956 --> 01:34:09,426
just-- we won't have time now but I think it would be

1365
01:34:09,426 --> 01:34:12,295
important for you to give advice to other school districts across

1366
01:34:12,295 --> 01:34:14,897
the state in how to replicate that in some way.

1367
01:34:14,897 --> 01:34:18,301
I think that would be really helpful to many districts that

1368
01:34:18,301 --> 01:34:23,101
we have along island and across the state.

1369
01:34:24,674 --> 01:34:27,740
>> anybody else? All set.

1370
01:34:27,444 --> 01:34:31,440
thank you very much. >> thank you.

1371
01:34:33,817 --> 01:34:38,617
>> I appreciate coming. >> next panel, randy wolken and

1372
01:34:55,672 --> 01:34:59,872
kevin schwab. >> he is accosting someone else

1373
01:35:25,235 --> 01:35:29,435
who just walked out. >> is everybody ready?

1374
01:35:57,666 --> 01:36:01,866
thanks for being here. Who goes first.

1375
01:36:02,205 --> 01:36:07,500
do you want to do it, randy? Okay.

1376
01:36:08,878 --> 01:36:11,878
>> there we go. Thank you.

1377
01:36:14,617 --> 01:36:16,190
it's a pleasure to be here this morning.

1378
01:36:16,190 --> 01:36:22,359
thank you for inviting me randy wolken president and c.e.o. Of

1379
01:36:22,359 --> 01:36:26,290
mack any. We are pleased for the tad's

1380
01:36:26,290 --> 01:36:28,899
testimony and the impact and effectiveness of the workforce

1381
01:36:28,899 --> 01:36:33,699
development programs that have been funded momentous and

1382
01:36:43,646 --> 01:36:45,515
important moment in manufacturing.

1383
01:36:45,515 --> 01:36:48,751
they call it the manufacturing moment, with huge amounts of

1384
01:36:48,751 --> 01:36:51,521
investment. Now in the central new york

1385
01:36:51,521 --> 01:36:54,591
region I'm sure kevin will talk about that, too but throughout

1386
01:36:54,591 --> 01:36:57,660
the state of new york, time of tremendous growth and

1387
01:36:57,660 --> 01:36:59,996
opportunity. Specifically we would like to

1388
01:36:59,996 --> 01:37:04,668
thank the legislature for inclusion of 1.75 million for

1389
01:37:04,668 --> 01:37:08,868
the manufacturers intermediary apprenticeship program in this

1390
01:37:08,938 --> 01:37:11,408
year's budget 500,000 for the pre-apprenticeship program.

1391
01:37:11,408 --> 01:37:16,146
without the support of these and our many champions in the

1392
01:37:16,146 --> 01:37:20,216
assembly and senate, the programs would not be possible.

1393
01:37:20,216 --> 01:37:23,553
it has proven to be instrumental in addressing new york's

1394
01:37:23,553 --> 01:37:27,230
manufacturing workforce challenges across the state,

1395
01:37:27,230 --> 01:37:29,626
supporting companies with literally hundreds of companies

1396
01:37:29,626 --> 01:37:35,260
in recruitment, skilling act acting as the intermediary and

1397
01:37:35,970 --> 01:37:38,134
group sponsor for what goes on with the state university of

1398
01:37:38,134 --> 01:37:41,704
new york and partners from manufacturers alliance

1399
01:37:41,704 --> 01:37:43,174
throughout every region in the state.

1400
01:37:43,174 --> 01:37:48,913
building on a decade of success since 2016 m wr ap has supported

1401
01:37:48,913 --> 01:37:51,915
apprenticeship programs for all individuals, regardless of their

1402
01:37:51,915 --> 01:37:55,128
work experience or academic qualifications helping employers

1403
01:37:55,128 --> 01:37:57,466
meet their workforce needs to grow and thrive in

1404
01:37:57,466 --> 01:38:02,536
new york state, this earn and learn model provides equitable

1405
01:38:02,536 --> 01:38:05,739
upward mobility for employees by combining both career-related

1406
01:38:05,739 --> 01:38:08,139
education and on-the-job training.

1407
01:38:10,100 --> 01:38:13,881
this comprehensive approach for the semiconductor and advance

1408
01:38:13,881 --> 01:38:18,681
manufacturing industry sectors broadens the talent pipeline for

1409
01:38:20,870 --> 01:38:22,690
underrepresented populations since just 2022, the alliance

1410
01:38:22,690 --> 01:38:26,890
has served over 700 registered apprenticeships with 60% being

1411
01:38:27,940 --> 01:38:29,940
from underrepresented populations.

1412
01:38:30,164 --> 01:38:33,500
new york's most robust workforce development ecosystem continues

1413
01:38:33,500 --> 01:38:39,106
to attract new businesses and grow existing operations such as

1414
01:38:39,106 --> 01:38:43,306
advancement of manufacturing such as chobani, fairlife,

1415
01:38:44,377 --> 01:38:47,848
micron, seamans and others are choosing new york to expand and

1416
01:38:47,848 --> 01:38:51,318
relocate their businesses. They're voting with confidence

1417
01:38:51,318 --> 01:38:53,787
that our state's ability to provide solutions to their

1418
01:38:53,787 --> 01:38:57,725
workforce needs. Macny is engaged in micron's

1419
01:38:57,725 --> 01:39:00,327
future ready workforce comisht consortium.

1420
01:39:00,327 --> 01:39:02,663
and leading efforts with community partners and

1421
01:39:02,663 --> 01:39:04,798
educational institutions to develop registered

1422
01:39:04,798 --> 01:39:07,534
apprenticeship program that will replicate initial success that

1423
01:39:07,534 --> 01:39:12,405
micron has already had with the idaho manufacturing association

1424
01:39:12,405 --> 01:39:15,677
and the college of western idaho which are both achieving this

1425
01:39:15,677 --> 01:39:19,345
right now in boise. Macny's efforts in workforce

1426
01:39:19,345 --> 01:39:22,550
development extend to multiple underrepresented populations in

1427
01:39:22,550 --> 01:39:24,618
advanced manufacturing, and thanks to the support of

1428
01:39:24,618 --> 01:39:30,157
new york state, legislative as well as the empire state

1429
01:39:30,157 --> 01:39:32,559
development's office of strategic workforce development

1430
01:39:32,559 --> 01:39:35,495
macny has launched a pre-apprenticeship program

1431
01:39:35,495 --> 01:39:38,165
focusing on women for registered apprenticeship and job

1432
01:39:38,165 --> 01:39:40,433
opportunities in advanced manufacturing, commonly known as

1433
01:39:40,433 --> 01:39:43,503
real life rosie is a program provides women with 12 weeks of

1434
01:39:43,503 --> 01:39:47,400
free training in advanced manufacturing, industry

1435
01:39:47,400 --> 01:39:49,843
certifications and empower skills such as resume

1436
01:39:49,843 --> 01:39:53,379
development, digital networking and confidence building.

1437
01:39:53,379 --> 01:39:56,250
successful participants receive up to six job interviews with

1438
01:39:56,250 --> 01:39:59,250
companies that offer registered apprenticeships.

1439
01:39:59,319 --> 01:40:02,856
in fact, new york state department of labor recognizes

1440
01:40:02,856 --> 01:40:05,659
real life rosies as the first registered apprenticeship

1441
01:40:05,659 --> 01:40:09,196
correct entry program for advanced manufacturing in

1442
01:40:09,196 --> 01:40:12,999
new york state. On behalf of macny and

1443
01:40:12,999 --> 01:40:16,202
manufacturers alliance we commend the new york legislature

1444
01:40:16,202 --> 01:40:21,408
for the investment and the steadfast commitment of the

1445
01:40:21,408 --> 01:40:23,676
advancing esd office of workforce development as a

1446
01:40:23,676 --> 01:40:25,345
statewide priority. Because of this investment, we

1447
01:40:25,345 --> 01:40:29,883
are now able to scale the program statewide, cohorts are

1448
01:40:29,883 --> 01:40:32,886
launched this fall in central nosh, capital region, finger

1449
01:40:32,886 --> 01:40:39,159
lakes, the southern tier, and more regions to be added in

1450
01:40:39,159 --> 01:40:40,761
2026. Also macny alliance of parter in

1451
01:40:40,761 --> 01:40:44,497
continue to focus on programs that provide pathways for yews,

1452
01:40:44,497 --> 01:40:47,768
affects several of our partners you just heard from.

1453
01:40:47,768 --> 01:40:52,840
to succeed in the past year we have also brought in the

1454
01:40:52,840 --> 01:40:56,242
rochester rtma through the finger lakes youth

1455
01:40:56,242 --> 01:40:59,842
apprenticeship program called fly app placing 40,000 400

1456
01:41:04,384 --> 01:41:06,786
students with employers. We have our partners for

1457
01:41:06,786 --> 01:41:09,556
education business program with over 30 years of experience.

1458
01:41:09,556 --> 01:41:12,592
and this closes the gap between industry and education focusing

1459
01:41:12,592 --> 01:41:17,992
on stem careers, engages local employers across sectors with

1460
01:41:18,232 --> 01:41:22,770
things such as factory tours, job shadow internships and

1461
01:41:22,770 --> 01:41:24,471
professional workshops and guest speakers.

1462
01:41:24,471 --> 01:41:29,209
in the past three years alone, 7,000 students and educators

1463
01:41:29,209 --> 01:41:31,478
across 36 districts have partnershipped in this

1464
01:41:31,478 --> 01:41:33,878
programming. Additionally the transadvance

1465
01:41:34,130 --> 01:41:37,551
the partner apprenticeship program for people with

1466
01:41:37,551 --> 01:41:38,685
intellect intellectual and developmental disabilities

1467
01:41:38,685 --> 01:41:40,154
within the manufacturing industry.

1468
01:41:40,154 --> 01:41:42,690
the program was launched in mohawk valley community college

1469
01:41:42,690 --> 01:41:49,290
in the utica area in center for workforce development at monroe.

1470
01:41:49,830 --> 01:41:54,630
the program breaks barriers for neurodiverse learners by

1471
01:41:54,968 --> 01:41:59,440
creating a curriculum design with comprehensive support and

1472
01:41:59,440 --> 01:42:02,242
arranging job interviews with signatory companies.

1473
01:42:02,242 --> 01:42:05,445
we connect outreach to provide technical assistance to

1474
01:42:05,445 --> 01:42:07,848
businesses who want to enhance the recruiting efforts.

1475
01:42:07,848 --> 01:42:10,517
in addition the state funding many of our participating

1476
01:42:10,517 --> 01:42:14,788
companies have utilized the empire state apprenticeship tax

1477
01:42:14,788 --> 01:42:19,426
credit that is a valuable component for manufacturers to

1478
01:42:19,426 --> 01:42:21,196
attract apprenticeships and mentors.

1479
01:42:21,196 --> 01:42:23,630
steadfast supporters of the program and look forward to the

1480
01:42:23,630 --> 01:42:24,931
extension. We thank you for your continued

1481
01:42:24,931 --> 01:42:27,601
support of the workforce efforts I've just mentioned and of

1482
01:42:27,601 --> 01:42:30,337
course your efforts in making new york state an attractive

1483
01:42:30,337 --> 01:42:34,700
place to build and grow manufacturing facilities.

1484
01:42:34,700 --> 01:42:37,700
>> thank you. You are next.

1485
01:42:39,813 --> 01:42:43,413
>> good morning, chairman stirpe, chairwoman buttenschon

1486
01:42:43,617 --> 01:42:47,870
and members of the committees. Thank you for having us here

1487
01:42:47,870 --> 01:42:49,155
today. I'm kevin schwab.

1488
01:42:49,155 --> 01:42:51,892
vice president of public policy and government relations with

1489
01:42:51,892 --> 01:42:55,428
centerstate c.e.o. In syracuse. Where business leadership and

1490
01:42:55,428 --> 01:42:59,280
economic development organization across a 12-county

1491
01:42:59,133 --> 01:43:03,503
region with businesses large and small among our membership.

1492
01:43:03,503 --> 01:43:06,600
every day our team goes to work with the mission to make our

1493
01:43:06,600 --> 01:43:08,843
region a place where business thrives.

1494
01:43:08,843 --> 01:43:12,112
and all people prosper. As you can see from my written

1495
01:43:12,112 --> 01:43:14,983
comments, I have considerably more than five minutes I've

1496
01:43:14,983 --> 01:43:17,784
submitted to you so I will be jumping through at different

1497
01:43:17,784 --> 01:43:20,454
points to try to stay close to the timeline here.

1498
01:43:20,454 --> 01:43:22,623
let me start with the really good news.

1499
01:43:22,623 --> 01:43:25,793
I will also touch on opportunities and, yeah, there

1500
01:43:25,793 --> 01:43:27,527
are still real challenges in front of us.

1501
01:43:27,527 --> 01:43:31,265
but the good news, everywhere I go, you know, the first question

1502
01:43:31,265 --> 01:43:36,737
comes out of peep's mouths is tell me what is going on with

1503
01:43:36,737 --> 01:43:38,806
micron. I can tell you that we are at

1504
01:43:38,806 --> 01:43:41,408
the front end of a wave of growth in syracuse that we have

1505
01:43:41,408 --> 01:43:45,278
not seen in generations since, in the nearly three years since

1506
01:43:45,278 --> 01:43:50,780
micron announced its $100 billion mission it is track

1507
01:43:53,200 --> 01:43:56,423
to be in the ground before the end of the year and producing

1508
01:43:56,423 --> 01:44:00,230
memory chip for commercial use in 2028.

1509
01:44:02,620 --> 01:44:08,301
the second fab on track for 2030 and micron recently opened its

1510
01:44:08,301 --> 01:44:11,638
syracuse office and hired dozens of people in syracuse with many

1511
01:44:11,638 --> 01:44:13,907
more to come. Since I provided the update last

1512
01:44:13,907 --> 01:44:16,443
year, we have seen significant occurrences in the central

1513
01:44:16,443 --> 01:44:19,179
new york economy that are very, very positive signs.

1514
01:44:19,179 --> 01:44:23,183
we see population growth accelerating, wages are growing

1515
01:44:23,183 --> 01:44:27,120
faster in our key industrial sectors and faster rate than at

1516
01:44:27,120 --> 01:44:30,791
state or national averages. Job growth is consistently

1517
01:44:30,791 --> 01:44:35,128
higher in the syracuse msa than the state average, up a little

1518
01:44:35,128 --> 01:44:40,528
over 2.5% to date, compared to 2024, and that compares with

1519
01:44:40,867 --> 01:44:44,804
1.3% job growth statewide. There are nearly 7,000 more jobs

1520
01:44:44,804 --> 01:44:47,207
right now in central new york than a year ago.

1521
01:44:47,207 --> 01:44:50,444
that growth ranks us among the top 10 nationally right now

1522
01:44:50,444 --> 01:44:52,947
among large and mid-sized metros.

1523
01:44:52,947 --> 01:44:55,548
in other words we are doing pretty well.

1524
01:44:55,548 --> 01:45:00,348
building permits for new housing up 57% from 2023 to 2024.

1525
01:45:00,420 --> 01:45:05,240
that's still not nearly enough. But it is pretty impressive

1526
01:45:05,240 --> 01:45:07,260
progress. And over the last sdec aid, we

1527
01:45:07,260 --> 01:45:12,566
have gone-- decade we have gone from an anemic of courser of

1528
01:45:12,566 --> 01:45:16,436
5 million-dollar a year to an average of $65 million a year.

1529
01:45:16,436 --> 01:45:19,573
and that's thanks to significant support from the legislature and

1530
01:45:19,573 --> 01:45:24,378
from the administration that has allowed us to expand our

1531
01:45:24,378 --> 01:45:25,578
offerings for business start-ups.

1532
01:45:25,578 --> 01:45:29,916
we have the largest business incubator and succeed ale rate

1533
01:45:29,916 --> 01:45:35,322
are into the-- accelerator in the state and one of the biggest

1534
01:45:35,322 --> 01:45:38,580
in the nation. Everything is great, right?

1535
01:45:38,580 --> 01:45:41,261
not so fast. We have more job openings than

1536
01:45:41,261 --> 01:45:44,798
people to fill them wee. Have incredible skills gaps.

1537
01:45:44,798 --> 01:45:47,400
and our city has some of the highest concentrated poverty in

1538
01:45:47,400 --> 01:45:50,137
the nation. That is just unacceptable and

1539
01:45:50,137 --> 01:45:51,938
frankly syracuse is not alone in that.

1540
01:45:51,938 --> 01:45:54,474
we have aging public infrastructure that in some

1541
01:45:54,474 --> 01:45:56,809
cases is not up to the needs of a growing community and

1542
01:45:56,809 --> 01:46:00,130
certainly is not up to the capacity in many cases.

1543
01:46:00,130 --> 01:46:03,616
and our civic infrastructure is growing quickly, too.

1544
01:46:03,616 --> 01:46:06,887
or at least the needs are. Think hospitals, housing,

1545
01:46:06,887 --> 01:46:09,889
hotels, et cetera. Housing perhaps next to

1546
01:46:09,889 --> 01:46:13,426
workforce, by the way, is our most daunting challenge and

1547
01:46:13,426 --> 01:46:16,562
certainly when asked what keeps me up at night, those are the

1548
01:46:16,562 --> 01:46:20,834
top two on my list and we need to leverage momentum from large

1549
01:46:20,834 --> 01:46:22,835
opportunities like micron to attract more companies to start

1550
01:46:22,835 --> 01:46:27,174
in our region and to attract companies as well.

1551
01:46:27,174 --> 01:46:32,120
we also need to turn this into a virtuous cycle.

1552
01:46:32,120 --> 01:46:34,414
you don't take your foot off the gas at this point.

1553
01:46:34,414 --> 01:46:38,651
you lean in, you invest more. You make the changes now that

1554
01:46:38,651 --> 01:46:42,322
will have an impact two generations, three generations

1555
01:46:42,322 --> 01:46:44,324
from now. So where do we do that?

1556
01:46:44,324 --> 01:46:48,728
workforce is vital. Issues-- it is key to have one

1557
01:46:48,728 --> 01:46:54,401
stop approaches like northland and buffalo, like on ramp that

1558
01:46:54,401 --> 01:46:57,403
has been talked about. Over come issues of persistent

1559
01:46:57,403 --> 01:46:59,405
poverty more than having workforce programs but the

1560
01:46:59,405 --> 01:47:02,742
supports for people who need them, including things like

1561
01:47:02,742 --> 01:47:06,413
benefits cliff supports and changing the way we do deal with

1562
01:47:06,413 --> 01:47:09,149
that right now. Site development is critical.

1563
01:47:09,149 --> 01:47:12,419
we have invested and we need to continue to invest in that to

1564
01:47:12,419 --> 01:47:14,154
attract other companies. You have heard about our energy

1565
01:47:14,154 --> 01:47:16,156
needs. We need to lean into that.

1566
01:47:16,156 --> 01:47:20,160
all of the above and yes, we are very supportive of new nuclear

1567
01:47:20,160 --> 01:47:22,996
energy for our region and for our state.

1568
01:47:22,996 --> 01:47:25,566
new business innovation is critical.

1569
01:47:25,566 --> 01:47:28,902
accelerated programs like 43 north, genius new york,

1570
01:47:28,902 --> 01:47:31,902
luminate, they have all delivered.

1571
01:47:32,906 --> 01:47:36,509
we need to renew the programs, not back away from them even

1572
01:47:36,509 --> 01:47:39,880
though some are due to expire. Tax credits for jobs in

1573
01:47:39,880 --> 01:47:41,782
investment. Think excelsior tax credit and

1574
01:47:41,782 --> 01:47:44,651
more. We need to do that as well.

1575
01:47:44,651 --> 01:47:47,454
I talked about angel investment tax credits.

1576
01:47:47,454 --> 01:47:51,540
new york really has paltry creds.

1577
01:47:52,259 --> 01:47:55,328
this is a place where we can make a difference for all of the

1578
01:47:55,328 --> 01:47:58,498
start-ups we talk about, we can be highly competitive if we are

1579
01:47:58,498 --> 01:48:02,235
willing to lean in and support vetches up to $500,000 in new

1580
01:48:02,235 --> 01:48:04,204
businesses. And I'm going to finish out with

1581
01:48:04,204 --> 01:48:07,407
a couple of quick things. We have done very well with our

1582
01:48:07,407 --> 01:48:11,144
regional council process of saying let's plan within

1583
01:48:11,144 --> 01:48:12,546
regions. We need to start thinking about

1584
01:48:12,546 --> 01:48:15,283
how do we leverage what is happening across regions.

1585
01:48:15,283 --> 01:48:17,484
we need to connect regions better.

1586
01:48:17,484 --> 01:48:22,880
we need to really think across regional economic development or

1587
01:48:22,880 --> 01:48:24,291
super regional economic development.

1588
01:48:24,291 --> 01:48:27,361
we can talk about what that looks like and connecting us

1589
01:48:27,361 --> 01:48:29,950
physically. High speed rail across new york

1590
01:48:29,950 --> 01:48:33,400
should be something that we are willing to study and follow up

1591
01:48:33,400 --> 01:48:35,835
on and invest. We should be connecting

1592
01:48:35,835 --> 01:48:39,706
everywhere from niagara falls to new york city because there are

1593
01:48:39,706 --> 01:48:42,375
a lot of opportunities there. People wouldn't realize that

1594
01:48:42,375 --> 01:48:46,780
today there are more than 20,000 people each day who travel

1595
01:48:46,780 --> 01:48:48,648
between syracuse, buffalo and rochester to commute.

1596
01:48:48,648 --> 01:48:51,718
let's increase that, let's leverage the strength of those

1597
01:48:51,718 --> 01:48:53,787
areas. And then finally, new york into

1598
01:48:53,787 --> 01:48:57,992
esd to foster an environment that promotes growth.

1599
01:48:57,992 --> 01:49:00,594
we are never going to be a low tax state.

1600
01:49:00,594 --> 01:49:04,264
I'll concede that. But we really shouldn't be 49

1601
01:49:04,264 --> 01:49:07,668
and 50 on the lists either. We need to make this a place

1602
01:49:07,668 --> 01:49:11,738
that's attractive and inviting for new businesses to start here

1603
01:49:11,738 --> 01:49:15,375
, businesses to move here, people to want to build their

1604
01:49:15,375 --> 01:49:17,900
lives here. Happy to take your questions.

1605
01:49:17,900 --> 01:49:21,209
thank you for having me. >> thank you.

1606
01:49:28,488 --> 01:49:31,157
>> when you talk about the investments needed and you talk

1607
01:49:31,157 --> 01:49:37,157
about workforce, you know, we've got a number of workforce

1608
01:49:38,431 --> 01:49:44,170
programs started, sounds like you think maybe there should be

1609
01:49:44,170 --> 01:49:47,907
more. So what else is really needed

1610
01:49:47,907 --> 01:49:51,507
beside what we are doing currently?

1611
01:49:52,379 --> 01:49:53,947
anybody? >> I'll start.

1612
01:49:53,947 --> 01:49:56,516
I mean obviously we need to continue to invest more.

1613
01:49:56,516 --> 01:49:59,853
I mean we've got literally tens of thousands of jobs that we are

1614
01:49:59,853 --> 01:50:03,323
trying to fill. So it really starting now in

1615
01:50:03,323 --> 01:50:07,860
that approach matters. That's the nexus of why we are

1616
01:50:07,860 --> 01:50:10,463
doing both our pre-apprenticeship program and

1617
01:50:10,463 --> 01:50:12,599
career awareness. We want to get as many

1618
01:50:12,599 --> 01:50:15,100
individuals who are currently in our communities employed in

1619
01:50:15,100 --> 01:50:17,537
these next, both next opportunities and existing

1620
01:50:17,537 --> 01:50:21,700
opportunities. So we need to double down on our

1621
01:50:21,700 --> 01:50:24,610
investments that kevin said correctly needs supports around

1622
01:50:24,610 --> 01:50:26,812
those investments because training alone sometimes isn't

1623
01:50:26,812 --> 01:50:28,614
enough. You need the supports around

1624
01:50:28,614 --> 01:50:30,351
things like child care and transportation.

1625
01:50:30,351 --> 01:50:33,352
and other ways to make sure that they both attend the training

1626
01:50:33,352 --> 01:50:38,458
and more importantly, once they get a job, they can keep those

1627
01:50:38,458 --> 01:50:41,194
jobs. >> I would add to that that

1628
01:50:41,194 --> 01:50:43,897
those supports are the difference for pulling a lot of

1629
01:50:43,897 --> 01:50:48,697
people out of persistent and even generational poverty.

1630
01:50:49,680 --> 01:50:51,871
it really does make a difference in terms of of the ability for

1631
01:50:51,871 --> 01:50:56,242
people to not only enter these programs but to complete these

1632
01:50:56,242 --> 01:50:58,778
programs. And once they do, that's life

1633
01:50:58,778 --> 01:51:01,470
changing, right? We've seen it over and over

1634
01:51:01,470 --> 01:51:03,516
again. When I hear numbers like, you

1635
01:51:03,516 --> 01:51:08,316
know, 20%, for example, completion on some programs, I

1636
01:51:10,590 --> 01:51:12,392
don't think that's a statement on the program.

1637
01:51:12,392 --> 01:51:15,528
I think that's a statement on the people's ability to make it

1638
01:51:15,528 --> 01:51:18,732
through those programs simply because of other factors in

1639
01:51:18,732 --> 01:51:21,434
their lives: I know we have seen considerably higher success

1640
01:51:21,434 --> 01:51:27,600
rate with some of the programs that's we have in our region,

1641
01:51:27,600 --> 01:51:29,408
centerstate c.e.o. Has been associated with with a number of

1642
01:51:29,408 --> 01:51:32,945
partners across syracuse, onondaga county and neighboring

1643
01:51:32,945 --> 01:51:35,147
counties in part because we begin with starting with the

1644
01:51:35,147 --> 01:51:39,190
companies and what their needs are, working back from that,

1645
01:51:39,190 --> 01:51:41,955
recognizing that you need to know that you are training

1646
01:51:41,955 --> 01:51:45,250
people for the right things. Finding people with the aptitude

1647
01:51:45,250 --> 01:51:49,695
and the interest. That means reaching out throw

1648
01:51:49,695 --> 01:51:51,430
community partners. Through not-for-profits that

1649
01:51:51,430 --> 01:51:55,601
focus on this and they be when they are making their way

1650
01:51:55,601 --> 01:51:57,436
through, making sure they in fact have the supports, the

1651
01:51:57,436 --> 01:52:01,636
child care, the stipends, the transportation supports.

1652
01:52:02,909 --> 01:52:07,313
and benefit cliffs are an issue and something we need to think

1653
01:52:07,313 --> 01:52:10,450
about. All of that has to factor into

1654
01:52:10,450 --> 01:52:12,518
someone's ability to make it through workforce development

1655
01:52:12,518 --> 01:52:14,530
program. >> I mean how do you think we

1656
01:52:14,530 --> 01:52:16,823
are doing as far as reaching out?

1657
01:52:16,823 --> 01:52:22,195
I realize you know, one of our big struggles is finding enough

1658
01:52:22,195 --> 01:52:25,399
workforce enough people to fill all these jobs and we are having

1659
01:52:25,399 --> 01:52:29,202
to go into communities we've never been in before.

1660
01:52:29,202 --> 01:52:34,774
that's why we need, you know, the support services all around

1661
01:52:34,774 --> 01:52:38,645
it, et cetera. But are we reaching enough

1662
01:52:38,645 --> 01:52:41,682
people doing this or is there something else we need to do?

1663
01:52:41,682 --> 01:52:47,682
>> I'll give you an etch. We need smart program designs

1664
01:52:48,288 --> 01:52:51,491
and continued supports. Our real life rosie program, in

1665
01:52:51,491 --> 01:52:56,578
particular, which was launched in 2023, the numbers are quite

1666
01:52:56,578 --> 01:52:59,381
compelling. The offer of supports, while 148

1667
01:52:59,381 --> 01:53:02,981
total participants, 78% completion rate, then 72% also

1668
01:53:04,719 --> 01:53:08,524
received certificates recognized credentials and nearly 70% have

1669
01:53:08,524 --> 01:53:10,860
employment. So the reality is if you have

1670
01:53:10,860 --> 01:53:13,129
those supports, once you find the individuals and you gets

1671
01:53:13,129 --> 01:53:17,400
them in there, if we continue to support them as they go through

1672
01:53:17,400 --> 01:53:21,904
both the preparation and the employment, we can keep them

1673
01:53:21,904 --> 01:53:25,508
there but we have to continue to do more and more outreach to

1674
01:53:25,508 --> 01:53:27,477
make sure individuals know of these program opportunities and

1675
01:53:27,477 --> 01:53:30,346
they can complete them. >> mr. Chairman, to answer

1676
01:53:30,346 --> 01:53:34,683
your question, no, I don't think we are doing fluff to reach

1677
01:53:34,683 --> 01:53:37,621
tout-- we are not doing enough to reach tout people yet.

1678
01:53:37,621 --> 01:53:43,959
this is hard work. You really need a level of trust

1679
01:53:43,959 --> 01:53:46,762
and confidence in communities that frankly have had reasons

1680
01:53:46,762 --> 01:53:49,300
not to have trust and confidence.

1681
01:53:49,300 --> 01:53:52,301
you need partners within those communities.

1682
01:53:52,301 --> 01:53:58,301
you need to build a presence there someone earlier mentioned,

1683
01:53:59,175 --> 01:54:03,979
you know, we have tremendous community colleges, why aren't

1684
01:54:03,979 --> 01:54:08,250
we funneling more through this? Community colleges should

1685
01:54:08,250 --> 01:54:13,122
certainly be strong and active and integral partners in this

1686
01:54:13,122 --> 01:54:18,460
process, but the outreach piece of this is the part that,

1687
01:54:18,460 --> 01:54:23,860
perhaps, they're not best providing that is something they

1688
01:54:26,735 --> 01:54:29,805
are incredibly good at when we are talking about training

1689
01:54:29,805 --> 01:54:32,908
people to provide the skills. But there is the connection

1690
01:54:32,908 --> 01:54:36,478
within the community that is the secret sauce to making this

1691
01:54:36,478 --> 01:54:38,881
work. >> so you think that the fact

1692
01:54:38,881 --> 01:54:46,810
that some of these new onramp centers are going to be located

1693
01:54:46,880 --> 01:54:50,426
deep in the communities that we're looking for these to

1694
01:54:50,426 --> 01:54:55,297
access these populations of people, are really the secret.

1695
01:54:55,297 --> 01:54:59,635
because getting them up to occ or having them even know about

1696
01:54:59,635 --> 01:55:03,439
what is going on at occ is more of the struggle.

1697
01:55:03,439 --> 01:55:06,175
>> I actually think it's the latter.

1698
01:55:06,175 --> 01:55:10,445
we are talking about in the example you and I are discussing

1699
01:55:10,445 --> 01:55:14,516
we are talking about a few short miles difference and on bus

1700
01:55:14,516 --> 01:55:16,719
lines. It is not impossible but people

1701
01:55:16,719 --> 01:55:19,789
have to know that it's there. They have to see themselves

1702
01:55:19,789 --> 01:55:21,256
there. They have to believe that there

1703
01:55:21,256 --> 01:55:24,593
is a way for them to get on the path.

1704
01:55:24,593 --> 01:55:27,963
and that there's something on hill for them, right?

1705
01:55:27,963 --> 01:55:34,470
when you go up onondaga hill to occ that is the really hard part

1706
01:55:34,470 --> 01:55:37,506
where community partners are critical and having a presence

1707
01:55:37,506 --> 01:55:42,545
within the communities that have so much disinvestment becomes

1708
01:55:42,545 --> 01:55:46,382
the game changer. And having the partners starting

1709
01:55:46,382 --> 01:55:49,618
partners in the business community so you can build a

1710
01:55:49,618 --> 01:55:53,622
level of confidence hey if you make it through this there's

1711
01:55:53,622 --> 01:55:58,260
something waiting for you. Having labors is the same.

1712
01:55:58,260 --> 01:56:02,297
in terms of the success of the programs you've heard we've seen

1713
01:56:02,297 --> 01:56:07,435
similar levels of success. But the reality is there is --

1714
01:56:07,435 --> 01:56:11,874
there are barriers at that time need to be overcome to get

1715
01:56:11,874 --> 01:56:14,874
people started. >> on your apprenticeship

1716
01:56:15,944 --> 01:56:19,781
programs, I mean is there a big backlog of people looking to get

1717
01:56:19,781 --> 01:56:23,652
into these programs? You know, we talk about

1718
01:56:23,652 --> 01:56:27,560
expanding them and everything. But are there people waiting now

1719
01:56:27,560 --> 01:56:30,892
to get in? >> we learned we need to start

1720
01:56:30,892 --> 01:56:33,929
with the preapprenticeship approach often time to the make

1721
01:56:33,929 --> 01:56:37,132
sure they have individuals ready to start in an apprenticeship

1722
01:56:37,132 --> 01:56:39,201
program. That is the way the programs are

1723
01:56:39,201 --> 01:56:43,710
now designed. If you start a preapprenticeship

1724
01:56:43,710 --> 01:56:45,874
program we are looking for companies.

1725
01:56:45,874 --> 01:56:51,130
there are not enough individuals within a company who want to

1726
01:56:51,130 --> 01:56:54,549
start a apprenticeship program. The good news is once there is a

1727
01:56:54,549 --> 01:57:01,149
pool of candidates available we will have half a dozen and

1728
01:57:01,289 --> 01:57:05,600
companies that want to interview them and individuals progressing

1729
01:57:05,600 --> 01:57:08,230
through a program and can be brought into their companies.

1730
01:57:08,230 --> 01:57:13,135
so, no, we don't have enough individuals there's enough

1731
01:57:13,135 --> 01:57:16,872
individuals both engaged and ready to go we have to do more

1732
01:57:16,872 --> 01:57:20,708
prep work specifically. And the company relationships

1733
01:57:20,708 --> 01:57:23,645
become critical making sure that companies are ready to accept

1734
01:57:23,645 --> 01:57:27,582
them and prepared to put them into their operations the an

1735
01:57:27,582 --> 01:57:31,653
entry level but on a pathway to success not just a starting job

1736
01:57:31,653 --> 01:57:36,592
but a future job as well. >> one of the things that I know

1737
01:57:36,592 --> 01:57:40,462
there are other questions, but I do want to emphasize that

1738
01:57:40,462 --> 01:57:43,165
connection with the companies. Being important.

1739
01:57:43,165 --> 01:57:47,102
not only for helping to guide the programming, but to build a

1740
01:57:47,102 --> 01:57:51,902
level of confidence and credibility within the students.

1741
01:57:52,307 --> 01:57:56,770
they know there's something waiting they can see themselves

1742
01:57:56,770 --> 01:57:59,414
in it they tour and build relationships with the companies

1743
01:57:59,414 --> 01:58:05,200
during the training. And it not only leads to better

1744
01:58:05,200 --> 01:58:09,257
success during the programs but we know it leads to retention

1745
01:58:09,257 --> 01:58:11,760
and opportunities for advancement within those

1746
01:58:11,760 --> 01:58:18,360
companies once they reach them. >> thank you to both of you.

1747
01:58:24,373 --> 01:58:28,977
I appreciate it. I'm surprised randy still talks

1748
01:58:28,977 --> 01:58:35,584
to me because I send everyone. I do have a question that has

1749
01:58:35,584 --> 01:58:39,588
been brought up number one, is the tracking.

1750
01:58:39,588 --> 01:58:43,580
can you talk about tracking and you talk about success, how do

1751
01:58:43,580 --> 01:58:45,994
you do it? Can you share the model with the

1752
01:58:45,994 --> 01:58:52,734
college and the high school? >> we do both share a model and

1753
01:58:52,734 --> 01:58:55,837
more than willing to share it others, too.

1754
01:58:55,837 --> 01:59:01,237
we are tracking those key statistics completion rates for

1755
01:59:01,877 --> 01:59:05,414
those in the preparation programs, certification rates

1756
01:59:05,414 --> 01:59:09,751
are they getting credentials that employers will want and

1757
01:59:09,751 --> 01:59:14,422
we're tracking I will call it stickiness do they stay

1758
01:59:14,422 --> 01:59:17,920
employed. And we have individuals we want

1759
01:59:17,920 --> 01:59:20,896
to circle back and give them a chance to complete the program.

1760
01:59:20,896 --> 01:59:24,800
I do think as you mentioned those numbers become critically

1761
01:59:24,800 --> 01:59:29,504
important as we continue to make these investments over time, we

1762
01:59:29,504 --> 01:59:32,775
will citizen to focus on those numbers.

1763
01:59:32,775 --> 01:59:38,470
not only did you complete training but did you get job

1764
01:59:38,470 --> 01:59:41,160
offers? We know retention rates go way

1765
01:59:41,160 --> 01:59:44,853
up when we do the supports in terms of training and

1766
01:59:44,853 --> 01:59:47,550
preparation. But the numbers matter greatly.

1767
01:59:47,550 --> 01:59:51,593
>> you do it inturnly? >> we have to do it internally.

1768
01:59:51,593 --> 01:59:55,193
>> how often do you track? Annually?

1769
01:59:55,597 --> 01:59:59,334
>> well, we'll track routinely specific to the individuals who

1770
01:59:59,334 --> 02:00:02,437
go through the programming, we'll track those individuals.

1771
02:00:02,437 --> 02:00:07,376
and then we also are tracking the registered apprentices

1772
02:00:07,376 --> 02:00:11,446
within the companies those are the touch companies we can have

1773
02:00:11,446 --> 02:00:15,617
related to the individuals and you heard in the other panel

1774
02:00:15,617 --> 02:00:19,421
having better data for the state would be helpful.

1775
02:00:19,421 --> 02:00:24,793
literally we have to track the individuals we are connected to.

1776
02:00:24,793 --> 02:00:27,763
>> similar to what randy is discussing we do the same.

1777
02:00:27,763 --> 02:00:32,670
it is how we know. Of course it's easier when you

1778
02:00:32,670 --> 02:00:35,237
know the companies that are dealing with.

1779
02:00:35,237 --> 02:00:38,740
not an advantage that our community colleges have

1780
02:00:38,740 --> 02:00:41,143
necessarily. Most students go through college

1781
02:00:41,143 --> 02:00:45,980
and they choose their path when they complete their program.

1782
02:00:45,980 --> 02:00:51,453
in our instances we are working directly with a cohort of

1783
02:00:51,453 --> 02:00:56,525
businesses as well as a cohort of students going through the

1784
02:00:56,525 --> 02:00:58,326
programming. And, so, those are are the

1785
02:00:58,326 --> 02:01:01,696
places where they are most likely to be placed.

1786
02:01:01,696 --> 02:01:05,534
those are the places where we can follow-up and we do treat

1787
02:01:05,534 --> 02:01:08,804
that as part of the support systems we're talking about.

1788
02:01:08,804 --> 02:01:11,473
how are they doing when they get to that company?

1789
02:01:11,473 --> 02:01:15,977
what are the needs? Where are they a year later?

1790
02:01:15,977 --> 02:01:20,415
and that is all part of the tracking that begins when they

1791
02:01:20,415 --> 02:01:22,884
start the program when they are identified.

1792
02:01:22,884 --> 02:01:25,554
so you can see how that would go through.

1793
02:01:25,554 --> 02:01:30,525
but it is more of a call it a closed system perhaps than the

1794
02:01:30,525 --> 02:01:32,960
community colleges have. >> it sounds like it's part of

1795
02:01:32,960 --> 02:01:36,964
the program that the student must continue to keep in touch

1796
02:01:36,964 --> 02:01:42,304
with you, is that a contract between you and the apprentice?

1797
02:01:42,304 --> 02:01:46,975
>> as kevin mentioned we have a relationship we do with the

1798
02:01:46,975 --> 02:01:50,979
company so we know if they are employed and working there.

1799
02:01:50,979 --> 02:01:55,650
so it still is voluntary generally on the participant

1800
02:01:55,650 --> 02:01:58,686
perspective. But they have an incentive also

1801
02:01:58,686 --> 02:02:02,257
to stay connected as they are looking for the next round of

1802
02:02:02,257 --> 02:02:05,793
employment if they are not employed where they were.

1803
02:02:05,793 --> 02:02:09,264
but it is the company connection that provides the most

1804
02:02:09,264 --> 02:02:13,201
resolution and easiest to get data we have a direct connection

1805
02:02:13,201 --> 02:02:15,536
and they are interested in program success.

1806
02:02:15,536 --> 02:02:18,673
>> I appreciate your support for start-ups.

1807
02:02:18,673 --> 02:02:24,612
but also as you know, the mohawk valley is rich in many

1808
02:02:24,612 --> 02:02:27,615
businesses, 1500 years. Can you tell me how you reach

1809
02:02:27,615 --> 02:02:31,860
out to them to ensure that collaboration continues?

1810
02:02:31,860 --> 02:02:35,286
>> yeah. I think it's our primary focus

1811
02:02:35,390 --> 02:02:39,961
right now we work with companies who are currently in communities

1812
02:02:39,961 --> 02:02:43,265
our members, as well as companies who are coming but

1813
02:02:43,265 --> 02:02:48,236
they don't yet have a presence. So from our perspective working

1814
02:02:48,236 --> 02:02:54,175
with companies is the key existing companies to make sure

1815
02:02:54,175 --> 02:02:56,845
they get first dibbs on the individuals going through the

1816
02:02:56,845 --> 02:03:01,350
programming and the other ones doing interviewing those are the

1817
02:03:01,350 --> 02:03:03,851
current participants in the programs in the mohawk valley

1818
02:03:03,851 --> 02:03:06,921
for example. They are the ones doing the

1819
02:03:06,921 --> 02:03:11,593
interviewing, doing the tours, and having first chance at our

1820
02:03:11,593 --> 02:03:14,593
participants. >> so with your question

1821
02:03:15,196 --> 02:03:18,533
relative to small businesses and workforce programming in

1822
02:03:18,533 --> 02:03:21,636
particular or more broadly in support of small businesses?

1823
02:03:21,636 --> 02:03:25,941
>> looking at ensuring, yes, I understand the importance of

1824
02:03:25,941 --> 02:03:30,120
start-ups but many of the businesses that have had roots

1825
02:03:30,120 --> 02:03:33,948
have worked hard have the same challenges are asking please

1826
02:03:33,948 --> 02:03:38,754
don't forget us. >> we are we proudly operate our

1827
02:03:38,754 --> 02:03:42,156
regional chamber and provide significant level of programming

1828
02:03:42,156 --> 02:03:47,496
for those members. And as part of the expansion of

1829
02:03:47,496 --> 02:03:51,366
our incubator and accelerator model we are offering more

1830
02:03:51,366 --> 02:03:54,102
programming to existing and small businesses to be able to

1831
02:03:54,102 --> 02:03:57,973
come in and frankly trying to communicate that more broadly to

1832
02:03:57,973 --> 02:04:03,178
companies within the region. It was part of the motivation

1833
02:04:03,178 --> 02:04:06,781
behind the expansion of what we were able to do.

1834
02:04:06,781 --> 02:04:10,886
we believe we will be able to offer a much broader range of

1835
02:04:10,886 --> 02:04:14,122
services to those companies and supports where needed.

1836
02:04:14,122 --> 02:04:20,722
>> and as you bring up chambers the importance of the cross

1837
02:04:21,196 --> 02:04:24,266
regional approach is my chambers would like to be a part.

1838
02:04:24,266 --> 02:04:30,438
how do you work to ensure the cross regional areas are heard,

1839
02:04:30,438 --> 02:04:32,908
satisfied and a part of the conversation?

1840
02:04:32,908 --> 02:04:37,846
>> I think there are really large opportunities that have

1841
02:04:37,846 --> 02:04:41,446
sort of developed and gone unnoticed.

1842
02:04:43,684 --> 02:04:47,355
in part because we've seen real success with our regional

1843
02:04:47,355 --> 02:04:50,959
council model. And so we wanted to build on

1844
02:04:50,959 --> 02:04:53,795
that. But you look at some industries

1845
02:04:53,795 --> 02:04:57,566
where you see huge growth potential where new york could

1846
02:04:57,566 --> 02:05:02,737
become much stronger if we worked across those very

1847
02:05:02,737 --> 02:05:05,173
regions. The mohawk valley, central new

1848
02:05:05,173 --> 02:05:10,110
york, downstate, finger lakes, western new york, southern tier,

1849
02:05:10,110 --> 02:05:15,450
all have for example, components that could make our unmanned

1850
02:05:15,450 --> 02:05:21,523
systems or drones industry in this state much stronger if they

1851
02:05:21,523 --> 02:05:24,130
work together. Advanced air mobility.

1852
02:05:24,130 --> 02:05:28,100
sort of a related industry. The north country.

1853
02:05:28,100 --> 02:05:30,337
southern tier. Central new york.

1854
02:05:30,337 --> 02:05:33,973
new york city. All have a compelling case to

1855
02:05:33,973 --> 02:05:37,410
work together on this. We've all talked about

1856
02:05:37,410 --> 02:05:40,413
semiconductors moving across the state and the impacts.

1857
02:05:40,413 --> 02:05:45,813
I think you can identify certainly industries where cross

1858
02:05:45,919 --> 02:05:50,719
regional focus and cooperation and building strategies could

1859
02:05:50,957 --> 02:05:55,280
benefit companies within all of those regions simply by working

1860
02:05:55,280 --> 02:05:58,498
more closely together and building or organizing

1861
02:05:58,498 --> 02:06:01,340
strategies. Not in silos but in

1862
02:06:01,340 --> 02:06:03,570
coordination. >> I think I should clarify are

1863
02:06:03,570 --> 02:06:06,373
you doing that now is my question and how are you doing

1864
02:06:06,373 --> 02:06:08,908
that? >> we are doing that in some

1865
02:06:08,908 --> 02:06:12,446
instances as it relates to semiconductors.

1866
02:06:12,446 --> 02:06:16,315
we have built what is called the new york smart I corridor the

1867
02:06:16,315 --> 02:06:22,315
first time we've worked in a coordinated way across buffalo,

1868
02:06:23,323 --> 02:06:27,523
rochester, syracuse, ithaca, and incorporating areas including

1869
02:06:29,462 --> 02:06:33,600
the mohawk valley into that as well where we believe we will be

1870
02:06:33,600 --> 02:06:38,338
able to build a stronger industry in the state by

1871
02:06:38,338 --> 02:06:43,142
bringing the regions together. >> I would say as a trade

1872
02:06:43,142 --> 02:06:47,342
association we are working with every chamber.

1873
02:06:48,882 --> 02:06:52,685
any chambers interested in working with us please let us

1874
02:06:52,685 --> 02:06:56,823
know we work with center state and so many chambers we would

1875
02:06:56,823 --> 02:07:01,294
love to bring our expertise and our connections and more

1876
02:07:01,294 --> 02:07:04,960
importantly tap into the collaborations going on

1877
02:07:04,960 --> 02:07:07,300
throughout the state. I'm with you, we need to

1878
02:07:07,300 --> 02:07:10,236
continue to do more and more collaboration if we are going to

1879
02:07:10,236 --> 02:07:12,380
lift industry and help communities.

1880
02:07:12,380 --> 02:07:17,420
>> and with the previous that testified were you aware of

1881
02:07:17,420 --> 02:07:21,448
their programs at utica? >> we are aware of those

1882
02:07:21,448 --> 02:07:26,419
programs we work with the school district as well as north valley

1883
02:07:26,419 --> 02:07:30,790
community college has been the most expansive of the community

1884
02:07:30,790 --> 02:07:33,960
colleges so far. >> and if the legislators here

1885
02:07:33,960 --> 02:07:38,598
three priorities what would they be for us?

1886
02:07:38,598 --> 02:07:40,934
>> sure. Well, you heard me talk about

1887
02:07:40,934 --> 02:07:44,604
the two things that keep me up at night.

1888
02:07:44,604 --> 02:07:48,141
and that is absolutely continuing to lean into

1889
02:07:48,141 --> 02:07:51,978
workforce because our growth without bringing as many people

1890
02:07:51,978 --> 02:07:57,417
as humanly possible along with us, really isn't a success.

1891
02:07:57,417 --> 02:07:59,352
right? We can do this.

1892
02:07:59,352 --> 02:08:05,191
we can be an example of how to holistically bring entire

1893
02:08:05,191 --> 02:08:09,162
communities along in a way we have not been doing it before.

1894
02:08:09,162 --> 02:08:11,164
housing. Housing scares me because we

1895
02:08:11,164 --> 02:08:15,502
know the influx of people coming and we've watched communities go

1896
02:08:15,502 --> 02:08:19,139
through rapid demand increases for housing and not being able

1897
02:08:19,139 --> 02:08:22,976
to meet that demand. New york is frankly tough for

1898
02:08:22,976 --> 02:08:27,647
delivering new housing. Our communities have a lot of

1899
02:08:27,647 --> 02:08:30,984
say. The processes take longer here.

1900
02:08:30,984 --> 02:08:35,522
and when we know we have an urgent need, we need to be able

1901
02:08:35,522 --> 02:08:39,658
to streamline that process as much as possible.

1902
02:08:39,658 --> 02:08:43,662
particularly, we think, in providing not only market rate

1903
02:08:43,662 --> 02:08:47,500
housing and affordable housing but housing in a workforce space

1904
02:08:47,500 --> 02:08:51,504
and they may need to be supports for the develop the of that

1905
02:08:51,504 --> 02:08:54,730
housings, strategies we have been working on.

1906
02:08:54,730 --> 02:08:57,410
and the third thing you will hear me continue to talk about

1907
02:08:57,410 --> 02:09:02,782
is, in fact, our ability to take advantage of the momentum that

1908
02:09:02,782 --> 02:09:06,486
we have in our region, spread it out further.

1909
02:09:06,486 --> 02:09:12,910
but also make sure we can perpetuate it invest in supply

1910
02:09:12,910 --> 02:09:15,295
chain companies and people starting up new companies and,

1911
02:09:15,295 --> 02:09:18,431
yes, supporting our existing small businesses by helping them

1912
02:09:18,431 --> 02:09:21,501
tap into the growth areas that are here.

1913
02:09:21,501 --> 02:09:25,104
those are my top three. >> I would say that power and

1914
02:09:25,104 --> 02:09:27,390
people are going to be necessary.

1915
02:09:27,390 --> 02:09:31,778
we talked about workforce but having enough natural gas and

1916
02:09:31,778 --> 02:09:35,140
electrons we have investment coming but the industries need

1917
02:09:35,140 --> 02:09:39,520
electricity and natural gas. We need all the above approach.

1918
02:09:39,520 --> 02:09:43,590
we talked about people, energy, I think keeps me up at night as

1919
02:09:43,590 --> 02:09:45,792
well. I think we need to make sure

1920
02:09:45,792 --> 02:09:51,564
that this is a place that sort of I will call it speed to

1921
02:09:51,564 --> 02:09:55,135
delivery. We need to get our approvals

1922
02:09:55,135 --> 02:09:57,970
done and move forward quickly because the industries existing

1923
02:09:57,970 --> 02:10:02,242
as well as those coming here really need to be able to move

1924
02:10:02,242 --> 02:10:05,311
quickly. And let's create continue to

1925
02:10:05,311 --> 02:10:08,915
create and advance an environment of being even more

1926
02:10:08,915 --> 02:10:12,152
focused on growth. New york state has this

1927
02:10:12,152 --> 02:10:15,555
opportunity to be a growth state again to have an influx of

1928
02:10:15,555 --> 02:10:21,427
population we can see a quarter of a million people move here.

1929
02:10:21,427 --> 02:10:25,365
let's be growth communities and the focus of the state on that

1930
02:10:25,365 --> 02:10:27,765
would help. >> thank you.

1931
02:10:31,571 --> 02:10:33,971
>> good morning. Thank you.

1932
02:10:36,175 --> 02:10:39,512
it is clear we need workforce development and have

1933
02:10:39,512 --> 02:10:42,982
coordination between the industries I have experience in

1934
02:10:42,982 --> 02:10:46,519
utica and lean in new york which I believe is in rome the

1935
02:10:46,519 --> 02:10:50,123
syracuse area. And though I represent the city

1936
02:10:50,123 --> 02:10:52,492
I care what happens across the state.

1937
02:10:52,492 --> 02:10:57,997
you have my full support on trying to fast high speed rail

1938
02:10:57,997 --> 02:11:01,534
makes sense industrial rail and focusing on power infrastructure

1939
02:11:01,534 --> 02:11:03,536
is key for our manufacturing industry.

1940
02:11:03,536 --> 02:11:07,306
with that said I want to make sure I want things to be made in

1941
02:11:07,306 --> 02:11:11,410
new york but I've seen a lot of concerns about the tariffs at

1942
02:11:11,410 --> 02:11:13,946
that time are squeezing some of our manufacturing industry.

1943
02:11:13,946 --> 02:11:18,952
the reality is there are some parts and pieces of our supply

1944
02:11:18,952 --> 02:11:21,287
chain we can't make here in new york.

1945
02:11:21,287 --> 02:11:24,891
we have to import from other areas.

1946
02:11:24,891 --> 02:11:31,764
and how simple it can be I love cool ranch doritos and I laugh,

1947
02:11:31,764 --> 02:11:36,903
no seasoning on the chip. And I saw that mccormick's is

1948
02:11:36,903 --> 02:11:41,974
in pennsylvania one of the top seasoning companies is facing

1949
02:11:41,974 --> 02:11:45,912
$140 military riff issue because spices have to be imported from

1950
02:11:45,912 --> 02:11:49,512
other countries. And I'm concerned about

1951
02:11:49,782 --> 02:11:51,384
businesses like medical supplies.

1952
02:11:51,384 --> 02:11:56,890
a lot of those components are made in india, and pakistan and

1953
02:11:56,890 --> 02:11:57,957
we manufacture it here in new york.

1954
02:11:57,957 --> 02:12:02,757
I'm worried about aerospace, indian corporation and alloyed

1955
02:12:03,963 --> 02:12:07,563
steel. These are great companies that

1956
02:12:07,567 --> 02:12:10,937
are hiring new yorkers but are being squeezed.

1957
02:12:10,937 --> 02:12:15,475
what can we do to help them? I agree we need to be less

1958
02:12:15,475 --> 02:12:19,178
regulation and need how we can help our businesses how do we

1959
02:12:19,178 --> 02:12:23,116
protect them from the tariffs that are hurting the small and

1960
02:12:23,116 --> 02:12:26,853
medium sized businesses? >> I think it's a challenging

1961
02:12:26,853 --> 02:12:29,622
time because of the uncertainty with the companies not knowing

1962
02:12:29,622 --> 02:12:33,993
what will the tariff people and how long will it exist.

1963
02:12:33,993 --> 02:12:38,498
I think as communities we need to support these industries with

1964
02:12:38,498 --> 02:12:41,100
complicated supply chains. And the reality is that is going

1965
02:12:41,100 --> 02:12:43,102
to be the case for quite a while.

1966
02:12:43,102 --> 02:12:47,506
we are seeing some relocation into our state obviously within

1967
02:12:47,506 --> 02:12:52,645
the country, too, based on what is transpiring but it is an

1968
02:12:52,645 --> 02:12:56,248
uncertain environment we are trying to help companies sort

1969
02:12:56,248 --> 02:12:59,786
through their supply chains they have to make individual

1970
02:12:59,786 --> 02:13:04,723
decisions and help them find as partners in the community in new

1971
02:13:04,723 --> 02:13:07,927
york state find suppliers within the country that they can shift

1972
02:13:07,927 --> 02:13:11,531
some of the production to. But it's going to be

1973
02:13:11,531 --> 02:13:13,766
complicated. And we were all hopeful we

1974
02:13:13,766 --> 02:13:19,472
settle down and know more of the landscape and I'm not sure we

1975
02:13:19,472 --> 02:13:20,406
do. It's challenging.

1976
02:13:20,406 --> 02:13:22,942
>> how do you do your forecasting?

1977
02:13:22,942 --> 02:13:25,478
trying to build forecasting for micron.

1978
02:13:25,478 --> 02:13:28,948
you don't know what your copper wire is going to cost you a year

1979
02:13:28,948 --> 02:13:33,953
from now and it can throw off any major production or

1980
02:13:33,953 --> 02:13:36,989
manufacturing. It's unfair to businesses across

1981
02:13:36,989 --> 02:13:39,559
not just new york but across the country.

1982
02:13:39,559 --> 02:13:42,559
>> very challenging. >> thank you, chair.

1983
02:13:46,566 --> 02:13:53,766
the bulk of my question is directed to you, but you are

1984
02:13:55,241 --> 02:13:58,978
both comment on it. Back to your legislative

1985
02:13:58,978 --> 02:14:02,615
breakfast a year ago this month three businesses present, all

1986
02:14:02,615 --> 02:14:05,818
three very well established new york state businesses.

1987
02:14:05,818 --> 02:14:09,422
two of the three said they would no longer expand in new york the

1988
02:14:09,422 --> 02:14:13,622
third one, the jury was still out.

1989
02:14:14,126 --> 02:14:21,326
I'm asking for you to comment on the ease with which businesses

1990
02:14:22,869 --> 02:14:26,572
can coordinate with the state for all their development needs

1991
02:14:26,572 --> 02:14:29,408
and growth? I want to specifically say one

1992
02:14:29,408 --> 02:14:33,346
thing. I remember one of them, it

1993
02:14:33,346 --> 02:14:37,283
struck me and I almost have the guy's words memorized because it

1994
02:14:37,283 --> 02:14:40,753
was so bad. He said you know when we look to

1995
02:14:40,753 --> 02:14:45,858
expand in inalienable, we make one phone call and 20 people

1996
02:14:45,858 --> 02:14:51,697
call us back all offering power, utilities, shovel ready sites,

1997
02:14:51,697 --> 02:14:54,833
labor, et cetera. We try to make that phone call

1998
02:14:54,833 --> 02:14:58,371
in new york, we've got to call 20 different numbers nobody can

1999
02:14:58,371 --> 02:15:03,242
make any decisions and it is a loop that we don't have time and

2000
02:15:03,242 --> 02:15:06,579
resources to engage in. We can't do it anymore and we

2001
02:15:06,579 --> 02:15:09,782
are not going to. With that level of difficulty

2002
02:15:09,782 --> 02:15:15,521
that our own businesses are making these decisions to expand

2003
02:15:15,521 --> 02:15:22,121
outside of the state, do you feel confident that we can

2004
02:15:23,363 --> 02:15:28,267
reduce these egregious burdens on our businesses in this state?

2005
02:15:28,267 --> 02:15:33,105
>> I'm of the opinion we need to make continued improvements in

2006
02:15:33,105 --> 02:15:36,743
the operating systems we have. I do know that we have lots of

2007
02:15:36,743 --> 02:15:40,120
members who would like to continue to expand here and we

2008
02:15:40,120 --> 02:15:44,117
need to be sensitive to that. There are other challenges as

2009
02:15:44,117 --> 02:15:47,553
businesses will acknowledge in other states related to power.

2010
02:15:47,553 --> 02:15:55,353
it is not easy to get electrons in inanna or central new york.

2011
02:16:09,975 --> 02:16:13,446
we are competitive to get micron to come.

2012
02:16:13,446 --> 02:16:17,490
I can give you three dozen organizations that are growing

2013
02:16:17,490 --> 02:16:21,187
and some are pausing because they are sorting out tariffs and

2014
02:16:21,187 --> 02:16:23,550
the impact. We need to do better.

2015
02:16:23,550 --> 02:16:25,525
at the same time they can be competitive.

2016
02:16:25,525 --> 02:16:29,462
>> sorry to cut you off. I got your response and the

2017
02:16:29,462 --> 02:16:31,430
essence of time. Energy.

2018
02:16:31,430 --> 02:16:34,600
are you advocating and do you feel like the state is listening

2019
02:16:34,600 --> 02:16:37,470
to our need for nuclear power? >> I do.

2020
02:16:37,470 --> 02:16:42,141
I think the advanced nuclear summit recently indicated a sea

2021
02:16:42,141 --> 02:16:45,144
change in the opportunity to do advanced nuclear and there is a

2022
02:16:45,144 --> 02:16:49,749
sea change looking at all the above strategy let's have

2023
02:16:49,749 --> 02:16:53,319
natural gas. I do think there's been a shift

2024
02:16:53,319 --> 02:16:57,890
and I give many people the credit for looking at all of our

2025
02:16:57,890 --> 02:17:02,270
needs things changed since 2019. Let's change to an all of the

2026
02:17:02,270 --> 02:17:04,563
above strategy. >> I want to reiterate I can

2027
02:17:04,563 --> 02:17:07,633
tell you something we as an organization have been urging

2028
02:17:07,633 --> 02:17:14,273
and we've seen just a sea change in terms of attitude towards

2029
02:17:14,273 --> 02:17:18,111
nuclear in the last probably three years.

2030
02:17:18,111 --> 02:17:20,379
definitely in the last five years in the state.

2031
02:17:20,379 --> 02:17:25,818
I would now say certainly what we are hearing from folks in the

2032
02:17:25,818 --> 02:17:28,721
industry, new york is leading into --

2033
02:17:28,721 --> 02:17:33,359
leaning into the possibility of new nuclear really at a level

2034
02:17:33,359 --> 02:17:39,465
that is on par with maybe a handful of states nationwide.

2035
02:17:39,465 --> 02:17:41,467
really becoming very supportive. >> wonderful.

2036
02:17:41,467 --> 02:17:43,690
thank you. Good news.

2037
02:17:43,690 --> 02:17:46,690
thank you, gentlemen. Thank you.

2038
02:17:46,472 --> 02:17:49,674
>> thank you to you both for being here.

2039
02:17:49,674 --> 02:17:53,874
this one is probably goes to randy.

2040
02:17:54,479 --> 02:17:59,351
I represent 8021 on long island and I recently went to a

2041
02:17:59,351 --> 02:18:01,751
solution workforce solution summit.

2042
02:18:04,623 --> 02:18:09,829
and we heard from a number of people but john was one from the

2043
02:18:09,829 --> 02:18:11,897
new york state innovation summit.

2044
02:18:11,897 --> 02:18:18,637
and what was really interesting is that he spoke about the wide

2045
02:18:18,637 --> 02:18:22,841
range of opportunity in the manufacturing industry on long

2046
02:18:22,841 --> 02:18:26,512
island it's like a best kept secret because most of the room

2047
02:18:26,512 --> 02:18:31,316
did not know that. He said it's difficult getting

2048
02:18:31,316 --> 02:18:35,187
school districts to embrace this it's also difficult to get

2049
02:18:35,187 --> 02:18:38,858
parents to embrace it because the parents are I iting the kids

2050
02:18:38,858 --> 02:18:42,461
go to the four-year college and that route.

2051
02:18:42,461 --> 02:18:45,464
he spoke of the great opportunity right on long island

2052
02:18:45,464 --> 02:18:48,000
and I know there's opportunity throughout the state.

2053
02:18:48,000 --> 02:18:51,970
but he expressed like that there needs to be much more

2054
02:18:51,970 --> 02:18:56,609
partnership outreach to bring this to the forefront so

2055
02:18:56,609 --> 02:19:01,880
students in high school or maybe people in a career that is not

2056
02:19:01,880 --> 02:19:05,551
going anywhere can know about this outlet.

2057
02:19:05,551 --> 02:19:08,387
I wondered you're central new york do you find that similar

2058
02:19:08,387 --> 02:19:10,823
situation across the state in your area?

2059
02:19:10,823 --> 02:19:14,426
or is it different? And what do you suggest we do

2060
02:19:14,426 --> 02:19:17,630
about that? >> I'm glad you brought this up.

2061
02:19:17,630 --> 02:19:19,805
those are considerable challenges throughout the state

2062
02:19:19,805 --> 02:19:25,110
and we work with our long island partners and huge opportunity on

2063
02:19:25,110 --> 02:19:27,479
long island. Manufacturing is the largest

2064
02:19:27,479 --> 02:19:31,150
industries in long island. So the way we've tried to tackle

2065
02:19:31,150 --> 02:19:34,653
it and we continue to work on this is to get students into

2066
02:19:34,653 --> 02:19:40,530
places of work. So this will put close to 400

2067
02:19:40,592 --> 02:19:45,130
individuals, students from high schools from 11 school districts

2068
02:19:45,130 --> 02:19:48,667
into factories and facilities to see these great jobs that are

2069
02:19:48,667 --> 02:19:51,537
high-tech and pay well. You can get right out of high

2070
02:19:51,537 --> 02:19:54,139
school through an apprenticeship path there are different ways to

2071
02:19:54,139 --> 02:19:57,409
do it and I love about registered apprenticeships you

2072
02:19:57,409 --> 02:20:00,546
can start at 18. One finished he is 71.

2073
02:20:00,546 --> 02:20:06,485
there is no reason why you can't start at any point to be in the

2074
02:20:06,485 --> 02:20:09,687
great paying long-term jobs we have to work with school

2075
02:20:09,687 --> 02:20:14,492
districts and we learned this and we brought the business and

2076
02:20:14,492 --> 02:20:19,297
been a part of us for 20 we need more outreach to schools.

2077
02:20:19,297 --> 02:20:22,634
if students can see places and spaces and go home and tell

2078
02:20:22,634 --> 02:20:25,371
their parents I like that job and this is my path.

2079
02:20:25,371 --> 02:20:30,241
by the way it doesn't preclude me from going to college but

2080
02:20:30,241 --> 02:20:33,979
maybe I learn and earn first and I don't have a college debt.

2081
02:20:33,979 --> 02:20:40,552
I do think we need to do more. We won't get there if there is

2082
02:20:40,552 --> 02:20:43,589
not awareness about these jobs from parents, students and

2083
02:20:43,589 --> 02:20:49,261
community at large, the dirty dark places and spaces that once

2084
02:20:49,261 --> 02:20:51,797
manufacturing do not exist anymore at all.

2085
02:20:51,797 --> 02:20:54,466
we need to change people's perceptions.

2086
02:20:54,466 --> 02:20:58,666
>> thank you. >> thank you both for being

2087
02:20:59,604 --> 02:21:01,973
here. I commend you guys for doing

2088
02:21:01,973 --> 02:21:05,878
what you are doing it's important we get kids back to

2089
02:21:05,878 --> 02:21:09,348
wanting to go back to work. Like we said regarding schools

2090
02:21:09,348 --> 02:21:14,153
it starts with that and giving them some type of incentive and

2091
02:21:14,153 --> 02:21:17,823
career path where they could see themselves working in

2092
02:21:17,823 --> 02:21:21,894
manufacturing or into jobs that probably doesn't look good

2093
02:21:21,894 --> 02:21:25,630
enough on social media. Because I do think it is a

2094
02:21:25,630 --> 02:21:29,634
cultural issue that we need to get back to and show them why

2095
02:21:29,634 --> 02:21:33,380
this is good for them and good for the community and affordable

2096
02:21:33,380 --> 02:21:36,410
for them in terms of affordability the state there is

2097
02:21:36,410 --> 02:21:39,245
an issue in new york state of affordability.

2098
02:21:39,245 --> 02:21:43,115
and a lot of kids want to stay around their parents or

2099
02:21:43,115 --> 02:21:47,454
communities and they want to ensure themselves and the jobs

2100
02:21:47,454 --> 02:21:54,540
are there but there isn't enough kids are not seeing themselves

2101
02:21:54,693 --> 02:21:57,662
working. I know there's programs in place

2102
02:21:57,662 --> 02:22:01,132
that we can try to work with. But I do think we have to get

2103
02:22:01,132 --> 02:22:06,738
back to the schools and to the culture and trying to have them

2104
02:22:06,738 --> 02:22:11,610
see themselves do just build a family and life for themselves

2105
02:22:11,610 --> 02:22:15,781
around these types of jobs if it is a small business or

2106
02:22:15,781 --> 02:22:19,618
manufacturing or industries or trucking or distribution or

2107
02:22:19,618 --> 02:22:20,819
warehousing and there are so many.

2108
02:22:20,819 --> 02:22:24,890
if they don't see themselves doing that it will be difficult

2109
02:22:24,890 --> 02:22:29,461
for the businesses to hire them. Do you see any types of ways

2110
02:22:29,461 --> 02:22:34,900
maybe on a more in terms of social media, in terms of the

2111
02:22:34,900 --> 02:22:39,137
way to implement that kind of idea to make them see that early

2112
02:22:39,137 --> 02:22:43,575
on when they are sophomores, juniors, seniors in high school?

2113
02:22:43,575 --> 02:22:47,775
>> I think it starts earlier than that.

2114
02:22:48,514 --> 02:22:54,253
and I will say one of the things that we found perhaps most

2115
02:22:54,253 --> 02:22:57,989
impressive in the syracuse area, I think you heard about it from

2116
02:22:57,989 --> 02:23:02,127
the folks at the utica school district earlier today is career

2117
02:23:02,127 --> 02:23:04,527
and technical education programming.

2118
02:23:05,130 --> 02:23:09,668
it really does provide a different way for folks to

2119
02:23:09,668 --> 02:23:12,237
learn. Certainly puts them on a path

2120
02:23:12,237 --> 02:23:16,675
where if they choose to go directly into a career, they are

2121
02:23:16,675 --> 02:23:20,812
able to do that. And even if it doesn't, in many

2122
02:23:20,812 --> 02:23:23,615
cases these are credit earning paths which will shorten the

2123
02:23:23,615 --> 02:23:29,220
time they are in college. And let them get that degree

2124
02:23:29,220 --> 02:23:31,756
faster. It tends to be more experiencal

2125
02:23:31,756 --> 02:23:35,600
more hands on learning. In syracuse there are more

2126
02:23:35,600 --> 02:23:37,963
connections to business while the kids are in school.

2127
02:23:37,963 --> 02:23:44,903
so if they were in utica, what kid knows what a is if his

2128
02:23:44,903 --> 02:23:48,240
father doesn't work there or the mother doesn't work at ttm.

2129
02:23:48,240 --> 02:23:55,460
how do you know what that is? So, I think, you've got those

2130
02:23:55,460 --> 02:23:59,184
challenges. But the other thing that is

2131
02:23:59,184 --> 02:24:03,522
perhaps most impressive about what we're seeing right now

2132
02:24:03,522 --> 02:24:09,661
happening in cte programming, is that it is just much more

2133
02:24:09,661 --> 02:24:14,320
innovative than what we've seen in traditional classroom

2134
02:24:14,320 --> 02:24:16,670
settings. And certainly in syracuse and I

2135
02:24:16,670 --> 02:24:20,105
suspect it would be the same in school districts throughout the

2136
02:24:20,105 --> 02:24:24,676
state, the graduation rate is much, much higher.

2137
02:24:24,676 --> 02:24:27,946
and the city of syracuse kids going through cte programming

2138
02:24:27,946 --> 02:24:31,549
are graduating at a higher than 90% rate.

2139
02:24:31,549 --> 02:24:35,200
in an urban school district. That is saying something.

2140
02:24:35,200 --> 02:24:38,290
so that would be the way I would approach it.

2141
02:24:38,290 --> 02:24:42,694
and, sure, if you want to get spokes models for medical device

2142
02:24:42,694 --> 02:24:45,430
companies or whatever, it might work on social media.

2143
02:24:45,430 --> 02:24:50,234
but I think day in and day out kind of contacts are the best.

2144
02:24:50,234 --> 02:24:54,105
>> I agree it starts with the hands on approach and getting

2145
02:24:54,105 --> 02:24:58,176
business leaders and people into schools and back to kevin's

2146
02:24:58,176 --> 02:25:01,446
point, the city of syracuse has half of the students at the high

2147
02:25:01,446 --> 02:25:07,520
school level in cte programs. I I believe we should have

2148
02:25:07,520 --> 02:25:11,722
student exposure to cte every high school pathway have some

2149
02:25:11,722 --> 02:25:14,793
industry related connection. If you don't have a chance to be

2150
02:25:14,793 --> 02:25:17,962
out in the community you don't for what the jobs look like.

2151
02:25:17,962 --> 02:25:20,799
and that goes across the board for construction.

2152
02:25:20,799 --> 02:25:24,436
any kind of job if you don't know what the day-to-day looks

2153
02:25:24,436 --> 02:25:29,140
like you have not had exposure to it you won't consider it.

2154
02:25:29,140 --> 02:25:31,943
new york state's effort and regions are working on this with

2155
02:25:31,943 --> 02:25:35,680
state ed how do we get more career exposure while you are in

2156
02:25:35,680 --> 02:25:38,383
high school. But I agree, we should be

2157
02:25:38,383 --> 02:25:42,688
talking about things in middle school maybe as early as third

2158
02:25:42,688 --> 02:25:45,724
or fourth grade. The truth is do people know of

2159
02:25:45,724 --> 02:25:48,626
today's modern jobs and skill sets needed?

2160
02:25:48,626 --> 02:25:51,290
they don't. >> something I believe parents

2161
02:25:51,290 --> 02:25:53,732
should be pushing and be involved with.

2162
02:25:53,732 --> 02:25:58,704
if you are saying we can do it that early on if it's working in

2163
02:25:58,704 --> 02:26:02,400
syracuse that kind of implementation can work

2164
02:26:02,400 --> 02:26:03,975
anywhere. Maybe they can see themselves

2165
02:26:03,975 --> 02:26:09,375
early on working in that path would be great.

2166
02:26:10,349 --> 02:26:14,549
>> thank you we appreciate it. Thank you.

2167
02:26:30,200 --> 02:26:33,602
>> next, kari puleo and bruce hairston.

2168
02:26:56,794 --> 02:26:59,531
>> thank you to both of you for being here.

2169
02:26:59,531 --> 02:27:03,635
I know you represent chambers from across the state not only

2170
02:27:03,635 --> 02:27:07,835
from your own perspective. I appreciate it.

2171
02:27:08,840 --> 02:27:11,840
please start. >> I'm kari puleo.

2172
02:27:20,585 --> 02:27:24,790
and this is bruce hairston. I represent the utica chamber of

2173
02:27:24,790 --> 02:27:28,994
commerce and bruce is just down the road in rome, new york.

2174
02:27:28,994 --> 02:27:32,330
together we represent over a thousand businesses across the

2175
02:27:32,330 --> 02:27:35,667
mohawk valley and our role is to advocate for conditions that

2176
02:27:35,667 --> 02:27:40,710
allow small businesses to launch, survive, grow and

2177
02:27:40,710 --> 02:27:43,608
sustain good jobs in our region. In preparation for today's

2178
02:27:43,608 --> 02:27:48,408
testimony, I met with over 25 businesses in anticipation

2179
02:27:49,747 --> 02:27:53,285
talking about what we're hearing from them small businesses in

2180
02:27:53,285 --> 02:27:57,556
every single sector of our economy, retail, healthcare,

2181
02:27:57,556 --> 02:27:59,557
hospitality, tech and manufacturing and this is what

2182
02:27:59,557 --> 02:28:02,694
we're hearing there is a common theme to their concerns.

2183
02:28:02,694 --> 02:28:06,310
access to capital is their top barrier.

2184
02:28:06,310 --> 02:28:09,467
micro businesses can not meet matching rules for state grants

2185
02:28:09,467 --> 02:28:12,170
and loans. They see the opportunity but the

2186
02:28:12,170 --> 02:28:15,573
up front requirements block them from trying.

2187
02:28:15,573 --> 02:28:20,278
for solo entrepreneurs who want to have employees, the

2188
02:28:20,278 --> 02:28:24,249
opportunities are fewer. This leads to commercial loan

2189
02:28:24,249 --> 02:28:28,120
customers who fall prey to predatory and unscrupulous

2190
02:28:28,120 --> 02:28:31,556
practices of merchant cash advance companies destroying

2191
02:28:31,556 --> 02:28:33,892
small businesses everyday in our community.

2192
02:28:33,892 --> 02:28:38,830
our programs are too complex when funds exist the number of

2193
02:28:38,830 --> 02:28:42,734
agencies, acronyms and timelines and complicated rules are

2194
02:28:42,734 --> 02:28:44,737
overwhelming. One small retailer told me by

2195
02:28:44,737 --> 02:28:49,508
the time I hired somebody to help complete the forms the cost

2196
02:28:49,508 --> 02:28:54,512
exceeded the benefit and I cannot absorb that overhead that

2197
02:28:54,512 --> 02:28:57,916
explains why many never apply for state programs.

2198
02:28:57,916 --> 02:29:01,886
heather of holland farms looked at state grant programs planning

2199
02:29:01,886 --> 02:29:05,790
her second location in the syracuse area but the project's

2200
02:29:05,790 --> 02:29:08,827
timing and stipulations meant thee could not wait for

2201
02:29:08,827 --> 02:29:11,763
approvals. The application was so complex

2202
02:29:11,763 --> 02:29:14,899
she considered hiring help and that is ridiculous for a company

2203
02:29:14,899 --> 02:29:17,802
that has been in business since 1955.

2204
02:29:17,802 --> 02:29:21,706
the project was delayed financed at a higher cost and lost

2205
02:29:21,706 --> 02:29:26,506
opportunities for more job creation than she originally

2206
02:29:27,111 --> 02:29:28,713
anticipated. Regulations and paperwork

2207
02:29:28,713 --> 02:29:32,117
continue to drive costs as the number two most regulated state

2208
02:29:32,117 --> 02:29:35,553
in the country we need to do better.

2209
02:29:35,553 --> 02:29:39,657
rules string teams that don't have staff as health are gates

2210
02:29:39,657 --> 02:29:43,600
from the bank of utica points out the administrative burden

2211
02:29:43,600 --> 02:29:48,400
creases cost, limits growth and reduces the number of jobs

2212
02:29:48,400 --> 02:29:50,335
available. Workforce and training gaps

2213
02:29:50,335 --> 02:29:53,935
still persist. Employees can't find stable

2214
02:29:55,573 --> 02:29:57,909
reliant workers. Apprenticeship programs are

2215
02:29:57,909 --> 02:30:02,681
helping to meet but the capacity limits in licensing restrictions

2216
02:30:02,681 --> 02:30:06,284
constrain how many people can enter trades.

2217
02:30:06,284 --> 02:30:10,488
elevated owner reports training programs hit a hard cap on

2218
02:30:10,488 --> 02:30:14,693
participants and how quickly apprentices can become licensed

2219
02:30:14,693 --> 02:30:19,931
mechanics while demand for work remains high, the limits

2220
02:30:19,931 --> 02:30:22,367
struggle. We also see problems with equity

2221
02:30:22,367 --> 02:30:25,367
and geography. Micro enterprises immigrant

2222
02:30:25,770 --> 02:30:31,170
owned shops and rural businesses face the steepest hurtles.

2223
02:30:32,430 --> 02:30:37,382
alesha gains porter captured it because she is using her revenue

2224
02:30:37,382 --> 02:30:41,786
to keep the doors open she has not been able to take a

2225
02:30:41,786 --> 02:30:43,387
paycheck. That reality must guide how

2226
02:30:43,387 --> 02:30:46,857
programs are designed. She has been in business since

2227
02:30:46,857 --> 02:30:51,496
july of 2024 and has still not taken a paycheck but there's

2228
02:30:51,496 --> 02:30:54,799
great things on the horizon. Bruce is going to tell us what

2229
02:30:54,799 --> 02:30:57,936
is working and recommendations. >> thank you for having us here

2230
02:30:57,936 --> 02:31:00,936
today. Thank you chairman buttenschon.

2231
02:31:01,940 --> 02:31:05,276
what is working? When support is accessible and

2232
02:31:05,276 --> 02:31:09,881
paired with technical assistance we see real results.

2233
02:31:09,881 --> 02:31:13,151
storefront improvements, increased customer presence and

2234
02:31:13,151 --> 02:31:17,951
targeted corridors and stronger capacity to secure long-term

2235
02:31:18,623 --> 02:31:22,930
financing the difference is capital and navigation equals

2236
02:31:22,930 --> 02:31:24,493
outcomes. Recommendations, practical fixes

2237
02:31:25,430 --> 02:31:29,401
that would make a difference right now.

2238
02:31:29,401 --> 02:31:33,601
create streamline micro grant checks under $25,000 with

2239
02:31:33,971 --> 02:31:36,971
minimal reporting. Embedded technical assistance.

2240
02:31:39,444 --> 02:31:43,581
fund local partners and chambers, nonprofits to help

2241
02:31:43,581 --> 02:31:46,718
with applications, language support and compliance.

2242
02:31:46,718 --> 02:31:51,518
enable faster disbursement, partial up front payments or

2243
02:31:51,656 --> 02:31:55,560
small awards to address cash flow constraints.

2244
02:31:55,560 --> 02:32:00,360
make matching flexible. Phase-in kind or reduce matched

2245
02:32:00,998 --> 02:32:03,998
options for qualifying micro businesses.

2246
02:32:04,602 --> 02:32:08,806
coordinating single one stop intake so businesses don't

2247
02:32:08,806 --> 02:32:12,406
resubmit the same documents across agencies.

2248
02:32:12,444 --> 02:32:16,644
and six, require local reporting, published aggravated

2249
02:32:17,181 --> 02:32:21,553
outcomes for the utica rome region so we can track benefits

2250
02:32:21,553 --> 02:32:26,825
and where gaps remain. >> the changes are not giveaways

2251
02:32:26,825 --> 02:32:29,961
they are pragmatic if businesses cannot survive the application

2252
02:32:29,961 --> 02:32:33,564
process or wait months for reimbursements the state loses

2253
02:32:33,564 --> 02:32:36,134
jobs, tax revenue and investment.

2254
02:32:36,134 --> 02:32:41,439
when I sat down with dan jones the managing director of wealth

2255
02:32:41,439 --> 02:32:44,420
management he told me two statements.

2256
02:32:44,420 --> 02:32:50,420
first he does not receive nor desire state financing for

2257
02:32:51,416 --> 02:32:53,385
anything. It's the reason many of his

2258
02:32:53,385 --> 02:32:55,987
peers moved to florida and he does not want to move his

2259
02:32:55,987 --> 02:32:59,190
family. He fold up noting there are

2260
02:32:59,190 --> 02:33:03,194
issues to doing business in new york state it's death by a

2261
02:33:03,194 --> 02:33:05,897
thousand paper cuts. Too much regulation, too many

2262
02:33:05,897 --> 02:33:09,401
departments to deal with, challenging labor laws, did he

2263
02:33:09,401 --> 02:33:12,871
mention taxes? How about energy costs a major

2264
02:33:12,871 --> 02:33:16,407
that inflates the cost of purchasing power for necessary

2265
02:33:16,407 --> 02:33:21,612
goods and services for all, especially those who make less.

2266
02:33:21,612 --> 02:33:26,284
and it reduces the services available to the public.

2267
02:33:26,284 --> 02:33:30,789
what our new york state government has done to create

2268
02:33:30,789 --> 02:33:34,759
the wage earner and the wealthy. >> in closing small businesses

2269
02:33:34,759 --> 02:33:38,229
are the backbone of our local economies especially regions

2270
02:33:38,229 --> 02:33:40,898
like our outside of new york city metro.

2271
02:33:40,898 --> 02:33:45,170
and utica and rome we see the scars of industrial decline and

2272
02:33:45,170 --> 02:33:49,274
the seeds of resurgence entrepreneurs launching ventures

2273
02:33:49,274 --> 02:33:52,874
in clean energy, manufacturing retooling, downtown

2274
02:33:54,790 --> 02:33:57,662
revitalization arts enterprises immigrant founded businesses and

2275
02:33:57,662 --> 02:34:01,132
local retail reconnecting with the community.

2276
02:34:01,132 --> 02:34:05,403
but to truly move the needle the state economic development

2277
02:34:05,403 --> 02:34:09,140
programs must be purposeful and accountable and accessible to

2278
02:34:09,140 --> 02:34:13,340
our businesses. In 20252026 budget is a strong

2279
02:34:13,544 --> 02:34:16,214
opportunity if we ensure the dollars get into the hands of

2280
02:34:16,214 --> 02:34:21,352
the business owner and use them effectively especially those in

2281
02:34:21,352 --> 02:34:23,587
historically underserved and economically fragile

2282
02:34:23,587 --> 02:34:26,557
communities. The chambers are ready to

2283
02:34:26,557 --> 02:34:29,860
partner to host application clinics, deliver technical

2284
02:34:29,860 --> 02:34:33,964
assistance and ensure state dollars create jobs that the are

2285
02:34:33,964 --> 02:34:36,266
intended for our community. Thank you again for this

2286
02:34:36,266 --> 02:34:40,838
invitation and for your stewardship of new york's

2287
02:34:40,838 --> 02:34:43,107
economic future. We look forward to answering any

2288
02:34:43,107 --> 02:34:45,777
questions that you may have for us.

2289
02:34:45,777 --> 02:34:47,178
I appreciate it. >> okay.

2290
02:34:47,178 --> 02:34:53,178
thank you. Let me ask, I know you said that

2291
02:34:55,519 --> 02:34:59,457
everything is too difficult filling out the paperwork and

2292
02:34:59,457 --> 02:35:04,257
doing all that. But, you know, in --

2293
02:35:04,761 --> 02:35:08,866
there is a small business development centers.

2294
02:35:08,866 --> 02:35:11,535
aren't they utilized to help with this?

2295
02:35:11,535 --> 02:35:15,305
they work one-on-one with businesses to do these things.

2296
02:35:15,305 --> 02:35:20,144
>> we consistently refer businesses to the sbdc they are

2297
02:35:20,144 --> 02:35:23,280
a wonderful partners but they have limited capacity as well.

2298
02:35:23,280 --> 02:35:27,217
the amount of advisers they host within their centers does not

2299
02:35:27,217 --> 02:35:31,622
meet the demands of what is out there and available in terms of

2300
02:35:31,622 --> 02:35:34,658
state dollars and the navigation of the process.

2301
02:35:34,658 --> 02:35:39,196
we are deeply in tuned with what is going on and meet with our

2302
02:35:39,196 --> 02:35:43,267
state partners regularly. They come in for roundtables

2303
02:35:43,267 --> 02:35:45,536
educational events but there is still a gap between the amount

2304
02:35:45,536 --> 02:35:49,736
that is needed and what is available.

2305
02:35:50,107 --> 02:35:54,307
>> okay. Is there some way we can

2306
02:35:57,915 --> 02:36:03,915
identify what the I don't know duplicative or other burdensome

2307
02:36:05,189 --> 02:36:08,789
things that businesses have to do?

2308
02:36:09,293 --> 02:36:15,293
I remember this was a longtime ago, probably between 2008 and

2309
02:36:16,533 --> 02:36:19,700
2010 where there was a commission that went around the

2310
02:36:19,700 --> 02:36:23,507
state looking to eliminate, and they couldn't find that many

2311
02:36:23,507 --> 02:36:26,507
things. People didn't want any

2312
02:36:27,780 --> 02:36:31,140
regulations or they didn't want to tell us about anything else.

2313
02:36:31,140 --> 02:36:35,319
that didn't really accomplish a heck of a lot.

2314
02:36:35,319 --> 02:36:38,756
>> one of the recommendations that we have is using empire

2315
02:36:38,756 --> 02:36:44,161
a.I. To review and reduce the amount of regulations that are

2316
02:36:44,161 --> 02:36:47,364
duplicative and looking at the policies we have within our

2317
02:36:47,364 --> 02:36:50,964
state to begin to streamline things.

2318
02:36:51,502 --> 02:36:56,302
>> okay. And I will just say this for

2319
02:37:00,978 --> 02:37:05,249
everybody up here, trust me, the amount of time it takes to get

2320
02:37:05,249 --> 02:37:11,522
money out the door any grants that are given is amazing.

2321
02:37:11,522 --> 02:37:17,395
and it has makes us feel almost as bad as the people who are

2322
02:37:17,395 --> 02:37:19,330
waiting for the money. >> yeah.

2323
02:37:19,330 --> 02:37:23,501
one of the organizations I talked to was the bake of utica

2324
02:37:23,501 --> 02:37:27,701
who manages 300 nonprofit accounts and the consistent

2325
02:37:28,139 --> 02:37:31,509
problems they've had to deal with because of the delays in

2326
02:37:31,509 --> 02:37:35,120
funding. A lot of these grants that go to

2327
02:37:35,120 --> 02:37:38,315
nonprofits are small and don't have the capacity and overhead

2328
02:37:38,315 --> 02:37:43,554
to wait, three, six, nine months over a year for reimbursement of

2329
02:37:43,554 --> 02:37:45,355
services. >> and many other challenges

2330
02:37:45,355 --> 02:37:49,693
when you have to match coming up with that money.

2331
02:37:49,693 --> 02:37:52,630
many businesses sometimes have to take out a loan, pay the

2332
02:37:52,630 --> 02:37:56,334
interest on that. Expend the funds and again you

2333
02:37:56,334 --> 02:38:01,172
are waiting three to six months. In some cases to get reimbursed.

2334
02:38:01,172 --> 02:38:06,760
there is a gap in-between I want the grant money I have to borrow

2335
02:38:06,760 --> 02:38:09,447
to pay for it. I know I'm getting reimbursed

2336
02:38:09,447 --> 02:38:14,251
but the timing of me getting reimbursed is going to put a

2337
02:38:14,251 --> 02:38:18,220
hinderance on my business. Changes and obstacles there.

2338
02:38:18,220 --> 02:38:23,422
>> yeah, that happens. >> I mean, I can understand that

2339
02:38:29,867 --> 02:38:34,671
there is a lot of frustration especially about the

2340
02:38:34,671 --> 02:38:37,408
reimbursement process the fact that you have to spend money to

2341
02:38:37,408 --> 02:38:42,546
get it is a problem for especially the smallest

2342
02:38:42,546 --> 02:38:46,617
businesses. But I don't know they have not

2343
02:38:46,617 --> 02:38:52,170
allowed us to change that yet. So we'll see.

2344
02:38:52,220 --> 02:38:55,622
okay. >> again, thank you for being

2345
02:38:57,461 --> 02:39:01,661
here. And I appreciate your clear and

2346
02:39:05,503 --> 02:39:09,973
concise ideas as well as solutions they are very

2347
02:39:09,973 --> 02:39:12,510
important. So how many businesses do you

2348
02:39:12,510 --> 02:39:18,510
hear partnering with nonprofits? I think my colleague eluded to

2349
02:39:18,616 --> 02:39:21,252
the difficulty of private funding.

2350
02:39:21,252 --> 02:39:24,988
but looking to our nonprofits for a lot of answers?

2351
02:39:24,988 --> 02:39:30,127
>> well, I can as one example they are reaching out and doing

2352
02:39:30,127 --> 02:39:33,130
a lot of work for not-for-profits as far as

2353
02:39:33,130 --> 02:39:37,330
helping with finances, the bookkeeping the management

2354
02:39:37,968 --> 02:39:40,204
services I think that is important.

2355
02:39:40,204 --> 02:39:44,700
so I think that is helpful for small businesses they are doing

2356
02:39:44,700 --> 02:39:48,445
it because they know the struggles of small businesses.

2357
02:39:48,445 --> 02:39:51,949
as a chamber director I'm always trying to connect my members

2358
02:39:51,949 --> 02:39:55,553
with entities like the hr firms and bookkeeping companies

2359
02:39:55,553 --> 02:40:00,458
because they don't really think about those things as much and

2360
02:40:00,458 --> 02:40:05,290
sometimes they get caught up in tax issues we do workshops to

2361
02:40:05,290 --> 02:40:08,365
get that information disseminated to small business

2362
02:40:08,365 --> 02:40:11,350
owners and they do a lot as well in utica.

2363
02:40:11,350 --> 02:40:16,390
>> what we see is that small business owners wear multiple

2364
02:40:16,390 --> 02:40:20,977
hats to manage and administration alone for some of

2365
02:40:20,977 --> 02:40:25,716
the paperwork for some of the grant programs is beyond their

2366
02:40:25,716 --> 02:40:27,385
capacity to actually run their business.

2367
02:40:27,385 --> 02:40:31,550
so you are not seeing growth because to hire somebody to

2368
02:40:31,550 --> 02:40:34,958
manage all of the paperwork and to streamline those processes

2369
02:40:34,958 --> 02:40:38,128
could be make much more efficiencies where you can see

2370
02:40:38,128 --> 02:40:42,232
future growth. >> and I can appreciate that as

2371
02:40:42,232 --> 02:40:45,602
the hosting of roundtables I know my colleague talked about

2372
02:40:45,602 --> 02:40:49,673
how can we connect. But most of them are doing

2373
02:40:49,673 --> 02:40:52,810
everything. So it's do we do it at 8:00

2374
02:40:52,810 --> 02:40:54,378
a.m.? 8:00 p.m.?

2375
02:40:54,378 --> 02:40:57,140
they are every part of their small business.

2376
02:40:57,140 --> 02:41:02,190
so it is a challenge and if we could streamline it with your

2377
02:41:02,190 --> 02:41:06,690
comments here. And I know, bruce, rome faced a

2378
02:41:06,690 --> 02:41:07,624
tornado recently. >> absolutely.

2379
02:41:07,624 --> 02:41:11,962
>> and that is where you came up with the idea of the minimum of

2380
02:41:11,962 --> 02:41:16,366
just the 25,000 dollar kick and I know your mayor and the city

2381
02:41:16,366 --> 02:41:21,380
has just approved something similar for small businesses

2382
02:41:21,380 --> 02:41:23,507
apply. And it is an easy form, right?

2383
02:41:23,507 --> 02:41:28,907
it is a quick? >> yeah, it's simple its a

2384
02:41:28,912 --> 02:41:33,650
survey what your intentions are for your business and gives

2385
02:41:33,650 --> 02:41:39,656
background for your business and asks for tax and dba program and

2386
02:41:39,656 --> 02:41:45,729
it is a micro grant program the city is giving them money from a

2387
02:41:45,729 --> 02:41:51,101
cbg fund it is a small start up thing but 100 grand to start and

2388
02:41:51,101 --> 02:41:55,500
the mayor's goal is approve three businesses he wants

2389
02:41:55,500 --> 02:41:58,500
something substantial. 2500, 5,000 doesn't impact the

2390
02:41:59,342 --> 02:42:02,813
small business. For his first pilot program he

2391
02:42:02,813 --> 02:42:07,130
is looking at three businesses maybe 35,000 apiece.

2392
02:42:07,518 --> 02:42:09,420
and really make significant impact.

2393
02:42:09,420 --> 02:42:14,358
and also it has to do with hiring maybe employing

2394
02:42:14,358 --> 02:42:18,595
part-time, full-time person. But it's job growth included.

2395
02:42:18,595 --> 02:42:22,320
I think that is I astart. It's important everyone has

2396
02:42:22,320 --> 02:42:24,768
access. Our role was to put it out to

2397
02:42:24,768 --> 02:42:27,971
our business community and give everybody a fair chance to apply

2398
02:42:27,971 --> 02:42:31,108
for it. Those are the things I like to

2399
02:42:31,108 --> 02:42:33,410
see more of. I think we can manage it.

2400
02:42:33,410 --> 02:42:37,381
we have a lot of partners who have experience managing grants

2401
02:42:37,381 --> 02:42:41,452
and doing the proper background checks and make sure there is no

2402
02:42:41,452 --> 02:42:44,621
fraud. We've done that when we had our

2403
02:42:44,621 --> 02:42:47,424
business assistance fund when we did that with the tornado.

2404
02:42:47,424 --> 02:42:51,595
we got together with the city. We reviewed applications and

2405
02:42:51,595 --> 02:42:55,198
maxed out at 2500. The city would kick in the other

2406
02:42:55,198 --> 02:43:01,338
25 and it was a max of 5,000. And we helped out 62 small

2407
02:43:01,338 --> 02:43:04,408
business owners. It was grant funded and money we

2408
02:43:04,408 --> 02:43:07,144
gave. The good thing it makes me proud

2409
02:43:07,144 --> 02:43:11,348
of our region and our area. Most of our bigger businesses

2410
02:43:11,348 --> 02:43:14,840
donated to the chamber to help with that part of it.

2411
02:43:14,840 --> 02:43:16,787
and then the city had money from the state.

2412
02:43:16,787 --> 02:43:21,525
and things to kick in the rest. The $5,000 helped them with

2413
02:43:21,525 --> 02:43:26,163
putting up panels to cover windows or 5,000 on the

2414
02:43:26,163 --> 02:43:29,366
insurance deductible. I know the ability for us to do

2415
02:43:29,366 --> 02:43:33,236
those things are out there partnering with our

2416
02:43:33,236 --> 02:43:38,360
municipalities our states or idc's in our communities.

2417
02:43:40,310 --> 02:43:45,480
>> what we've heard the common theme and you talk about

2418
02:43:45,480 --> 02:43:49,653
reporting and assessment, do you see that as a challenge also

2419
02:43:49,653 --> 02:43:54,591
with many of your businesses spending more time trying to --

2420
02:43:54,591 --> 02:44:00,630
>> again it's the paperwork and the follow-up not that there

2421
02:44:00,630 --> 02:44:02,733
shouldn't be payment work and follow-up that is necessary.

2422
02:44:02,733 --> 02:44:07,137
but anything we can do to streamline that so the

2423
02:44:07,137 --> 02:44:10,607
reimbursement comes in sooner that is part of it.

2424
02:44:10,607 --> 02:44:14,578
is the follow-up paperwork process reporting is so intense

2425
02:44:14,578 --> 02:44:17,347
for some of our smaller businesses.

2426
02:44:17,347 --> 02:44:21,752
we're talking about 10 employees and people are managing multiple

2427
02:44:21,752 --> 02:44:24,621
hats. They just forego the funding

2428
02:44:24,621 --> 02:44:27,424
because it eliminates the opportunity for them to grow

2429
02:44:27,424 --> 02:44:29,793
because they cannot hire somebody to manage the

2430
02:44:29,793 --> 02:44:31,793
paperwork. >> thank you.

2431
02:44:36,833 --> 02:44:42,233
>> good afternoon. I guess I had confusion and I

2432
02:44:42,373 --> 02:44:47,440
realized the manufacturing and this is rome and utica.

2433
02:44:47,440 --> 02:44:51,480
I will pushback a little bit on your testimony.

2434
02:44:51,480 --> 02:44:55,520
in reference to I think the gentleman moving down to

2435
02:44:55,520 --> 02:44:59,590
florida, I get it, right. I ran my small business I've

2436
02:44:59,590 --> 02:45:02,926
been on your side of the table where I represented industry and

2437
02:45:02,926 --> 02:45:07,130
you want tobies oriented on this side of the aisle on this podium

2438
02:45:07,130 --> 02:45:10,701
we have to represent the people. And so if we are going to try to

2439
02:45:10,701 --> 02:45:14,537
have a business industry that wants to pay below a living wage

2440
02:45:14,537 --> 02:45:18,909
we are not doing our job. If you look at the major, most

2441
02:45:18,909 --> 02:45:23,180
people cannot afford a one bedroom apartment in upstate new

2442
02:45:23,180 --> 02:45:25,582
york. Now imagine where I live in new

2443
02:45:25,582 --> 02:45:27,685
york city where it's almost impossible.

2444
02:45:27,685 --> 02:45:31,421
we have to make sure that new yorkers who are hard-working new

2445
02:45:31,421 --> 02:45:36,893
yorkers have a living wage. That does not mean as a state we

2446
02:45:36,893 --> 02:45:39,896
can't streamline our business practices it does not mean we

2447
02:45:39,896 --> 02:45:44,101
can't look at our red tape. New york needs to become more

2448
02:45:44,101 --> 02:45:46,103
efficient from a government standpoint.

2449
02:45:46,103 --> 02:45:51,841
but it will be hard to go back to the people of new york when

2450
02:45:51,841 --> 02:45:56,713
acc but c.e.o. Pay as accelerated at such a rate and

2451
02:45:56,713 --> 02:46:03,253
major has moved at a snail's pace and we have to lift it from

2452
02:46:03,253 --> 02:46:07,724
above middle and down to make new york affordable in some

2453
02:46:07,724 --> 02:46:09,993
realm. >> I think when we heard

2454
02:46:09,993 --> 02:46:13,397
business owners complain about major we are thinking about the

2455
02:46:13,397 --> 02:46:16,733
entry level jobs we had as a teenager.

2456
02:46:16,733 --> 02:46:21,405
the jobs that gave you a skill set that got you in the door

2457
02:46:21,405 --> 02:46:24,875
that taught you to be on time and listen to your manager those

2458
02:46:24,875 --> 02:46:27,680
entry level jobs where you are not supporting a household and

2459
02:46:27,680 --> 02:46:31,551
family and how that increases the cost of goods and services

2460
02:46:31,551 --> 02:46:34,688
for everybody. >> so my colleague brought up

2461
02:46:34,688 --> 02:46:40,880
the case young people, 18, 19 and 20 and and there's 18 and

2462
02:46:41,127 --> 02:46:42,362
19-year-olds supporting themselves.

2463
02:46:42,362 --> 02:46:47,433
how do we separate that from 18 and 19-year-olds versus the 18

2464
02:46:47,433 --> 02:46:49,969
and 19-year-olds living in their parents' house.

2465
02:46:49,969 --> 02:46:54,507
when it comes to regulations and laws it creates a complex

2466
02:46:54,507 --> 02:47:01,707
situation where if we try to cut out these specialized that we

2467
02:47:02,248 --> 02:47:06,119
cut the little caveats out and that is creating the red tape

2468
02:47:06,119 --> 02:47:10,657
because you need to have the compliance aspect to say, oh,

2469
02:47:10,657 --> 02:47:16,529
worker a and b qualify for the wage where worker c and d does

2470
02:47:16,529 --> 02:47:21,233
not and creating the same issue you are bringing to us where we

2471
02:47:21,233 --> 02:47:24,871
need to streamline the red tape. >> a perfect example I was the

2472
02:47:24,871 --> 02:47:28,808
director of the ymca before I took this position we knew the

2473
02:47:28,808 --> 02:47:33,279
major was going up and we tried to budget for it as a

2474
02:47:33,279 --> 02:47:35,648
not-for-profit is difficult it is a thin line.

2475
02:47:35,648 --> 02:47:39,252
I made $100 this year or I'm in the red.

2476
02:47:39,252 --> 02:47:45,591
the thing that was interesting is when I left there, after $15

2477
02:47:45,591 --> 02:47:50,391
I had lifeguards who were 15, you can guard.

2478
02:47:51,631 --> 02:47:54,834
and they were negotiating with me on pricing.

2479
02:47:54,834 --> 02:48:00,306
you know, I can go to verona state park and make $22.

2480
02:48:00,306 --> 02:48:02,709
wow we've turned the corner here.

2481
02:48:02,709 --> 02:48:05,645
I have somebody who hasn't worked a lick in their life and

2482
02:48:05,645 --> 02:48:09,982
they are negotiating with me. I just tell you that because

2483
02:48:09,982 --> 02:48:14,821
this is wow it's difficult. And I looked you had to earn

2484
02:48:14,821 --> 02:48:19,258
your way and progress and I'm sure most of you looked at it

2485
02:48:19,258 --> 02:48:23,329
that way, too. And I said you go ahead and do

2486
02:48:23,329 --> 02:48:27,400
that she came back and asked me if there was an opportunity for

2487
02:48:27,400 --> 02:48:30,937
her to work. The major really does have a

2488
02:48:30,937 --> 02:48:34,140
significant impact on small businesses and not-for-profits.

2489
02:48:34,140 --> 02:48:38,110
I can't speak for the for-profits because I know the

2490
02:48:38,110 --> 02:48:42,615
big banks and all that, they do well and they bring in revenue

2491
02:48:42,615 --> 02:48:45,952
I'm not saying they are not impacted but for the small

2492
02:48:45,952 --> 02:48:49,688
business owners it's really making a significant difference

2493
02:48:49,688 --> 02:48:52,240
in how they operate. That's my point.

2494
02:48:52,240 --> 02:48:55,528
I understand where you are coming from for sure.

2495
02:48:55,528 --> 02:48:58,965
regulations shouldn't be the reason we have it keep everyone

2496
02:48:58,965 --> 02:49:02,301
in an even playing field. Thank you.

2497
02:49:02,301 --> 02:49:05,301
>> thank you. >> thank you, chair.

2498
02:49:07,440 --> 02:49:11,644
thank you both for being here. My question is simple.

2499
02:49:11,644 --> 02:49:16,983
this is anecdotal from feedback I've gathered in talking to

2500
02:49:16,983 --> 02:49:20,920
people business owners and it's about the grant process itself.

2501
02:49:20,920 --> 02:49:25,720
I'm not talking not-for-profit, but for-profit entities mostly

2502
02:49:27,600 --> 02:49:30,196
agricultural. And the feedback is consistent.

2503
02:49:30,196 --> 02:49:36,168
and it goes like this... I can't allocate 40 hours of

2504
02:49:36,168 --> 02:49:39,139
personal labor to a $10,000 grant.

2505
02:49:39,139 --> 02:49:42,343
and both of you have eluded to this.

2506
02:49:42,343 --> 02:49:45,879
and I'm just curious if you hear the same thing?

2507
02:49:45,879 --> 02:49:50,616
where businesses are just saying it would be great but it's so

2508
02:49:50,616 --> 02:49:51,383
upside-down. >> it is.

2509
02:49:51,383 --> 02:49:57,983
>> and the burden of the burden of documentation that a business

2510
02:50:00,293 --> 02:50:06,166
is required to provide is the biggest discriminator for people

2511
02:50:06,166 --> 02:50:10,360
and businesses being able to utilize these grants.

2512
02:50:10,360 --> 02:50:14,236
I'm curious if you're seeing the same?

2513
02:50:14,641 --> 02:50:16,410
>> yes. I heard that time and time

2514
02:50:16,410 --> 02:50:18,712
again. The regulations the paperwork

2515
02:50:18,712 --> 02:50:21,514
the documents that exist within the state.

2516
02:50:21,514 --> 02:50:26,152
you submitted it for you already have that information why am I

2517
02:50:26,152 --> 02:50:29,752
submitting it again? Across different application

2518
02:50:30,990 --> 02:50:33,727
portals consistently. >> and even for the minority

2519
02:50:33,727 --> 02:50:38,731
women owned businesses I've sent people on the website and I

2520
02:50:38,731 --> 02:50:42,201
follow-up a couple weeks later and I don't have time to do

2521
02:50:42,201 --> 02:50:45,538
that. I can't navigate that stuff.

2522
02:50:45,538 --> 02:50:48,541
it's time consuming and I understand the detailed

2523
02:50:48,541 --> 02:50:50,744
information that is needed or required.

2524
02:50:50,744 --> 02:50:54,881
because I know everyone is afraid somebody putting in

2525
02:50:54,881 --> 02:50:59,218
information or defrauding the state, but they won't do it and

2526
02:50:59,218 --> 02:51:02,722
it's frustrating for me because I think it is a benefit once you

2527
02:51:02,722 --> 02:51:06,492
get through the hurdle. But, again, it requires time and

2528
02:51:06,492 --> 02:51:11,130
resources they can't allocate. >> so have you seen in your

2529
02:51:11,130 --> 02:51:17,130
careers and evolution where it was ever more efficient, easier,

2530
02:51:17,770 --> 02:51:22,570
business friendly, for businesses to engage in these

2531
02:51:22,642 --> 02:51:24,376
opportunities to where we are today?

2532
02:51:24,376 --> 02:51:29,776
or no? >> as the director of the ymca I

2533
02:51:30,150 --> 02:51:33,986
wrote a number of grants from foundations we have in our

2534
02:51:33,986 --> 02:51:36,789
community. The process is a lot easier.

2535
02:51:36,789 --> 02:51:42,261
and it is a lot informal but they still require basic

2536
02:51:42,261 --> 02:51:44,997
information. I've also been involved in state

2537
02:51:44,997 --> 02:51:49,102
grants as far as getting building funds and things.

2538
02:51:49,102 --> 02:51:52,404
I've worked with my c.e.o. And we have to sit in the office

2539
02:51:52,404 --> 02:51:56,109
together and take weeks the a time to put the information

2540
02:51:56,109 --> 02:51:59,578
together that is how long of a process it is.

2541
02:51:59,578 --> 02:52:02,849
it definitely makes a difference in regards to the types of

2542
02:52:02,849 --> 02:52:06,886
grants you are going for. State grants are very

2543
02:52:06,886 --> 02:52:09,210
challenging. Federal grants are even more

2544
02:52:09,210 --> 02:52:12,825
challenging than the state. You guys have something to hang

2545
02:52:12,825 --> 02:52:15,825
your hat on. >> thank you.

2546
02:52:23,102 --> 02:52:26,405
>> thank you for taking the time to be here today.

2547
02:52:26,405 --> 02:52:29,842
my question has to do with the people that they hire a small

2548
02:52:29,842 --> 02:52:34,447
business or any type of business that wants to hire to get the

2549
02:52:34,447 --> 02:52:37,516
grants whether federal or state grants they have to hire

2550
02:52:37,516 --> 02:52:39,986
somebody to fill out the paperwork.

2551
02:52:39,986 --> 02:52:44,657
especially if you are looking for sba loans it's impossible

2552
02:52:44,657 --> 02:52:49,495
without having someone as a mediator between you and the

2553
02:52:49,495 --> 02:52:51,731
sba. Is there any type of regulation

2554
02:52:51,731 --> 02:52:56,350
on these people who are hired? Or how much they can charge and

2555
02:52:56,350 --> 02:52:59,372
fees or anything like that? >> I don't believe so.

2556
02:52:59,372 --> 02:53:06,946
a lot of times it is a set fee. We never say that you should

2557
02:53:06,946 --> 02:53:10,950
offer a percentage of a grantor something like that a concrete

2558
02:53:10,950 --> 02:53:14,190
fee is best. You see malpractice where you

2559
02:53:14,190 --> 02:53:18,290
see people who write grants and want a percentage of the grant

2560
02:53:18,290 --> 02:53:20,493
versus this is the fee to do the work.

2561
02:53:20,493 --> 02:53:24,764
>> does it help you if there's somebody to mediate between

2562
02:53:24,764 --> 02:53:29,235
yourself and the sba? >> I think it would be helpful

2563
02:53:29,235 --> 02:53:32,505
to business owners. >> I definitely think so.

2564
02:53:32,505 --> 02:53:37,243
right now I get a lot of the calls and I would love to help

2565
02:53:37,243 --> 02:53:41,347
but we're a two-person office. So even though I have grant

2566
02:53:41,347 --> 02:53:44,317
experience my marketing coordinator has grant writing

2567
02:53:44,317 --> 02:53:47,619
experience we don't have the capacity to sit down and go

2568
02:53:47,619 --> 02:53:51,900
through grants. I met with a couple yesterday

2569
02:53:51,900 --> 02:53:56,796
and they are trying to get the erie canal in rome back up and

2570
02:53:56,796 --> 02:54:01,600
running a not-for-profit now. And we can give you a list of

2571
02:54:01,600 --> 02:54:04,136
grants. I will try to provide a grant

2572
02:54:04,136 --> 02:54:07,206
writing class to help our business owners out that is

2573
02:54:07,206 --> 02:54:09,175
something I plan on doing in the near future.

2574
02:54:09,175 --> 02:54:13,946
they are willing to try and take a stab at it. Willing to take

2575
02:54:13,946 --> 02:54:17,160
a stab at it but it's a lot if you haven't done it before.

2576
02:54:17,160 --> 02:54:20,386
that's all we can do is to try to give them information.

2577
02:54:20,386 --> 02:54:23,122
but if there were a pox, somebody we could staff to

2578
02:54:23,122 --> 02:54:25,424
assist with that, that would make a tremendous difference in

2579
02:54:25,424 --> 02:54:27,626
regards to the paperwork for those types of things.

2580
02:54:27,626 --> 02:54:31,431
>> it could be very convoluted for what I understand, depending

2581
02:54:31,431 --> 02:54:33,500
on the type of and how much money.

2582
02:54:33,500 --> 02:54:35,968
it could be millions of dollars in sba loans.

2583
02:54:35,968 --> 02:54:40,168
>> even a part-time position would be beneficial.

2584
02:54:40,973 --> 02:54:45,978
I'm trying to figure out ways to hire someone part time so we can

2585
02:54:45,978 --> 02:54:48,181
help with some of those things. I think it's critical to our

2586
02:54:48,181 --> 02:54:53,520
businesses to have access to some of those programs that esd

2587
02:54:53,520 --> 02:54:57,323
offers and right now I can send them a flyer but they look at

2588
02:54:57,323 --> 02:54:59,592
it, like I don't really understand how I go about this

2589
02:54:59,592 --> 02:55:03,620
and again we can only put so much time into giving that

2590
02:55:03,620 --> 02:55:05,998
assistance as a two-person office.

2591
02:55:05,998 --> 02:55:10,136
>> I think when you are talking about equity and growth, your

2592
02:55:10,136 --> 02:55:14,306
mwbe businesses that have maybe never been aware of the process

2593
02:55:14,306 --> 02:55:16,775
or entered versus our legacy companies and the awareness.

2594
02:55:16,775 --> 02:55:21,547
so if you are looking to grow companies, it's that kind of

2595
02:55:21,547 --> 02:55:24,883
position that could assist those smaller companies and growth.

2596
02:55:24,883 --> 02:55:27,820
>> another question regarding minimum wage.

2597
02:55:27,820 --> 02:55:31,557
are you spoking to a lot of businesses affected by it or the

2598
02:55:31,557 --> 02:55:34,561
chance that there might be another increase in minimum wage

2599
02:55:34,561 --> 02:55:37,561
at the state level? >> yeah,.

2600
02:55:40,833 --> 02:55:46,572
>> I guess I hit on a... >> I mean my background, I used

2601
02:55:46,572 --> 02:55:49,708
to be a union representative. So I come from different places

2602
02:55:49,708 --> 02:55:54,914
where I see the value in the increases and the minimum wage

2603
02:55:54,914 --> 02:55:57,249
increases and as a not-for-profit, I saw the

2604
02:55:57,249 --> 02:56:00,319
effects of how it significantly impacted our budget.

2605
02:56:00,319 --> 02:56:08,660
so as a small business owner, my father was in new jersey, so I

2606
02:56:08,660 --> 02:56:12,980
feel like I have a good rant of everything going on.

2607
02:56:12,980 --> 02:56:16,402
I guess it's the val balance, you know.

2608
02:56:16,402 --> 02:56:20,673
how do you go to increase? What-- and are you doing the due

2609
02:56:20,673 --> 02:56:24,811
diligence to study the real impact on the small business

2610
02:56:24,811 --> 02:56:27,547
owner and how that's going to affect?

2611
02:56:27,547 --> 02:56:30,217
I know no one here wants to put anyone out of business.

2612
02:56:30,217 --> 02:56:32,151
I know that. I don't know you personally but

2613
02:56:32,151 --> 02:56:35,888
I don't think you do your jobs looking to put people out of

2614
02:56:35,888 --> 02:56:39,559
business or hurt anyone and it's a tough job to balance.

2615
02:56:39,559 --> 02:56:45,164
people need to live comfortably and new york is not a cheap

2616
02:56:45,164 --> 02:56:46,966
state and sometimes the businesses don't do it or won't

2617
02:56:46,966 --> 02:56:49,368
do it on their own. You can look at the south where

2618
02:56:49,368 --> 02:56:52,968
people are still making 7:-- 7 clinton 50.

2619
02:56:55,341 --> 02:56:57,420
people don't know that in new york.

2620
02:56:57,420 --> 02:56:59,244
if you go somewhere else, the minimum wage is half the price.

2621
02:56:59,244 --> 02:57:03,115
I don't know if I answer answered your questions because

2622
02:57:03,115 --> 02:57:05,718
I struggle with it. >> you did.

2623
02:57:05,718 --> 02:57:09,121
the questions in the south the businesses are closing down as

2624
02:57:09,121 --> 02:57:12,525
much as the states that are increasing minimum wage.

2625
02:57:12,525 --> 02:57:14,594
that's something we can look at also.

2626
02:57:14,594 --> 02:57:16,594
>> absolutely. >> thank you.

2627
02:57:18,640 --> 02:57:20,266
>> thank you. Good afternoon thank you both

2628
02:57:20,266 --> 02:57:26,710
for being here. I just wanted to speak about the

2629
02:57:26,710 --> 02:57:29,908
empire a.I. I was at the new york business

2630
02:57:29,908 --> 02:57:35,548
council conference recently and a lot of concerns and challenges

2631
02:57:35,548 --> 02:57:39,684
were echoed there. Ryan silva, head of the

2632
02:57:39,684 --> 02:57:43,789
new york state economic council mentioned new york state has

2633
02:57:43,789 --> 02:57:46,789
17 million words in regulatory language.

2634
02:57:47,560 --> 02:57:53,365
so his suggestion was using empire a.I. To vastly like

2635
02:57:53,365 --> 02:57:57,370
reduce duplicative language and outdated regulations that we no

2636
02:57:57,370 --> 02:58:03,900
longer that no longer apply I wondered on top of that is there

2637
02:58:03,900 --> 02:58:07,580
any other avenues that you would recommend be looked at?

2638
02:58:07,580 --> 02:58:10,583
>> first we wholeheartedly recommend that solution but I

2639
02:58:10,583 --> 02:58:14,987
think talking to business owners and say, literally, what is one

2640
02:58:14,987 --> 02:58:18,324
thing, that's what I ask them one question.

2641
02:58:18,324 --> 02:58:20,459
what is one thing if you were talking to the state you would

2642
02:58:20,459 --> 02:58:23,128
want them to know about your business and then they can start

2643
02:58:23,128 --> 02:58:26,532
to give you solutioned, right so really looking to business

2644
02:58:26,532 --> 02:58:30,336
leaders for solutions, which is what, in five minutes we tried

2645
02:58:30,336 --> 02:58:36,336
to come here today and do. >> I think that's great.

2646
02:58:38,810 --> 02:58:41,480
and one new regulation or suggestion that would be helpful

2647
02:58:41,480 --> 02:58:45,840
is the required local reporting so everyone knows where they

2648
02:58:45,840 --> 02:58:48,554
stand, what is due, what is not due, where there is disparity.

2649
02:58:48,554 --> 02:58:56,354
so I think that is a great idea. And stars the funding local

2650
02:58:56,629 --> 02:59:01,660
partners, chambers and such, I agree with that and I had

2651
02:59:01,660 --> 02:59:04,569
suggested that years ago. I represent a district in long

2652
02:59:04,569 --> 02:59:11,169
island hampstead, the largest town in america had a great deal

2653
02:59:11,377 --> 02:59:14,450
of funding that got funded from the federal government from

2654
02:59:14,450 --> 02:59:17,116
covid so one of my suggestions to the town of hampstead

2655
02:59:17,116 --> 02:59:21,153
supervisor was take some of that money and distribute it to the

2656
02:59:21,153 --> 02:59:24,357
chambers and some of the local businesses, have some kind of

2657
02:59:24,357 --> 02:59:28,527
maybe an application process to distribute money that could

2658
02:59:28,527 --> 02:59:35,100
really go a long way. That was ignored but I wondered

2659
02:59:35,100 --> 02:59:39,606
do you have any-- have you, beside looking for state funding

2660
02:59:39,606 --> 02:59:43,542
have you looked at local government funding in your areas

2661
02:59:43,542 --> 02:59:50,116
to see if local government would provide any funding for local

2662
02:59:50,116 --> 02:59:53,953
chambers and non-profits? >> I think we have been in the

2663
02:59:53,953 --> 02:59:56,354
conversations recently. I want to point out one thing

2664
02:59:56,354 --> 03:00:00,920
where you are talking about information disbursing out into

2665
03:00:00,920 --> 03:00:03,162
communities across new york state, every region,

2666
03:00:03,162 --> 03:00:06,631
every community is different. Every chamber is different.

2667
03:00:06,631 --> 03:00:10,969
hope knight this morning referenced how many times they

2668
03:00:10,969 --> 03:00:12,237
disburse their information through chambers of commerce.

2669
03:00:12,237 --> 03:00:18,110
you heard bruce have two staff. So what how does that

2670
03:00:18,110 --> 03:00:23,319
information, if the state is relying on chambers to disburse

2671
03:00:23,319 --> 03:00:27,891
information to a two-person staff versus centerstate c.e.o.

2672
03:00:27,891 --> 03:00:31,594
here, they have upwards of 50 staff, you are going to have a

2673
03:00:31,594 --> 03:00:36,332
very different outcome on the information getting to its

2674
03:00:36,332 --> 03:00:38,736
intended recipients. >> that's a very good point.

2675
03:00:38,736 --> 03:00:42,936
thank you. >> just waned to circle back

2676
03:00:44,207 --> 03:00:49,120
with you quickly, bruce, you were hiring a life guard and you

2677
03:00:49,120 --> 03:00:55,151
you said there was an toppings work at a state park and there

2678
03:00:55,151 --> 03:01:01,751
was already a discrepancy. So I heard you we'll work on

2679
03:01:02,759 --> 03:01:06,662
that we had to pay the 15 and the state bumped up because they

2680
03:01:06,662 --> 03:01:11,462
were having challenges. They were offering more money

2681
03:01:14,237 --> 03:01:20,176
and I said well, I guess you should go there we are already

2682
03:01:20,176 --> 03:01:24,180
paying top of the limit because we had to so that was kind of

2683
03:01:24,180 --> 03:01:27,450
the conversation and then she wanted to negotiate with me

2684
03:01:27,450 --> 03:01:30,253
about the prices. >> and I just see that parallel

2685
03:01:30,253 --> 03:01:36,853
with our small businesses. Is that they feel so we are

2686
03:01:37,727 --> 03:01:41,197
conscious of that. >> I appreciate you because when

2687
03:01:41,197 --> 03:01:45,334
you are home, you have a lot of forums, you reach out to small

2688
03:01:45,334 --> 03:01:49,406
businesses and reach out to kerry and I, and I appreciate

2689
03:01:49,406 --> 03:01:51,407
you engaging us and listening to us.

2690
03:01:51,407 --> 03:01:53,409
that's one of the reasons we are down here.

2691
03:01:53,409 --> 03:01:55,145
thank you for that. >> all right.

2692
03:01:55,145 --> 03:01:59,945
well thank you very much. Appreciate the input.

2693
03:02:08,958 --> 03:02:12,280
have a nice day. >> all right, you, too.

2694
03:02:12,280 --> 03:02:16,165
>> now for everybody else who has been waiting, the final

2695
03:02:16,165 --> 03:02:19,765
panel. >> no, we have two more.

2696
03:02:20,503 --> 03:02:24,103
>> two more? >> good afternoon everyone and

2697
03:03:25,635 --> 03:03:28,705
thank you. We sincerely appreciate you

2698
03:03:28,705 --> 03:03:33,505
being here this afternoon and listening this morning.

2699
03:03:35,245 --> 03:03:38,514
so I will turn it over to my colleague.

2700
03:03:38,514 --> 03:03:44,253
>> now we just want you guys to get going, so who will start?

2701
03:03:44,253 --> 03:03:52,530
do you want to go way over here? >> thank you chair stirpe and

2702
03:03:56,799 --> 03:03:58,868
buttenschon. I appreciate you having us here

2703
03:03:58,868 --> 03:04:02,468
today. I am ashley ranslow, national

2704
03:04:04,540 --> 03:04:06,809
director for the national federation of independent

2705
03:04:06,809 --> 03:04:08,744
businesses. We represent 11,000 businesses

2706
03:04:08,744 --> 03:04:10,480
across new york. Our members are the traditional

2707
03:04:10,480 --> 03:04:12,148
small businesses you think of, right?

2708
03:04:12,148 --> 03:04:15,951
your local restaurants, dry cleaners, hardware store, small

2709
03:04:15,951 --> 03:04:19,522
manufacturers, small farms, anything you can imagine bee

2710
03:04:19,522 --> 03:04:25,522
probably represent somebody in that industry or in that sector.

2711
03:04:25,628 --> 03:04:27,897
and it has been talked about a lot today but I want to

2712
03:04:27,897 --> 03:04:29,299
highlight a couple of things here.

2713
03:04:29,299 --> 03:04:32,000
there are close this 500,000 small businesses in the state of

2714
03:04:32,000 --> 03:04:33,970
new york. They employ approximately 40% of

2715
03:04:33,970 --> 03:04:38,770
the state's private sector workforce which is over

2716
03:04:39,575 --> 03:04:44,375
3 million new yorkersment a staggering 98% of new york's

2717
03:04:45,915 --> 03:04:49,819
businesses have fewer than 100 employees so new york state's

2718
03:04:49,819 --> 03:04:54,560
economy is driven in such a large part by small businesses a

2719
03:04:54,560 --> 03:04:58,393
strong vibrant small business ecosystem is essential to the

2720
03:04:58,393 --> 03:05:01,397
state and 67 cents of every dollar spent as a small business

2721
03:05:01,397 --> 03:05:05,100
is reinvested in the local community, which is why they're

2722
03:05:05,100 --> 03:05:10,401
so important across every community in new york state.

2723
03:05:12,909 --> 03:05:14,810
unfortunately post-pandemic, there continues to be immense

2724
03:05:14,810 --> 03:05:16,412
financial challenges for small businesses.

2725
03:05:16,412 --> 03:05:19,348
you've heard about them today. Empire state development puts

2726
03:05:19,348 --> 03:05:24,554
out a small business report every year about how small

2727
03:05:24,554 --> 03:05:27,190
businesses compare from previous years and while since 2019 we

2728
03:05:27,190 --> 03:05:33,190
have seen a slight percentage growth in small business, it's

2729
03:05:34,300 --> 03:05:37,367
very small and it lags other parts of the country and there

2730
03:05:37,367 --> 03:05:40,967
has been a decline in employment.

2731
03:05:42,838 --> 03:05:47,380
even though have you seen an uptick,.

2732
03:05:49,450 --> 03:05:51,514
it is evident that small businesses are struggling in the

2733
03:05:51,514 --> 03:05:56,914
state of new york. When we talk about economic

2734
03:05:56,919 --> 03:06:00,389
development programs, I can't stress enough that most of the

2735
03:06:00,389 --> 03:06:02,591
economic development programs that are offered in new york are

2736
03:06:02,591 --> 03:06:05,194
not geared toward small business owners.

2737
03:06:05,194 --> 03:06:09,132
they are geared towards certain industries, certain sectors,

2738
03:06:09,132 --> 03:06:13,932
larger businesses much the programs and resource are

2739
03:06:15,338 --> 03:06:19,409
available, while helpful and useful are not the same that are

2740
03:06:19,409 --> 03:06:22,879
offered to larger counterparts of certain industries.

2741
03:06:22,879 --> 03:06:26,482
they're access to capital, access to loan programs, that

2742
03:06:26,482 --> 03:06:31,754
kind of thing, which are great if you are trying to fund

2743
03:06:31,754 --> 03:06:34,824
expansion or try to fund a certain endeavor but it's not

2744
03:06:34,824 --> 03:06:39,228
the same as a tax credit or a grant or some other mechanism

2745
03:06:39,228 --> 03:06:43,299
that is consistently offered in other spaces.

2746
03:06:43,299 --> 03:06:45,968
that's the big differential here.

2747
03:06:45,968 --> 03:06:48,438
when you go into empire state development's website and I play

2748
03:06:48,438 --> 03:06:51,306
with this tool all the time. It says what do I qualify for?

2749
03:06:51,306 --> 03:06:55,644
and you can put in where you are located, how many employees they

2750
03:06:55,644 --> 03:06:58,915
have, what seconder you are in. Think about like your local

2751
03:06:58,915 --> 03:07:00,750
restaurant. If you pick your local

2752
03:07:00,750 --> 03:07:03,653
restaurant and say I have been in business for 10 years.

2753
03:07:03,653 --> 03:07:09,392
I am one to 10 employees, you know, you fill it out, what pops

2754
03:07:09,392 --> 03:07:11,861
up at the end is, you can go talk to a small business

2755
03:07:11,861 --> 03:07:15,998
development center, you can get access to capital.

2756
03:07:15,998 --> 03:07:23,198
that's what is available to you. When we talk and they're not

2757
03:07:26,275 --> 03:07:28,612
available in new york. Moving forward, we recommend

2758
03:07:28,612 --> 03:07:33,816
that those are revisited. There are a lot of valuable

2759
03:07:33,816 --> 03:07:38,888
programs here in the state. Let's talk about the eligibility

2760
03:07:38,888 --> 03:07:42,759
criteria is is there a way to gear it to small business

2761
03:07:42,759 --> 03:07:46,696
owners, whether to upgrade their equipment, upgrade their

2762
03:07:46,696 --> 03:07:49,980
technology about being able to retain jobs.

2763
03:07:49,980 --> 03:07:54,236
we talk about these job retention programs in certain

2764
03:07:54,236 --> 03:07:55,838
sectors. Let's do that for small business

2765
03:07:55,838 --> 03:07:59,842
as well since they employ almost half of the state's workforce.

2766
03:07:59,842 --> 03:08:02,845
things like that when we need to look at eligibility requirements

2767
03:08:02,845 --> 03:08:07,645
and programs offered procurement is a lost opportunity.

2768
03:08:10,986 --> 03:08:16,986
the state spends an immense amount of money in contracts,

2769
03:08:26,100 --> 03:08:27,803
they know how to get procurement.

2770
03:08:27,803 --> 03:08:31,674
we need to make it easier for small businesses to access those

2771
03:08:31,674 --> 03:08:35,878
procurement contracts because that's a great way, again, of

2772
03:08:35,878 --> 03:08:38,948
reinvesting money into the local community and lastly, I just

2773
03:08:38,948 --> 03:08:42,217
want to touch on, which has been talked about today, we have to

2774
03:08:42,217 --> 03:08:45,821
talk about regulations and the cost of doing business in

2775
03:08:45,821 --> 03:08:50,621
new york whether it's energy costs, insurance cost,

2776
03:08:50,626 --> 03:08:52,228
streamlining the regulatory environment.

2777
03:08:52,228 --> 03:08:55,564
all of those things impede small business growth and if you want

2778
03:08:55,564 --> 03:08:57,900
economic development, have you to make sure your businesses

2779
03:08:57,900 --> 03:09:03,639
know or can be able to succeed and that really does come down

2780
03:09:03,639 --> 03:09:08,778
to the overall business climate. And with that, I will thank you

2781
03:09:08,778 --> 03:09:11,580
and as in my testimony, there are other recommendations as

2782
03:09:11,580 --> 03:09:13,126
well. But I appreciate you having me

2783
03:09:13,126 --> 03:09:15,526
here. >> thank you, sonia.

2784
03:09:17,731 --> 03:09:20,131
sonya. >> good afternoon chairman

2785
03:09:30,100 --> 03:09:33,947
stirpe, chairwoman buttenschon and respected members of the

2786
03:09:33,947 --> 03:09:37,284
committees thank you for the invitation to share testimony on

2787
03:09:37,284 --> 03:09:40,200
the impact and effectiveness of new york's economic development

2788
03:09:40,200 --> 03:09:41,688
programs. I appreciate your continued

2789
03:09:41,688 --> 03:09:45,359
leadership and your focus on ensuring our programs promote

2790
03:09:45,359 --> 03:09:47,494
equitable growth and reach all new yorkers.

2791
03:09:47,494 --> 03:09:52,433
I am sonya smith, state director for new york small business

2792
03:09:52,433 --> 03:09:55,536
development center, administered by the state university of

2793
03:09:55,536 --> 03:09:58,305
new york and in partnership with the u.s. Small business

2794
03:09:58,305 --> 03:10:00,908
administration has served new york's entrepreneurs for

2795
03:10:00,908 --> 03:10:04,511
over 40 years. This is a true definition of

2796
03:10:04,511 --> 03:10:06,780
public-private partnerships to serve all communities.

2797
03:10:06,780 --> 03:10:10,980
we operate 20 regional centers and 70 satellite locations

2798
03:10:11,351 --> 03:10:15,122
across all 62 counties providing no cost, one on one business

2799
03:10:15,122 --> 03:10:18,158
advisement, training and market research to 23,000 clients

2800
03:10:18,158 --> 03:10:19,860
annually. With the educational programming

2801
03:10:19,860 --> 03:10:23,460
that reaches an additional 15,000 entrepreneurs statewide.

2802
03:10:24,640 --> 03:10:29,464
each dollar invested in our program returns $ 3.07 in tax

2803
03:10:32,739 --> 03:10:33,808
revenue. Our collaborative role in state

2804
03:10:33,808 --> 03:10:38,608
economic development, although the nysbc is federally funded

2805
03:10:39,946 --> 03:10:43,817
and state supported through suny at 2.67 million, it is not

2806
03:10:43,817 --> 03:10:46,190
directly funded through the state's economic development

2807
03:10:46,190 --> 03:10:48,422
appropriation. Yet our work directly

2808
03:10:48,422 --> 03:10:51,258
complements and amplifies programs centered by empire

2809
03:10:51,258 --> 03:10:53,227
state development, the department of economic

2810
03:10:53,227 --> 03:10:55,496
development, and our local partners.

2811
03:10:55,496 --> 03:10:59,566
through partnerships with esd divisions we help new yorkers

2812
03:10:59,566 --> 03:11:02,569
navigate the ecosystem of statewide programs from restore

2813
03:11:02,569 --> 03:11:05,906
new york, fast new york, global new york and dri, and the office

2814
03:11:05,906 --> 03:11:08,109
of strategic workforce development.

2815
03:11:08,109 --> 03:11:10,979
one of our strongest collaborations with is the

2816
03:11:10,979 --> 03:11:15,249
division of women and minority business development that

2817
03:11:15,249 --> 03:11:18,510
receives 70 to 80 mwbe certification applications each

2818
03:11:18,510 --> 03:11:21,989
week. And the nysbc assess with 40% of

2819
03:11:21,989 --> 03:11:25,325
the statewide output of successful applications ensure

2820
03:11:25,325 --> 03:11:31,131
ensuring businesses are on the only certified by contract ready

2821
03:11:31,131 --> 03:11:35,469
to compete for opportunities. On average they have assisted

2822
03:11:35,469 --> 03:11:38,806
366 clients with procurement and contracting advisement and

2823
03:11:38,806 --> 03:11:42,760
trainings on these topics in addition assisted with over 28

2824
03:11:42,760 --> 03:11:45,760
contracts, securing and totaling $79 million.

2825
03:11:46,346 --> 03:11:50,484
beyond mwbe support, we also partner with esd entrepreneur

2826
03:11:50,484 --> 03:11:53,887
assistance centers and community organizations to create a

2827
03:11:53,887 --> 03:11:57,487
seamless pipeline from entrepreneur training to

2828
03:11:59,559 --> 03:12:02,559
business. From 2023 to 2024 nysbdc secured

2829
03:12:04,364 --> 03:12:08,502
over is 45 million in capital created and retained over 10,000

2830
03:12:08,502 --> 03:12:10,772
jobs and launched 1900 new businesses.

2831
03:12:10,772 --> 03:12:15,572
our client base remains highly diverse, 53% women, 41% minority

2832
03:12:17,777 --> 03:12:21,248
, 15% rural, 6% veteran and 2% disabled ensuring that

2833
03:12:21,248 --> 03:12:24,718
the state's economic growth is truly inclusive.

2834
03:12:24,718 --> 03:12:27,253
these numbers represent real people.

2835
03:12:27,253 --> 03:12:29,656
each person represents new york's commitment to

2836
03:12:29,656 --> 03:12:32,125
empowering small business. Despite the outcomes, new york

2837
03:12:32,125 --> 03:12:35,529
continues to rank among the lowest in states direct funding

2838
03:12:35,529 --> 03:12:39,733
for sbdc network. Over the past two budget cycles,

2839
03:12:39,733 --> 03:12:43,404
we've experienced significant cost pressures due to inflation,

2840
03:12:43,404 --> 03:12:46,473
rising wages and expenses for technology, travel and program

2841
03:12:46,473 --> 03:12:49,760
delivery. These factors have resulted in a

2842
03:12:49,760 --> 03:12:53,276
14.6 decrease in staffing and service capacity and

2843
03:12:53,346 --> 03:12:56,946
corresponding 30% reduction in clients served measurable

2844
03:12:57,818 --> 03:12:59,887
impact. For the 20 centers across

2845
03:12:59,887 --> 03:13:03,823
new york state, this is a reduction of one full-time

2846
03:13:03,823 --> 03:13:06,360
equivalent per center-for-the state program.

2847
03:13:06,360 --> 03:13:09,229
an equivalent investment $5 million per appropriation

2848
03:13:09,229 --> 03:13:13,100
would help offset the increase and sustain the funds and

2849
03:13:13,100 --> 03:13:17,371
strengthen new york's ability to align sbdc programs with state

2850
03:13:17,371 --> 03:13:19,840
funding new york cities. This would expand our reach in

2851
03:13:19,840 --> 03:13:22,709
under served communities and ensure continuity and high

2852
03:13:22,709 --> 03:13:24,912
quality business assistance statewide.

2853
03:13:24,912 --> 03:13:28,381
this is not just a budget issue. It's an opportunity to

2854
03:13:28,381 --> 03:13:31,251
strengthen our already proven partnership with deeper

2855
03:13:31,251 --> 03:13:35,451
integration between nysbdc, empire state development and

2856
03:13:36,570 --> 03:13:38,725
department of economic. We can stale the mwbe

2857
03:13:38,725 --> 03:13:41,600
certification and procurement pipeline, expand support for

2858
03:13:41,600 --> 03:13:44,330
food and accommodation industries, grow and

2859
03:13:44,330 --> 03:13:47,600
manufacturing programs and advance initiatives in aicht and

2860
03:13:47,600 --> 03:13:50,137
workforce readiness. New york's economic development

2861
03:13:50,137 --> 03:13:52,739
ecosystem is strongest when we leverage each partner's

2862
03:13:52,739 --> 03:13:58,878
expertise and data to create a continuum of support from nidh

2863
03:13:58,878 --> 03:14:02,849
to global competitiveness we stand ready to continue as a

2864
03:14:02,849 --> 03:14:05,819
strategic partner to the state, helping small businesses start,

2865
03:14:05,819 --> 03:14:08,688
succeed and stay in new york. Thank you for the opportunity to

2866
03:14:08,688 --> 03:14:11,558
share our impact and vision for continued collaboration.

2867
03:14:11,558 --> 03:14:15,758
I welcome any questions from the committee.

2868
03:14:16,290 --> 03:14:19,629
>> good afternoon., chairman stirpe, buttenschon, members.

2869
03:14:21,701 --> 03:14:25,301
committee, thanks for having us today.

2870
03:14:25,972 --> 03:14:30,772
I'm winthrop thurlow, executive director of lifesciencesny, a

2871
03:14:35,248 --> 03:14:36,983
statewide association of life sciences space.

2872
03:14:36,983 --> 03:14:41,540
our members are innovating, researching, creating and

2873
03:14:41,540 --> 03:14:45,859
developing healthcare products. So we are talking about drugs,

2874
03:14:45,859 --> 03:14:47,727
diagnostic tools, medical devices.

2875
03:14:47,727 --> 03:14:54,327
in many ways, our members are driving new york's economy into

2876
03:14:57,136 --> 03:15:02,743
the future my message to you really is simple and that is,

2877
03:15:02,743 --> 03:15:05,279
our members rely on many of the state services.

2878
03:15:05,279 --> 03:15:10,151
it's nice to sit next to jim d'agostino here and the services

2879
03:15:10,151 --> 03:15:14,287
that the state's maps and fuse hub offer.

2880
03:15:14,287 --> 03:15:16,956
those array of services, whether we are talking about the

2881
03:15:16,956 --> 03:15:21,294
hotspots and some of the other assets of nystar and the other

2882
03:15:21,294 --> 03:15:26,320
programs are critically important to the success of life

2883
03:15:26,320 --> 03:15:29,970
sciences industry in new york. One of the things I would say to

2884
03:15:29,970 --> 03:15:34,841
you is in the life sciences, we are small business, we are

2885
03:15:34,841 --> 03:15:37,644
medium sized businesses, we are large businesses.

2886
03:15:37,644 --> 03:15:42,116
our members range from start-ups to established companies that

2887
03:15:42,116 --> 03:15:45,452
all of you have heard about. We have tremendous opportunities

2888
03:15:45,452 --> 03:15:50,252
here in new york in an incredibly competitive

2889
03:15:51,391 --> 03:15:53,527
environment. We are competing against states

2890
03:15:53,527 --> 03:15:57,727
like massachusetts and california and north carolina

2891
03:15:57,997 --> 03:16:03,336
and minnesota we cannot afford to be left behind in that

2892
03:16:03,336 --> 03:16:05,738
competitive environment initiatives like empire a.I. Are

2893
03:16:05,738 --> 03:16:10,343
going to be transformative, initiatives like the bio genesis

2894
03:16:10,343 --> 03:16:14,814
park and additional investments in cell and gene therapy are

2895
03:16:14,814 --> 03:16:17,284
driving innovation in new york state.

2896
03:16:17,284 --> 03:16:20,884
those are creating businesses, creating jobs.

2897
03:16:21,210 --> 03:16:25,821
we have opportunities to leverage the huge attractiveness

2898
03:16:25,960 --> 03:16:30,297
of new york city, with an adisability to-- an ability to

2899
03:16:30,297 --> 03:16:32,632
create manufacturing opportunities in places that

2900
03:16:32,632 --> 03:16:37,637
have capacity and available workforce and a lower cost of

2901
03:16:37,637 --> 03:16:42,437
business. Let me give you a couple of

2902
03:16:43,676 --> 03:16:45,512
examples. Regeneron and the tremendous

2903
03:16:45,512 --> 03:16:48,915
work they're doing. Their headquarters are in

2904
03:16:48,915 --> 03:16:51,651
tarrytown in westchester county, it makes sense, in many ways,

2905
03:16:51,651 --> 03:16:55,188
for them to place their headquarters in metropolitan

2906
03:16:55,188 --> 03:16:57,858
new york city. Where are they doing their

2907
03:16:57,858 --> 03:17:00,600
manufacturing? Primarily saratoga and

2908
03:17:00,600 --> 03:17:04,197
rensselaer counties because it's accessible, it has capacity, and

2909
03:17:04,197 --> 03:17:08,668
frankly it has a lower cost of doing business: when you look

2910
03:17:08,668 --> 03:17:12,539
at where are the drivers in the life sciences industry,

2911
03:17:12,539 --> 03:17:16,750
certainly one of the leading drivers is boston.

2912
03:17:16,750 --> 03:17:20,146
and I would encourage this committee to take a look at what

2913
03:17:20,146 --> 03:17:23,417
is happening in boston. We do not need to replicate what

2914
03:17:23,417 --> 03:17:28,556
they're doing in massachusetts. We need to find ways to service

2915
03:17:28,556 --> 03:17:34,940
and be the place where talent is going to continue to grow a

2916
03:17:34,940 --> 03:17:38,294
short example. Take a look at wses,

2917
03:17:38,565 --> 03:17:40,767
massachusetts. Worcester, massachusetts, could

2918
03:17:40,767 --> 03:17:44,571
be any upstate new york city. It had its population zenith in

2919
03:17:44,571 --> 03:17:49,371
about 1950, went through a long painful decline in

2920
03:17:49,976 --> 03:17:51,511
deindustrialization. Over the last 15 years,

2921
03:17:51,511 --> 03:17:55,111
worcester, massachusetts, has seen significant population

2922
03:17:57,784 --> 03:17:59,786
growth that is non-immigrant related.

2923
03:17:59,786 --> 03:18:03,189
what it is related to is an increasing cost of doing

2924
03:18:03,189 --> 03:18:08,589
business in boston which is then moved these opportunities

2925
03:18:08,595 --> 03:18:11,531
westward. We have opportunities along the

2926
03:18:11,531 --> 03:18:15,535
87 and 90 corridor to bring that kind of energy to places like

2927
03:18:15,535 --> 03:18:17,603
the capital region, mohawk valley, central new york and

2928
03:18:17,603 --> 03:18:21,700
western new york to drive innovation.

2929
03:18:21,700 --> 03:18:25,780
I will also say to you that I have a slightly different

2930
03:18:25,780 --> 03:18:28,150
perspective on the regulation burden problem I've heard many

2931
03:18:28,150 --> 03:18:34,755
of the folks today talk about the reality is in the healthcare

2932
03:18:34,755 --> 03:18:40,260
development industry, we know what it is like to work in a

2933
03:18:40,260 --> 03:18:43,830
heavily regulated place, the bulk of the regulations that our

2934
03:18:43,830 --> 03:18:46,833
members are facing are really coming from washington and not

2935
03:18:46,833 --> 03:18:49,902
from albany. What I would encourage this

2936
03:18:49,902 --> 03:18:56,502
committee to think about though, to be incredibly careful as we

2937
03:18:56,609 --> 03:18:59,712
begin to apply additional regulatory burdens.

2938
03:18:59,712 --> 03:19:02,982
so, for example, in the artificial intelligence space,

2939
03:19:02,982 --> 03:19:06,653
quite candidly, I wish we told all artificial intelligence

2940
03:19:06,653 --> 03:19:10,456
stories through the lens of the life sciences because it's in

2941
03:19:10,456 --> 03:19:14,460
our industry that we are creating better diagnostic tools

2942
03:19:14,460 --> 03:19:19,999
better drugs and better devices. We need to be careful as we look

2943
03:19:19,999 --> 03:19:23,690
at regulating some of the concerns about a.I. That we

2944
03:19:23,690 --> 03:19:27,273
don't impose unnecessary burdens that are going to slow

2945
03:19:27,273 --> 03:19:32,145
innovation in that space. I see a red light flashing so I

2946
03:19:32,145 --> 03:19:36,916
will stop talking but I'm happy to answer questions.

2947
03:19:36,916 --> 03:19:40,420
>> good afternoon, honorable chair berns and esteemed members

2948
03:19:40,420 --> 03:19:45,291
of the legislature. Thank you for the opportunity to

2949
03:19:45,291 --> 03:19:47,527
speak today in support of additional funding for the

2950
03:19:47,527 --> 03:19:52,927
new york manufacturing extension partnership or new york mep.

2951
03:19:54,701 --> 03:19:57,303
your leadership in advancing policies that foster economic

2952
03:19:57,303 --> 03:20:00,975
growth, strengthen our manufacturing sector and create

2953
03:20:00,975 --> 03:20:04,575
high quality jobs, is greatly appreciated.

2954
03:20:05,244 --> 03:20:09,449
manufacturing is a cornerstone of new york's economy, employing

2955
03:20:09,449 --> 03:20:13,649
over 400,000 workers statewide, but our manufacturers face

2956
03:20:14,387 --> 03:20:17,723
significant challenges and you have heard some of them today,

2957
03:20:17,723 --> 03:20:21,923
including workforce shortages, global competition, supply chain

2958
03:20:24,530 --> 03:20:28,100
disruptions cyber security threats and the rapid pace of

2959
03:20:28,100 --> 03:20:31,671
technological change. New york mep is a statewide

2960
03:20:31,671 --> 03:20:35,741
network dedicated to helping small and mid sized

2961
03:20:35,741 --> 03:20:38,811
manufacturers meet all of these challenges.

2962
03:20:38,811 --> 03:20:44,211
through 10 regional centers and one statewide center, new york

2963
03:20:46,352 --> 03:20:49,623
mep has hands on assistance that improves efficiency, supports

2964
03:20:49,623 --> 03:20:53,223
technology adoption, strengthens workforce development and

2965
03:20:54,360 --> 03:20:55,761
enhances overall competitiveness.

2966
03:20:55,761 --> 03:21:02,361
over the last five years, new york mep has generated over

2967
03:21:04,637 --> 03:21:09,242
$7.6 billion in economic impact and supported more than 32,000

2968
03:21:09,242 --> 03:21:11,978
jobs statewide. For every dollar invested in

2969
03:21:11,978 --> 03:21:17,378
new york mep, new york sees a return of $125.

2970
03:21:20,386 --> 03:21:23,986
demonstrating extraordinary value for our economy.

2971
03:21:24,557 --> 03:21:29,357
new york mep work translates into measurable outcomes,

2972
03:21:30,797 --> 03:21:36,197
including 6555 jobs created or retained a billion dollars in

2973
03:21:36,202 --> 03:21:41,200
newer retained sales. $37 million in cost savings and

2974
03:21:42,241 --> 03:21:44,544
$190 million in new client investments.

2975
03:21:44,544 --> 03:21:48,748
these results ill illustrate the high return on investment in

2976
03:21:48,748 --> 03:21:53,319
tangible benefits that new york mep provides to manufacturers

2977
03:21:53,319 --> 03:21:55,355
and communities across the state.

2978
03:21:55,355 --> 03:21:59,291
new york mep operates as a public-private partnership,

2979
03:21:59,291 --> 03:22:03,229
federal funding comes primarily through the national institute

2980
03:22:03,229 --> 03:22:07,566
of standards and technology and new york mep also generates

2981
03:22:07,566 --> 03:22:12,366
revenue through project fees. Current state funding levels

2982
03:22:12,772 --> 03:22:17,176
limit new york's mep abilities to expand services and reach

2983
03:22:17,176 --> 03:22:20,914
more manufacturers, particularly as the industry faces emerging

2984
03:22:20,914 --> 03:22:25,114
challenges in technology, sustainability and supply chain

2985
03:22:25,518 --> 03:22:30,318
resilience. This is why we are requesting an

2986
03:22:30,623 --> 03:22:35,423
additional $2.875 million in the state's fiscal year 2025-26

2987
03:22:36,620 --> 03:22:39,198
budget. This funding will allow new york

2988
03:22:39,198 --> 03:22:43,398
mep to equip manufacturers with advanced technologies,

2989
03:22:43,669 --> 03:22:48,469
automation, robotics, a.I., promote sustainability and help

2990
03:22:48,842 --> 03:22:51,678
companies integrate green technologies in line with

2991
03:22:51,678 --> 03:22:56,478
new york's climate goals, support expansion into emerging

2992
03:22:56,549 --> 03:22:59,350
industries such as semiconductors, clean tech and

2993
03:22:59,350 --> 03:23:03,235
life sciences, strengthen domestic supply chains, enhance

2994
03:23:03,773 --> 03:23:07,973
cyber security and support reshoring initiatives and

2995
03:23:09,713 --> 03:23:12,649
provide workforce training and apprenticeship to prepare

2996
03:23:12,649 --> 03:23:13,916
workers for modern manufacturing.

2997
03:23:13,916 --> 03:23:18,721
let me share a few examples of new york mep's impact.

2998
03:23:18,721 --> 03:23:23,521
one manufacturer achieved as 9100 certification, which is a

2999
03:23:23,526 --> 03:23:26,129
globally rebounding sized aerospace standard, with

3000
03:23:26,129 --> 03:23:30,929
new york mep support, the company improved initiativecy,

3001
03:23:33,370 --> 03:23:35,873
reduced defects and opened new market opportunities.

3002
03:23:35,873 --> 03:23:39,876
new york mep helped another manufacturer provide specialized

3003
03:23:39,876 --> 03:23:43,480
training for machine operators, boosting productivity, safety,

3004
03:23:43,480 --> 03:23:48,280
morale and retention. Companies also have used lean

3005
03:23:48,952 --> 03:23:51,621
manufacturing techniques and strategic partnerships to

3006
03:23:51,621 --> 03:23:55,492
optimize operations, reduce costs and strengthen supply

3007
03:23:55,492 --> 03:23:59,162
chains ensuring faster production cycles and on time

3008
03:23:59,162 --> 03:24:01,300
deliveries. Despite these successes,

3009
03:24:01,300 --> 03:24:05,835
new york mep faces funding and contracting challenges that

3010
03:24:05,835 --> 03:24:08,372
threaten its ability to serve manufacturers.

3011
03:24:08,372 --> 03:24:13,510
without support, we risk reduced reach and services for small and

3012
03:24:13,510 --> 03:24:18,181
mid sized manufacturers, loss of competitiveness for new york

3013
03:24:18,181 --> 03:24:21,785
manufacturers with potential job and economic losses and reduced

3014
03:24:21,785 --> 03:24:27,185
access to related grant programs including smart I corridor,

3015
03:24:28,524 --> 03:24:33,324
build back better, blue forge, usda rural communities,

3016
03:24:34,397 --> 03:24:36,733
appalachian regional commission initiatives, among others.

3017
03:24:36,733 --> 03:24:40,403
to address these challenges,y we respectfully urge the

3018
03:24:40,403 --> 03:24:44,808
legislature to renew all of our sub recipient agreements for

3019
03:24:44,808 --> 03:24:49,813
new york mep centers by january 1 so we can continue

3020
03:24:49,813 --> 03:24:54,350
with state endorsement, 2: provide gap funding from january

3021
03:24:54,350 --> 03:24:57,220
through march 2026 until the next fiscal year budget is

3022
03:24:57,220 --> 03:25:01,420
passed, and lastly, include the requested additional

3023
03:25:02,426 --> 03:25:06,695
2.875 million for new york mep in the state's fiscal year

3024
03:25:06,695 --> 03:25:09,432
budget coming up. I'm out of time but I wanted to

3025
03:25:09,432 --> 03:25:11,500
get through the bullet points there.

3026
03:25:11,500 --> 03:25:16,372
thank you. >> so if I want to summarize all

3027
03:25:16,372 --> 03:25:20,576
of this, the great state programs that this side of the

3028
03:25:20,576 --> 03:25:27,176
table needs to make sure it counts and get increased a

3029
03:25:27,984 --> 03:25:34,457
little bit are not anything at all that helps the regular small

3030
03:25:34,457 --> 03:25:37,427
businesses like you said, they're not geared towards that.

3031
03:25:37,427 --> 03:25:40,730
they're geared towards specialized industries et cetera

3032
03:25:40,730 --> 03:25:45,201
and you just don't get any money so you are having a problem

3033
03:25:45,201 --> 03:25:51,208
keeping people and being able to provide outreach to the normal

3034
03:25:51,208 --> 03:25:57,180
means of people would you serve which are a lot of your people,

3035
03:25:57,180 --> 03:26:02,152
too probably so how do we do all this?

3036
03:26:02,152 --> 03:26:07,900
what would you recommend, if you were going to create a grant

3037
03:26:07,900 --> 03:26:11,827
program or a couple different grant programs for regular small

3038
03:26:11,827 --> 03:26:16,270
businesses, restaurants, you know, clubs, hardware stores,

3039
03:26:16,699 --> 03:26:20,570
things like that, what would you do and what would the

3040
03:26:20,570 --> 03:26:27,170
requirements be and how much money would you want to give

3041
03:26:27,777 --> 03:26:32,577
each business or up to a certain amount.

3042
03:26:32,849 --> 03:26:38,521
>> thank you for the request I think it's also going to be

3043
03:26:38,521 --> 03:26:42,725
depending on the region and the industry, I know you just talked

3044
03:26:42,725 --> 03:26:45,610
about retail and food accommodation in the sense that

3045
03:26:45,610 --> 03:26:49,465
you heard both of the chambers talk about they send any type of

3046
03:26:49,465 --> 03:26:56,650
whether it's sba or grant it's a county or local municipality,

3047
03:26:56,806 --> 03:26:58,875
federal or state grant opportunity, they try to send

3048
03:26:58,875 --> 03:27:02,780
those clients or small businesses to the sbdc but as

3049
03:27:02,780 --> 03:27:05,415
you mentioned and as I stated, it's the capacity.

3050
03:27:05,415 --> 03:27:08,151
the assistance is there for the administrative burden to

3051
03:27:08,151 --> 03:27:11,287
hopefully take that off of the small business.

3052
03:27:11,287 --> 03:27:15,892
and if those programs are created to help them with facade

3053
03:27:15,892 --> 03:27:21,297
or, you know, some equipment purchases or also going through

3054
03:27:21,297 --> 03:27:27,297
an apprenticeship program to learn the sbdc were hosted at

3055
03:27:28,438 --> 03:27:30,440
some of the community colleges. There is the opportunity to

3056
03:27:30,440 --> 03:27:33,909
partner with an sbdc. I think there are parameters are

3057
03:27:33,909 --> 03:27:36,846
having a grant program. It depends on the business and

3058
03:27:36,846 --> 03:27:40,449
the region and industry you are focused on there.

3059
03:27:40,449 --> 03:27:45,455
>> and I think assemblyman, to your question, you ask most

3060
03:27:45,455 --> 03:27:48,191
small business they're in the going to tell you they want a

3061
03:27:48,191 --> 03:27:51,694
grant, right they're really not asking for money.

3062
03:27:51,694 --> 03:27:57,867
that's generally not their mo, so the point I was really trying

3063
03:27:57,867 --> 03:28:01,805
to make if you are trying to assess and evaluate the economic

3064
03:28:01,805 --> 03:28:04,874
development program impact on small business, they're just

3065
03:28:04,874 --> 03:28:06,676
generally isn't an impact, right?

3066
03:28:06,676 --> 03:28:10,130
so if you want to hear some economic development dollars

3067
03:28:10,130 --> 03:28:13,283
towards small business there is a way to do that by changing

3068
03:28:13,283 --> 03:28:16,283
eligibility criteria in certain programs.

3069
03:28:16,352 --> 03:28:19,355
like the excelsior jobs program, for example.

3070
03:28:19,355 --> 03:28:23,226
the criteria was changed this last budget cycle.

3071
03:28:23,226 --> 03:28:29,766
the regs are out now. Esd has proposed them there are

3072
03:28:29,766 --> 03:28:33,102
potential changes you can look at in some of the programs to

3073
03:28:33,102 --> 03:28:36,706
see if there are tax credits or other things you can offer to

3074
03:28:36,706 --> 03:28:40,776
small businesses looking to expand job growth or what have

3075
03:28:40,776 --> 03:28:43,846
you I think that's an opportunity in terms of funding

3076
03:28:43,846 --> 03:28:46,916
and where do you get money which is always the big question and I

3077
03:28:46,916 --> 03:28:54,716
think that's where there are a lot of programs, pfm put out a

3078
03:28:57,994 --> 03:29:05,794
report last year we need to look at some of these programs that

3079
03:29:05,802 --> 03:29:08,805
really do a poor return on investment and is there a way to

3080
03:29:08,805 --> 03:29:11,700
redirected to the most dollars to something that is really just

3081
03:29:11,700 --> 03:29:15,411
going to make an impact on the community.

3082
03:29:15,411 --> 03:29:20,683
>> I would say, too, I would hope that we don't see this as a

3083
03:29:20,683 --> 03:29:24,553
zero sum game. Frankly while my members

3084
03:29:24,553 --> 03:29:30,694
certainly are in a specialized place, many of them are small

3085
03:29:30,694 --> 03:29:34,294
businesses. And so thank you assemblymember

3086
03:29:39,970 --> 03:29:43,306
stirpe for helping us to secure some money to put together a

3087
03:29:43,306 --> 03:29:47,177
series of investor conferences we will hold this year to

3088
03:29:47,177 --> 03:29:50,780
connect early stage innovators with the investor community.

3089
03:29:50,780 --> 03:29:55,510
those are relatively small dollars, state dollars that can

3090
03:29:55,510 --> 03:29:59,388
be leveraged to connect innovators with the investor

3091
03:29:59,388 --> 03:30:02,988
community. Frankly, I hear that same

3092
03:30:03,259 --> 03:30:07,396
dynamic across industries: the connections to capital are

3093
03:30:07,396 --> 03:30:10,999
always a challenge and if we can leverage some relatively small

3094
03:30:10,999 --> 03:30:16,399
state dollars to help facilitate connections to private dollars.

3095
03:30:22,611 --> 03:30:26,949
>> you say they're not really looking for grants or-- are they

3096
03:30:26,949 --> 03:30:33,549
looking for loans that are easier to center, easier to get,

3097
03:30:37,627 --> 03:30:40,963
easier to administer. >> loans are something to use if

3098
03:30:40,963 --> 03:30:45,330
you are going to grow, right? You are looking at an expansion

3099
03:30:45,330 --> 03:30:47,302
effort. You are trying to go into a

3100
03:30:47,302 --> 03:30:50,706
different direction or expand your operation or invest in new

3101
03:30:50,706 --> 03:30:52,308
equipment. That's when you are looking for

3102
03:30:52,308 --> 03:30:53,710
loans. I think the vast majority of

3103
03:30:53,710 --> 03:30:57,914
small businesses are saying I'm just trying to keep my head

3104
03:30:57,914 --> 03:31:04,587
above water and, can we find a way to make that easier and I

3105
03:31:04,587 --> 03:31:08,324
think that's really where they are coming from is, and you know

3106
03:31:08,324 --> 03:31:11,327
there have been talks about streamlining regulations and

3107
03:31:11,327 --> 03:31:15,998
things I've I've I will jiff you one quick example.

3108
03:31:15,998 --> 03:31:20,403
-- local restaurant, small business member of ours owns

3109
03:31:20,403 --> 03:31:22,271
multiple restaurants. He is getting ready to retire.

3110
03:31:22,271 --> 03:31:24,673
he doesn't want to just close them down, right?

3111
03:31:24,673 --> 03:31:27,943
he wants to see them keep going so he is looking at people to

3112
03:31:27,943 --> 03:31:30,680
sell them to. Employees who have worked their

3113
03:31:30,680 --> 03:31:33,820
way up into management positions to give them the next

3114
03:31:33,820 --> 03:31:36,552
opportunity. And he has had a couple people

3115
03:31:36,552 --> 03:31:41,900
and all they needed was to transfer a liquor license and it

3116
03:31:41,900 --> 03:31:47,290
took months and months and months and it's those types of

3117
03:31:47,290 --> 03:31:50,633
things that don't need to be so hard that don't need to be so

3118
03:31:50,633 --> 03:31:56,907
difficult, and it was he had one buyer back out because he wasn't

3119
03:31:56,907 --> 03:32:00,243
going to wait eight months for a liquor license, right?

3120
03:32:00,243 --> 03:32:04,247
and so again, that's not necessarily your purview here

3121
03:32:04,247 --> 03:32:09,385
but it is just an example and evidence of how hard it is and

3122
03:32:09,385 --> 03:32:12,923
it doesn't need to be that hard. A small business owner will tell

3123
03:32:12,923 --> 03:32:16,580
you, I just need to you get out of the way, right?

3124
03:32:16,580 --> 03:32:19,929
like that's what I'm asking to you do, and again, you know,

3125
03:32:19,929 --> 03:32:22,865
obviously there are things that need to be in place and et

3126
03:32:22,865 --> 03:32:29,338
cetera, but if we can I think, find other ways to drive down

3127
03:32:29,338 --> 03:32:32,275
costs, to streamline things, that's a better way of helping

3128
03:32:32,275 --> 03:32:37,613
small businesses. On the flip side, when you are

3129
03:32:37,613 --> 03:32:40,684
spending almost $10 billion a year in economic development

3130
03:32:40,684 --> 03:32:43,619
programs we also have to make sure we are getting bang for our

3131
03:32:43,619 --> 03:32:47,557
buck if part of that bang is that you want to help small

3132
03:32:47,557 --> 03:32:50,493
businesses, right now we are not doing that in the economic

3133
03:32:50,493 --> 03:32:55,300
development space. >> if could I chime in, too, I

3134
03:32:55,300 --> 03:32:59,302
just want to say unfortunately liquor licenses are involved

3135
03:32:59,302 --> 03:33:02,504
here in this committee. And that's the bane of my

3136
03:33:02,504 --> 03:33:06,104
existence, basically. So you mentioned assemblyman

3137
03:33:08,110 --> 03:33:12,849
stirpe, we are in a little more specialized space, but I did

3138
03:33:12,849 --> 03:33:19,455
want to pint point out that the new york mep centers, have a

3139
03:33:19,455 --> 03:33:23,192
tremendous amount of funding partners and different grant

3140
03:33:23,192 --> 03:33:26,795
programs and things that we tap into on behalf of our

3141
03:33:26,795 --> 03:33:31,595
manufacturers, partners like national grid, nyseg, rg & e,

3142
03:33:33,136 --> 03:33:34,737
workforce development institute, the county workforce boards.

3143
03:33:34,737 --> 03:33:39,275
there are a lot of specialized programs that we are able to

3144
03:33:39,275 --> 03:33:40,877
direct to our never manufacturers.

3145
03:33:40,877 --> 03:33:45,681
I also, if for nothing else wanted to put it on your radar

3146
03:33:45,681 --> 03:33:49,886
across the mep network but starting with tdo in central

3147
03:33:49,886 --> 03:33:55,358
new york, we are working on developing a pilot program in

3148
03:33:55,358 --> 03:33:59,558
coordination with empire state development to service

3149
03:34:00,230 --> 03:34:04,500
manufacturers that, you know, when where the consolidated

3150
03:34:04,500 --> 03:34:07,360
funding application, cfa, may not be the right fit.

3151
03:34:07,360 --> 03:34:10,573
maybe they don't qualify because of job creation or whatever, but

3152
03:34:10,573 --> 03:34:15,378
it's a great project, you know, it's going to help boost

3153
03:34:15,378 --> 03:34:17,580
productivity, grow their business but maybe not hit the

3154
03:34:17,580 --> 03:34:19,982
job numbers that the cfa requires.

3155
03:34:19,982 --> 03:34:24,254
so across the mep network we are helpful that-- hopeful that we

3156
03:34:24,254 --> 03:34:27,723
are going to be rolling out the program working with empire

3157
03:34:27,723 --> 03:34:30,493
state development. One of the things that on the

3158
03:34:30,493 --> 03:34:34,530
new york mep side, we are always looking, you know, for

3159
03:34:34,530 --> 03:34:37,333
innovative new ways to help our manufacturers out and that's one

3160
03:34:37,333 --> 03:34:39,870
ever them, to your point, you know, what programs.

3161
03:34:39,870 --> 03:34:43,139
we are looking into that because that's what we've heard from our

3162
03:34:43,139 --> 03:34:46,409
manufacturers we need access to capital.

3163
03:34:46,409 --> 03:34:53,609
we can't really-- we don't qualify for the cfa but we need

3164
03:34:55,551 --> 03:34:57,951
help. >> okay, go ahead.

3165
03:35:04,834 --> 03:35:09,504
thank you to all of you, I hear you loud and clear on the

3166
03:35:09,504 --> 03:35:14,375
regulations and as I was sitting here I think maybe we would

3167
03:35:14,375 --> 03:35:18,880
ensure that all of our commissioners or one of their

3168
03:35:18,880 --> 03:35:22,717
designee be at these hearings because I think it is very

3169
03:35:22,717 --> 03:35:25,387
important and I will invite them to listen to your testimony and

3170
03:35:25,387 --> 03:35:29,724
share it with them because you are right.

3171
03:35:29,724 --> 03:35:33,662
we hear it all the time there is a little bit of business owners

3172
03:35:33,662 --> 03:35:39,135
that want to do transfers and it's frustrating because of the

3173
03:35:39,135 --> 03:35:45,940
fear so thank you for that. Sonya, I know gina hadek is one

3174
03:35:45,940 --> 03:35:53,740
of your team members that, as I have had many roundtables, go to

3175
03:35:54,215 --> 03:35:56,885
gina but she is one person. I understand the points that you

3176
03:35:56,885 --> 03:36:02,157
have brought forward and will continue to look at the support

3177
03:36:02,157 --> 03:36:06,357
you provide. Sonic research lab is within

3178
03:36:09,764 --> 03:36:12,434
coming up with innovative ideas. I appreciate as well as with

3179
03:36:12,434 --> 03:36:15,303
manufacturing. My one question to all of you is

3180
03:36:15,303 --> 03:36:18,908
the folks that have testified today, do you know them all?

3181
03:36:18,908 --> 03:36:24,311
do you work with them? We talked about cross regional?

3182
03:36:24,311 --> 03:36:26,714
clearly there is a lot of overlap that we are seeing and

3183
03:36:26,714 --> 03:36:33,121
we want to make sure you are nodding your heads all yes so

3184
03:36:33,121 --> 03:36:36,323
that's great to hear bus if we are going to talk about the

3185
03:36:36,323 --> 03:36:39,660
state as a whole, we want to make sure that everyone is aware

3186
03:36:39,660 --> 03:36:46,134
of what everyone else and it's across regionalal with macny and

3187
03:36:46,134 --> 03:36:48,534
whore else. >> assemblywoman buttenschon,

3188
03:36:51,739 --> 03:36:53,742
truer words have never been spoken.

3189
03:36:53,742 --> 03:36:55,478
one of the things critical to the success of our organization

3190
03:36:55,478 --> 03:37:00,281
that we place at the very top of our priorities list driving

3191
03:37:00,281 --> 03:37:04,952
collaboration and partnership. In the life sciences, we have a

3192
03:37:04,952 --> 03:37:09,490
presence in one way or another in 62 counties.

3193
03:37:09,490 --> 03:37:15,997
and to be able to connect or members to the resources and

3194
03:37:15,997 --> 03:37:19,834
assets across the state is a critically important part.

3195
03:37:19,834 --> 03:37:23,572
we could not do what we do without the folks at the mep

3196
03:37:23,572 --> 03:37:27,575
network, with you the macny, without centerstate, without all

3197
03:37:27,575 --> 03:37:29,911
of those. I will just share I was recently

3198
03:37:29,911 --> 03:37:34,716
on long island and listening to some folks understandably

3199
03:37:34,716 --> 03:37:37,385
complain. We at long island are in the

3200
03:37:37,385 --> 03:37:42,389
forgotten part of new york. And I often laugh and quite

3201
03:37:42,389 --> 03:37:46,595
frankly probably get in thrubl for saying this, I over think

3202
03:37:46,595 --> 03:37:49,464
that the one thing that unites all new yorkers outside of the

3203
03:37:49,464 --> 03:37:52,401
island of manhattan is the conviction that they are in the

3204
03:37:52,401 --> 03:37:56,671
forgotten part of new york. And I think in part that's

3205
03:37:56,671 --> 03:38:02,744
driven by the complexity that we have in the state but to your

3206
03:38:02,744 --> 03:38:07,615
point, work that we need to do to better join the various

3207
03:38:07,615 --> 03:38:12,153
regional assets, the work that folks are doing across the

3208
03:38:12,153 --> 03:38:16,557
network is really the way to grow success.

3209
03:38:16,557 --> 03:38:20,757
so thank you. >> and I would agree.

3210
03:38:22,960 --> 03:38:28,696
I echo everything he said. We do a lot of work

3211
03:38:29,170 --> 03:38:31,772
collaboratively working with his group.

3212
03:38:31,772 --> 03:38:34,643
macny, centerstate and empire state development all sit on my

3213
03:38:34,643 --> 03:38:36,844
bods there. We board of directors there.

3214
03:38:36,844 --> 03:38:39,914
we work with the community boards and colleges, we are

3215
03:38:39,914 --> 03:38:45,186
across, you know, the entire new york mep landscape, we are

3216
03:38:45,186 --> 03:38:47,922
embedded within the fabric, the economic development fabric of

3217
03:38:47,922 --> 03:38:55,122
every region of the state. >> I was going say it's a lesson

3218
03:38:56,130 --> 03:38:58,999
for state government, honestly, what you see in terms of

3219
03:38:58,999 --> 03:39:03,710
collaboration among the different groups that obviously

3220
03:39:03,710 --> 03:39:06,274
I don't work with these fine gentlemen all that often, but

3221
03:39:06,274 --> 03:39:09,677
there are other groups like other chambers and other

3222
03:39:09,677 --> 03:39:11,946
organizations that we collaborate with small business

3223
03:39:11,946 --> 03:39:15,483
development centers, sba or whoever it may be, there is

3224
03:39:15,483 --> 03:39:18,219
constant communication going on between all of us.

3225
03:39:18,219 --> 03:39:22,557
and I don't think you see that from a state agencies level the

3226
03:39:22,557 --> 03:39:27,962
right hand is not talking to the left hand and there is overlap a

3227
03:39:27,962 --> 03:39:30,698
lot of times that can be of great assistance to a small

3228
03:39:30,698 --> 03:39:34,502
business owner and I think the state agencies could collaborate

3229
03:39:34,502 --> 03:39:39,374
a lot more than they do. >> you got home work.

3230
03:39:39,374 --> 03:39:44,979
>> I know you mentioned gina hadok out of the mohawk valley

3231
03:39:44,979 --> 03:39:51,252
community college sbdc and at that time was a very beneficial

3232
03:39:51,252 --> 03:39:56,190
relationship built with esd and mep division when jason clark

3233
03:39:56,190 --> 03:39:59,527
came on board, we talked about the backlog and all of the

3234
03:39:59,527 --> 03:40:01,129
things pending and recertification and gina

3235
03:40:01,129 --> 03:40:04,532
actually worked with lauren and jenny and a couple of their

3236
03:40:04,532 --> 03:40:08,336
other team members to help with streamlining that, looking at

3237
03:40:08,336 --> 03:40:10,738
the key areas where there are challenges from small businesses

3238
03:40:10,738 --> 03:40:15,760
so that communication was a partnership and the

3239
03:40:15,760 --> 03:40:17,146
redevelopment and revamping of that program.

3240
03:40:17,146 --> 03:40:21,482
and as I mentioned, we do 40% of the accepted applications for

3241
03:40:21,482 --> 03:40:26,888
that program and a key partner along with apex as well as the

3242
03:40:26,888 --> 03:40:29,824
eacs and some chambers are involved but we do the brule can

3243
03:40:29,824 --> 03:40:32,327
of the work. >> I know that and I guess I

3244
03:40:32,327 --> 03:40:37,765
just find the challenge that it is called gina, you know, she is

3245
03:40:37,765 --> 03:40:40,903
one person. That's what happens every time

3246
03:40:40,903 --> 03:40:43,304
in the roundtable and we have to invite her.

3247
03:40:43,304 --> 03:40:48,109
so I appreciate that. I'm just wondering, again, are

3248
03:40:48,109 --> 03:40:51,846
we doing it as we should because many of those small businesses

3249
03:40:51,846 --> 03:40:55,583
are like you you got me for an hour because have I to get out

3250
03:40:55,583 --> 03:41:00,383
of here and get to work. Thank you.

3251
03:41:02,457 --> 03:41:07,729
>> thank you all for being here. I'm just curious if, in all of

3252
03:41:07,729 --> 03:41:14,329
your analysis, are loss of population comes up as an issue,

3253
03:41:18,472 --> 03:41:21,750
and okay, I see four heads nod. Thank you.

3254
03:41:21,750 --> 03:41:25,480
I would think it is, too. As you know, we are now for the

3255
03:41:25,480 --> 03:41:29,417
fourth consecutive year in a row, the highest outmigration

3256
03:41:29,417 --> 03:41:33,254
state in the country. I ask you then, recognizing that

3257
03:41:33,254 --> 03:41:37,425
a healthy economy requires population growth, any economist

3258
03:41:37,425 --> 03:41:40,428
at any level will acknowledge that.

3259
03:41:40,428 --> 03:41:45,633
and unhealthy one gets worse with every loss of every

3260
03:41:45,633 --> 03:41:48,902
taxpayer and every producer, let's call them producers for

3261
03:41:48,902 --> 03:41:51,902
this case. In this case.

3262
03:41:54,776 --> 03:41:58,913
do you bring that up and say, hey, look, we are losing people.

3263
03:41:58,913 --> 03:42:01,784
we are driving them away? I know my colleagues on the left

3264
03:42:01,784 --> 03:42:07,184
don't want to acknowledge this, but lock at federal

3265
03:42:13,610 --> 03:42:17,331
representation as well 50 years ago we had about 40

3266
03:42:17,331 --> 03:42:18,333
congressional representatives in the state.

3267
03:42:18,333 --> 03:42:22,136
we have 26 right now so when people say we don't have a

3268
03:42:22,136 --> 03:42:29,210
problem, I say we have a huge problem we have a huge loss in

3269
03:42:29,210 --> 03:42:31,478
congressional representation for federal dollars and federal

3270
03:42:31,478 --> 03:42:37,478
programs nches and here we are again, losing mental rajing

3271
03:42:37,484 --> 03:42:42,884
people, hemorrhaging businesses. And I justed my question is

3272
03:42:43,290 --> 03:42:48,629
simply what do you think we can do to stop the loss so that we

3273
03:42:48,629 --> 03:42:53,100
can actually reverse it in all of the things I've heard all day

3274
03:42:53,100 --> 03:42:57,573
by all the panelists talking about are all individually doing

3275
03:42:57,573 --> 03:43:00,375
great things but there are holes in the hall of the-- holes in

3276
03:43:00,375 --> 03:43:03,645
the hull of the boat. And until we fix that and make

3277
03:43:03,645 --> 03:43:06,247
the boat float, we've got problems.

3278
03:43:06,247 --> 03:43:12,520
>> so let me jump in and say a couple things from my

3279
03:43:12,520 --> 03:43:13,988
perspective. Workforce is the number one

3280
03:43:13,988 --> 03:43:17,859
issue that our members are concerned about.

3281
03:43:17,859 --> 03:43:23,931
being able to find a qualified workforce to staff their needs

3282
03:43:23,931 --> 03:43:28,680
and frankly in our industry, workforce runs the gamut from

3283
03:43:28,680 --> 03:43:33,340
front line manufacturing, all the way up to post-ph.d

3284
03:43:33,340 --> 03:43:35,676
doctoral candidates, right? It's everywhere in between and

3285
03:43:35,676 --> 03:43:42,830
the ability to find those employees to fill those jobs is

3286
03:43:42,830 --> 03:43:44,685
a critical challenge. I bough say to you a couple of

3287
03:43:44,685 --> 03:43:48,556
things and I say this as somebody frankly who spent his

3288
03:43:48,556 --> 03:43:51,692
entire life in upstate new york. I grew up in cortland, small

3289
03:43:51,692 --> 03:43:55,292
manufacturing town, right? You know it.

3290
03:43:55,696 --> 03:43:59,896
we manufactured trucks and smith corona typewriters.

3291
03:44:01,435 --> 03:44:04,238
we used to look at rochester and say rochester, new york, is

3292
03:44:04,238 --> 03:44:08,642
never going to have a problem. They have eastman kodak.

3293
03:44:08,642 --> 03:44:10,778
we will always need film. They have xerox.

3294
03:44:10,778 --> 03:44:16,851
we will always need copies. They have bausch & lomb, we will

3295
03:44:16,851 --> 03:44:22,851
always need lenses and the dig-- digital revolution came along

3296
03:44:23,391 --> 03:44:26,594
and we didn't need those things the way we thought we would need

3297
03:44:26,594 --> 03:44:29,960
them. The approach that I think

3298
03:44:29,960 --> 03:44:31,265
successful is to turn-- and rochester has done a tremendous

3299
03:44:31,265 --> 03:44:34,668
jobs taking the intellectual assets and turning them into

3300
03:44:34,668 --> 03:44:36,871
small businesses that are growing and succeeding and I

3301
03:44:36,871 --> 03:44:41,542
believe that jobs that employees will follow where job

3302
03:44:41,542 --> 03:44:43,770
opportunities exist. The other thing that I would say

3303
03:44:43,770 --> 03:44:48,416
to you, and I think it was kevin schwab who mentioned earlier,

3304
03:44:48,416 --> 03:44:50,952
the nationwide levels of concentrated poverty in many of

3305
03:44:50,952 --> 03:44:55,890
our cities in new york. What that really means to me is

3306
03:44:55,890 --> 03:44:58,226
that we have an untapped resource of workers.

3307
03:44:58,226 --> 03:45:05,426
we need to figure out how to capture baxter, the former in

3308
03:45:08,703 --> 03:45:14,103
skaneateles has challenged his company to find employees from

3309
03:45:14,975 --> 03:45:16,710
auburn. In part, it might be a bit

3310
03:45:16,710 --> 03:45:21,480
related to the increase in the minimum wage and some fast food

3311
03:45:21,480 --> 03:45:25,190
professions. In part it's also related to

3312
03:45:25,190 --> 03:45:27,455
transportation challenges, child care challenges, all those wrap

3313
03:45:27,455 --> 03:45:32,600
around services. So my answer to you is is it a

3314
03:45:32,600 --> 03:45:33,127
problem? Absolutely.

3315
03:45:33,127 --> 03:45:37,640
we need to take a holistic look at what we are doing and find

3316
03:45:37,640 --> 03:45:42,464
solutionses to the problem and we can do it.

3317
03:45:43,204 --> 03:45:45,873
>> we hear the workforce challenge from many of the

3318
03:45:45,873 --> 03:45:49,880
manufacturers that we have in our region.

3319
03:45:49,880 --> 03:45:54,359
I really think that's where the new york mep system is

3320
03:45:54,359 --> 03:45:59,159
strategically designed to help. We help manufacturers develop

3321
03:45:59,631 --> 03:46:03,168
retention strategies, attraction efforts, we have, you know, a

3322
03:46:03,168 --> 03:46:05,971
lot of resources. We connect with a lot of

3323
03:46:05,971 --> 03:46:08,308
partners on the workforce side as well.

3324
03:46:08,308 --> 03:46:12,444
you the also on the technical side, you know, for some of

3325
03:46:12,444 --> 03:46:19,317
these hard to fill jobs, that's where new york mep steps in and

3326
03:46:19,317 --> 03:46:23,589
says okay is there automation? Are there things we can do to

3327
03:46:23,589 --> 03:46:25,723
boost your productivity? Maybe there is a different way

3328
03:46:25,723 --> 03:46:30,128
of looking at your processes where we are still short a

3329
03:46:30,128 --> 03:46:35,200
person but maybe we can fix that on the process or automation

3330
03:46:35,200 --> 03:46:38,737
side there so again that's where we have a little bit of a

3331
03:46:38,737 --> 03:46:40,874
different, I think, viewpoint on that.

3332
03:46:40,874 --> 03:46:46,874
we see it as an opportunity. That's where we thrive.

3333
03:46:54,952 --> 03:47:01,552
>> how are y'all doing? I'm glad to my colleague came up

3334
03:47:02,160 --> 03:47:05,797
with the census and having an ac receipts count of all

3335
03:47:05,797 --> 03:47:07,899
new yorkers, meaning anyone who lives in our state, needs to be

3336
03:47:07,899 --> 03:47:11,569
counted, and I do think the business industry needs to be a

3337
03:47:11,569 --> 03:47:16,441
part of that and advocate for it advertise for it because to his

3338
03:47:16,441 --> 03:47:21,446
point if we can get the proper count we would have greater

3339
03:47:21,446 --> 03:47:24,516
federal representation and a bigger piece of the pie and go

3340
03:47:24,516 --> 03:47:26,852
to the programs we are talking about, making sure they're

3341
03:47:26,852 --> 03:47:30,288
funded. Additionally, I think no one up

3342
03:47:30,288 --> 03:47:34,580
here left or right can agree we can be more streamlined as a

3343
03:47:34,580 --> 03:47:36,595
state and we want to make sure the programs are efficient and

3344
03:47:36,595 --> 03:47:41,400
work better. The other side of it is we want

3345
03:47:41,400 --> 03:47:43,735
to make sure nobody takes advantage of the system because

3346
03:47:43,735 --> 03:47:48,473
all it takes is one bad actor completely take down a system

3347
03:47:48,473 --> 03:47:51,609
and next thing you know, the post is saying the new york

3348
03:47:51,609 --> 03:47:54,679
assembly didn't take the proper steps to ensure this program is

3349
03:47:54,679 --> 03:47:59,951
in line, right so you are right, we have to find that balance one

3350
03:47:59,951 --> 03:48:02,620
thing we need to look at, we have had a track record over the

3351
03:48:02,620 --> 03:48:05,891
last couple of years to help small businesses and I want to

3352
03:48:05,891 --> 03:48:09,961
give a big shoutout to labor chair harry bronson and our

3353
03:48:09,961 --> 03:48:12,697
speaker because of the $7 billion we did to help the

3354
03:48:12,697 --> 03:48:15,567
unemployment insurance fund to get that off the backs of all

3355
03:48:15,567 --> 03:48:18,970
businesses but definitely small and mediumized businesses is a

3356
03:48:18,970 --> 03:48:23,441
huge win for the business industry and community and so I

3357
03:48:23,441 --> 03:48:26,511
don't want to hear people saying the new york state assembly

3358
03:48:26,511 --> 03:48:28,447
doesn't understand that. We are trying to find the

3359
03:48:28,447 --> 03:48:31,117
balance of making sure people have living wages while at the

3360
03:48:31,117 --> 03:48:34,719
same time proper regulations that ensure that our businesses

3361
03:48:34,719 --> 03:48:37,924
are acting as good faith partners.

3362
03:48:37,924 --> 03:48:43,924
with that said, to director smith, you have experience with

3363
03:48:46,664 --> 03:48:48,132
pennsylvania. What in pennsylvania do you

3364
03:48:48,132 --> 03:48:54,732
think works well that we should bring here to new york?

3365
03:48:57,743 --> 03:49:00,145
>> both the assemblymembers, thank you for the question, talk

3366
03:49:00,145 --> 03:49:02,480
about population and that's where most of our funding was

3367
03:49:02,480 --> 03:49:06,885
cut in 2020, due to the pandemic so our program already got

3368
03:49:06,885 --> 03:49:11,222
smaller since then. But to answer your question, on

3369
03:49:11,222 --> 03:49:15,359
pennsylvania, I actually was the associate state director for

3370
03:49:15,359 --> 03:49:19,970
programs and policy. A lot of what we did were

3371
03:49:19,970 --> 03:49:23,897
developing centers of excellence and really highlighting the

3372
03:49:24,350 --> 03:49:28,106
expertise of not only the staff but the needs of the different

3373
03:49:28,106 --> 03:49:30,909
communities. So it could be, for instance,

3374
03:49:30,909 --> 03:49:37,115
one was on e-commerce and we partnered with the department of

3375
03:49:37,115 --> 03:49:40,385
-- or economic development agency so eda, on the federal

3376
03:49:40,385 --> 03:49:46,258
side, funding that program. And so that was for anything on

3377
03:49:46,258 --> 03:49:52,331
shop phi or online platforms for businesses to get on the retail

3378
03:49:52,331 --> 03:49:54,533
side online. In general, the regulations or

3379
03:49:54,533 --> 03:49:58,137
the state side of policy, anything of that nature,

3380
03:49:58,137 --> 03:50:05,337
everyone is unique but I think far behind and having access to

3381
03:50:08,313 --> 03:50:12,885
capital or individual programs that are actually supporting the

3382
03:50:12,885 --> 03:50:19,485
small businesses, so, of course, ded are putting out programs but

3383
03:50:20,992 --> 03:50:23,828
the small businesses like you heard don't have the time or the

3384
03:50:23,828 --> 03:50:27,365
bandwidth or the understanding or even the awareness

3385
03:50:27,365 --> 03:50:29,235
acknowledgment of that and I think that's what is different

3386
03:50:29,235 --> 03:50:32,571
in a lot of states. They invest in that for the

3387
03:50:32,571 --> 03:50:35,641
technical assistance to be there to support those programs.

3388
03:50:35,641 --> 03:50:39,377
if you are going to put new money into programs, you need

3389
03:50:39,377 --> 03:50:41,713
the technical assistance to support that as well and that is

3390
03:50:41,713 --> 03:50:47,713
very different in other states business transition is a big

3391
03:50:47,852 --> 03:50:53,324
thing we are trying to develop a program around that it will be

3392
03:50:53,324 --> 03:50:56,528
piloted in assemblyman stirpe's district out of the onondaga

3393
03:50:56,528 --> 03:51:00,899
community college sbdc north central but we are doing that

3394
03:51:00,899 --> 03:51:03,869
out of county funds and private funds to do that.

3395
03:51:03,869 --> 03:51:07,606
it's not state supported and so that's the difference I see is

3396
03:51:07,606 --> 03:51:13,600
that there is no streamlineing and conversations between state

3397
03:51:14,746 --> 03:51:19,251
agencies to support that. >> quick followup you said you

3398
03:51:19,251 --> 03:51:22,821
are doing it in the chairman's district but we need impact

3399
03:51:22,821 --> 03:51:26,421
program. >> the mainstream program out of

3400
03:51:26,491 --> 03:51:31,291
the ssbci, state credit initiative or business incentive

3401
03:51:31,496 --> 03:51:35,300
was out of tress treasury, and through that program, if you are

3402
03:51:35,300 --> 03:51:39,380
going to put programs out like that, you need the technical

3403
03:51:39,380 --> 03:51:42,874
assistance partners or resources to be able to have small

3404
03:51:42,874 --> 03:51:44,842
businesses understand the awareness, the administrative

3405
03:51:44,842 --> 03:51:47,846
part and how to apply for that and if they're eligible.

3406
03:51:47,846 --> 03:51:50,782
so I feel like that's the difference in certain states is

3407
03:51:50,782 --> 03:51:53,652
the support from the state to streamline and have that

3408
03:51:53,652 --> 03:51:55,787
information but also have resources available.

3409
03:51:55,787 --> 03:51:58,560
>> got it. Thank you.

3410
03:51:58,560 --> 03:52:01,590
>> and quickly just on your point on unemployment insurance,

3411
03:52:01,590 --> 03:52:05,865
I was smiling at chair stirpe because he has heard me since

3412
03:52:05,865 --> 03:52:08,865
2021 about that issue ad nauseum.

3413
03:52:10,100 --> 03:52:12,671
I'm sure there are times he doesn't want to take my phone

3414
03:52:12,671 --> 03:52:17,141
call on that issue. So I commend your chamber, the

3415
03:52:17,141 --> 03:52:19,577
assembly particularly the speaker and so many members

3416
03:52:19,577 --> 03:52:21,680
within that chamber for getting that done.

3417
03:52:21,680 --> 03:52:24,215
>> including both these chairs. >> and all these chairs.

3418
03:52:24,215 --> 03:52:28,415
that was a tremendous, tremendous accomplishment and

3419
03:52:28,820 --> 03:52:32,356
one that small businesses have been calling for for a few years

3420
03:52:32,356 --> 03:52:38,830
now and I do comment you because you look the lead on that issue

3421
03:52:38,830 --> 03:52:43,568
and it would not have gotten done without your leadership

3422
03:52:43,568 --> 03:52:45,804
across the board. We recognize that and that's a

3423
03:52:45,804 --> 03:52:50,604
great example of something to help small business.

3424
03:52:52,430 --> 03:52:56,714
that was an unnecessary cost driver that we could take away

3425
03:52:56,714 --> 03:52:59,490
and there are things like that that we can look at.

3426
03:52:59,490 --> 03:53:03,849
>> thank you. >> thank you all for being here.

3427
03:53:05,856 --> 03:53:09,928
I just want to say that earlier on said a lot of the businesses

3428
03:53:09,928 --> 03:53:13,630
are not looking for grants and you hit the nail on the head

3429
03:53:13,630 --> 03:53:15,734
with that because I know a lot of these businesses in my area,

3430
03:53:15,734 --> 03:53:18,303
especially in long island, they're looking for

3431
03:53:18,303 --> 03:53:19,738
sustainability. They don't want a handout.

3432
03:53:19,738 --> 03:53:23,541
they want to just know that they can survive month to month just

3433
03:53:23,541 --> 03:53:26,811
by doing their jobs because they see these businesses as their

3434
03:53:26,811 --> 03:53:31,150
babies and they don't want it to go and they want them to thrive,

3435
03:53:31,150 --> 03:53:33,551
near not looking to make millions of dollars from the

3436
03:53:33,551 --> 03:53:35,620
business. They just want to survive.

3437
03:53:35,620 --> 03:53:41,200
and that's something we should be helping more on.

3438
03:53:41,559 --> 03:53:45,764
and throughout the panelist as everybody, we have not gotten to

3439
03:53:45,764 --> 03:53:49,100
that issue that same way people are leaving the state, this is

3440
03:53:49,100 --> 03:53:51,302
probably because also businesses, which are the

3441
03:53:51,302 --> 03:53:54,438
backbone of our state, are not thriving and not doing well

3442
03:53:54,438 --> 03:53:57,420
enough. I had a business, which was a

3443
03:53:57,420 --> 03:54:00,311
staple of our community for many years and from year to year, the

3444
03:54:00,311 --> 03:54:04,480
resources, is services, the wages, the insurances they keep

3445
03:54:04,480 --> 03:54:08,253
on going up and up and it's not something that they can could

3446
03:54:08,253 --> 03:54:11,589
keep up-- they could not keep up with because they can't charge

3447
03:54:11,589 --> 03:54:15,193
for a hamburger $45 and that's what it comes down to at the end

3448
03:54:15,193 --> 03:54:17,729
of the day. I know we should be doing more

3449
03:54:17,729 --> 03:54:21,132
to help with the sustainability of these businesses and not just

3450
03:54:21,132 --> 03:54:24,690
with grants and we'll do what we can.

3451
03:54:24,690 --> 03:54:27,690
I promise the that. >> okay.

3452
03:54:31,942 --> 03:54:35,679
good afternoon. Thank you for being here.

3453
03:54:35,679 --> 03:54:38,350
winthrop, I really want to thank you for shouting out long island

3454
03:54:38,350 --> 03:54:41,352
because sometimes we get a little lost in the shuffle.

3455
03:54:41,352 --> 03:54:45,623
so I appreciate that. I wanted to ask you about the

3456
03:54:45,623 --> 03:54:52,223
federal cuts life sciences has incurred because there is not a

3457
03:54:52,564 --> 03:54:55,433
sector that has not been devastated by the federal cuts.

3458
03:54:55,433 --> 03:54:59,370
I just wanted to know how it lies with the life sciences,

3459
03:54:59,370 --> 03:55:02,507
those cuts. >> well, thank you for the

3460
03:55:02,507 --> 03:55:07,178
compliment and then you went and poured salt in a real wound here

3461
03:55:07,178 --> 03:55:10,915
is what I would say and this is one thing that would I want this

3462
03:55:10,915 --> 03:55:13,251
committee to really kind of folk news on.

3463
03:55:13,251 --> 03:55:17,922
there has certainly been an awful lot in the press about the

3464
03:55:17,922 --> 03:55:22,593
devastating impact frankly to our universities at cuts in

3465
03:55:22,593 --> 03:55:26,263
federally funded research those are real, those are problematic.

3466
03:55:26,263 --> 03:55:29,201
by the way, those are economic development and business dollars

3467
03:55:29,201 --> 03:55:33,138
that are going to have impacts across the state.

3468
03:55:33,138 --> 03:55:39,277
in addition, one aspect of that that I think has gotten too

3469
03:55:39,277 --> 03:55:43,281
little attention is the recollection anythings that most

3470
03:55:43,281 --> 03:55:48,681
health product innovation is coming out of our universities,

3471
03:55:48,686 --> 03:55:51,889
through our networks of incubators, accelerators and

3472
03:55:51,889 --> 03:55:58,963
other places so not only are we looking at huge cuts to

3473
03:55:58,963 --> 03:56:00,498
universities. We are looking at a pinch in the

3474
03:56:00,498 --> 03:56:04,703
pipeline of new products coming tut at the tend of this process.

3475
03:56:04,703 --> 03:56:10,703
we are all about innovation and improving lives, losing that

3476
03:56:10,775 --> 03:56:15,460
pipeline of products is not only devastating to the state of new

3477
03:56:15,460 --> 03:56:18,183
york and the united states, it's devastating to patients around

3478
03:56:18,183 --> 03:56:22,586
the world. And we need to continue to

3479
03:56:22,586 --> 03:56:25,723
advocate, frankly, from my perspective, if you really want

3480
03:56:25,723 --> 03:56:31,123
to make america healthy again, we increase investment in

3481
03:56:32,630 --> 03:56:36,263
research; cree-- we increase research in healthcare

3482
03:56:36,668 --> 03:56:40,271
innovation to drive down costs of chronic diseases like stroke

3483
03:56:40,271 --> 03:56:45,611
and cancer and diabetes and these things that are sending

3484
03:56:45,611 --> 03:56:46,944
healthcare costs through the roof.

3485
03:56:46,944 --> 03:56:51,150
that's the way to both improve health and to lower costs and so

3486
03:56:51,150 --> 03:56:55,190
I think we in new york have an opportunity to be a leader in

3487
03:56:55,190 --> 03:56:58,823
that ways. There is not a location on the

3488
03:56:58,823 --> 03:57:03,995
face of this planet that has the wealth of educational resources,

3489
03:57:03,995 --> 03:57:08,433
the workforce, the brain power, and, frankly, the attraction to

3490
03:57:08,433 --> 03:57:12,360
capital than we have in new york and we need to leverage those

3491
03:57:12,360 --> 03:57:14,105
strengths to continue to grow the business.

3492
03:57:14,105 --> 03:57:18,309
one last thing that I will say about the bio genesis park in

3493
03:57:18,309 --> 03:57:24,315
long island, it's going to be adjacent in nassau county to

3494
03:57:24,315 --> 03:57:25,983
queens. The most diverse place on the

3495
03:57:25,983 --> 03:57:30,183
face of the planet. That's a strength.

3496
03:57:30,254 --> 03:57:35,920
that allows researchers to tap into populations and diversity

3497
03:57:35,920 --> 03:57:37,462
of populations that you could not find anywhere else.

3498
03:57:37,462 --> 03:57:41,866
we need to make smart investments in places like that

3499
03:57:41,866 --> 03:57:43,134
because that's where new york can be a leader.

3500
03:57:43,134 --> 03:57:47,539
>> thank you very much for that. I'm out of time.

3501
03:57:47,539 --> 03:57:50,141
ashley, sonya thank you for shining the light on actual

3502
03:57:50,141 --> 03:57:54,780
small businesses, the life blood of our communities throughout

3503
03:57:54,780 --> 03:57:57,415
the state that they're often left out of the esd programs

3504
03:57:57,415 --> 03:58:01,752
they just don't qualify. I have been inquiring on that

3505
03:58:01,752 --> 03:58:06,357
before and never got the answers we need to make a change so ?I

3506
03:58:06,357 --> 03:58:11,629
really would love to work on ways that we can establish more

3507
03:58:11,629 --> 03:58:13,698
programs deered for the small businesses that we have through

3508
03:58:13,698 --> 03:58:17,435
out our state and I know another thing is, we don't have time now

3509
03:58:17,435 --> 03:58:20,938
but I hope to find out more about your a.I. Recommendations

3510
03:58:20,938 --> 03:58:23,775
in regards, so perhaps I'll email you.

3511
03:58:23,775 --> 03:58:25,775
>> terrific. Thank you.

3512
03:58:27,779 --> 03:58:31,979
>> thank you all very much. Great conversation.

3513
03:58:38,476 --> 03:58:40,812
now we go to the remaining people who have been sitting

3514
03:58:40,812 --> 03:58:43,212
here patiently. Nobody snored.

3515
03:58:45,283 --> 03:58:48,283
it was good. >> hi there.

3516
03:59:34,650 --> 03:59:35,667
hello. >> you are going to make this

3517
03:59:35,667 --> 03:59:37,667
really quick. >> yes.

3518
03:59:38,136 --> 03:59:43,942
we know we are standing in between everyone and lunch.

3519
03:59:43,942 --> 03:59:47,612
>> okay. Since we started on this side

3520
03:59:47,612 --> 03:59:51,549
last time, we'll go and start on this side this time.

3521
03:59:51,549 --> 03:59:56,221
>> thank you very much. By the way, I texted gina to

3522
03:59:56,221 --> 04:00:03,421
tell her how many times she has been mentioned clarkson class of

3523
04:00:06,564 --> 04:00:07,166
1990. Thank you very much.

3524
04:00:07,166 --> 04:00:11,360
we are very excited about the opportunity today about how

3525
04:00:11,360 --> 04:00:15,440
clarkson and all of our partners are driving innovation, job

3526
04:00:15,440 --> 04:00:17,710
creation, sustainable economic growth across new york state.

3527
04:00:17,710 --> 04:00:21,512
that is consistent with our mission to last 125 years to

3528
04:00:21,512 --> 04:00:25,183
seek out the real needs of american people and we do that

3529
04:00:25,183 --> 04:00:27,251
through partnerships that strengthen both local and

3530
04:00:27,251 --> 04:00:31,122
statewide economies and do a lot of hands on education in applied

3531
04:00:31,122 --> 04:00:33,925
research. We are proud to say that esd

3532
04:00:33,925 --> 04:00:35,660
investments produce tangible results.

3533
04:00:35,660 --> 04:00:40,650
new technologies, new and retained companies, and new jobs

3534
04:00:40,650 --> 04:00:43,401
for new yorkers. And we would always welcome

3535
04:00:43,401 --> 04:00:48,730
further review by these committees on incentives for the

3536
04:00:48,730 --> 04:00:52,873
corporate partners we talked about (inaudible) you mentioned

3537
04:00:52,877 --> 04:00:55,881
people talking about the federal pressures that are on

3538
04:00:55,881 --> 04:00:58,950
universities right now. Our corporate partners are

3539
04:00:58,950 --> 04:01:02,153
coming to us with all of their challenges right now also so any

3540
04:01:02,153 --> 04:01:05,357
tax breaks or incentives we can give them to work with our

3541
04:01:05,357 --> 04:01:08,960
universities would be very welcome in this process, too I'm

3542
04:01:08,960 --> 04:01:12,898
going to highlight three of our programs.

3543
04:01:12,898 --> 04:01:17,201
it is the innovation hotspot for the north country, our

3544
04:01:17,201 --> 04:01:19,504
new york state center of excellence and healthy water

3545
04:01:19,504 --> 04:01:22,707
solutions with suny esf and our center for advanced materials

3546
04:01:22,707 --> 04:01:26,645
processing one of the cats in the state.

3547
04:01:26,645 --> 04:01:28,981
first north country innovation hotspot.

3548
04:01:28,981 --> 04:01:32,117
I'm not used to hearing that long island is forgotten in the

3549
04:01:32,117 --> 04:01:34,190
north country but we will put that out there.

3550
04:01:34,190 --> 04:01:37,923
operates in downtown potsdam through shipley's center for

3551
04:01:37,923 --> 04:01:42,327
innovation, they help with idea to market as a lob incubator

3552
04:01:42,327 --> 04:01:45,290
prototyping spaces, dmesh usuallyization support,

3553
04:01:45,290 --> 04:01:47,465
mentorship networking. Last year we helped with more

3554
04:01:47,465 --> 04:01:50,100
than 60 entrepreneurs and small business navigate the rural

3555
04:01:50,100 --> 04:01:54,201
economic development ecosystem. Start-up developing advance pfas

3556
04:01:56,474 --> 04:01:57,944
removal and destruction technologies.

3557
04:01:57,944 --> 04:02:03,682
they do that in collaboration ration with with our healthy

3558
04:02:03,682 --> 04:02:05,951
center and last year with commercialization support and

3559
04:02:05,951 --> 04:02:11,351
from the hotspot, demax plasma increased revenues by there

3560
04:02:12,824 --> 04:02:14,559
361,000. This year we launched

3561
04:02:14,559 --> 04:02:18,759
entrepreneurship meetups drawing over 150 north country residents

3562
04:02:19,297 --> 04:02:21,700
who share in ideas to strengthen the economy.

3563
04:02:21,700 --> 04:02:25,637
the hotspot reported over 12 million in non-job economic

3564
04:02:25,637 --> 04:02:30,241
impacts and working to expand mentorship and training aspects

3565
04:02:30,241 --> 04:02:32,310
across all seven counties of northern new york.

3566
04:02:32,310 --> 04:02:35,113
the next is the center of excellence and healthy water

3567
04:02:35,113 --> 04:02:39,117
solutions, co-led with suny esf, united expertise and

3568
04:02:39,117 --> 04:02:41,186
engineering, watershed science and environmental technology to

3569
04:02:41,186 --> 04:02:45,457
safeguard one of new york's greatest assets: clean, healthy

3570
04:02:45,457 --> 04:02:49,570
water. Something we should never take

3571
04:02:49,394 --> 04:02:52,731
advantage of. Since its launch in 2019 we have

3572
04:02:52,731 --> 04:02:55,467
received 4.6 million in state funding, listened 10 million in

3573
04:02:55,467 --> 04:02:57,269
additional federal and industry support.

3574
04:02:57,269 --> 04:03:01,469
we have funded 38 research seed projects, 25 commercialization

3575
04:03:01,740 --> 04:03:05,940
projects and 18 research and education initiatives and

3576
04:03:06,477 --> 04:03:08,814
engaged over 25 municipal and industry partners.

3577
04:03:08,814 --> 04:03:12,550
these have produced 1.3 million direct economic impact and as I

3578
04:03:12,550 --> 04:03:16,688
said, we have secured additional federal resource grants with

3579
04:03:16,688 --> 04:03:22,688
that projects range from the pfas to working with lake

3580
04:03:25,830 --> 04:03:29,430
association, skaneateles and canandaigua that attracts

3581
04:03:31,469 --> 04:03:36,174
nutrient runoff that lead to detecting harmful algae blooms

3582
04:03:36,174 --> 04:03:39,176
and impacts tourism. We have new innovation and

3583
04:03:39,176 --> 04:03:41,247
satellite technology that we are preparing for commercialization

3584
04:03:41,247 --> 04:03:42,646
with that. Very exciting.

3585
04:03:42,646 --> 04:03:45,917
also it was brought up so many times I added a paragraph in.

3586
04:03:45,917 --> 04:03:49,521
our center also inspires the next generation.

3587
04:03:49,521 --> 04:03:52,857
we offer real world stem experiences for high school

3588
04:03:52,857 --> 04:03:57,395
students engaging communities in water resources with the same

3589
04:03:57,395 --> 04:04:02,133
companies and industry partners we are using now in our research

3590
04:04:02,133 --> 04:04:06,937
areas my plea on that is that college students are some of the

3591
04:04:06,937 --> 04:04:12,337
best people to inspire-- college students with stem experience

3592
04:04:12,344 --> 04:04:16,130
are the best to inspire the next generation to get involved.

3593
04:04:16,130 --> 04:04:19,684
they relate to them, similar in age and life experiences big

3594
04:04:19,684 --> 04:04:23,688
brothers, sisters and added bonus for all of that.

3595
04:04:23,688 --> 04:04:28,488
and finally camp since 1987, connects companies from all

3596
04:04:31,963 --> 04:04:37,301
across new york state in metals, polymers, bio materials, nano

3597
04:04:37,301 --> 04:04:38,503
materials, sustainability manufacturing from

3598
04:04:38,503 --> 04:04:42,907
semiconductors to clean energy. Camp has played a critical role

3599
04:04:42,907 --> 04:04:45,776
in building new york's semiconductor industry we are

3600
04:04:45,776 --> 04:04:49,447
the world leader in chemical mechanical plannerrization.

3601
04:04:49,447 --> 04:04:53,647
cmp, a foundational process in semiconductor manufacturing.

3602
04:04:54,385 --> 04:04:58,656
these capabilities help them improve yield, reduce defects et

3603
04:04:58,656 --> 04:05:02,326
cetera. We have hosted for the last 28

3604
04:05:02,326 --> 04:05:07,732
years, international symposium on cmp and that has been part of

3605
04:05:07,732 --> 04:05:09,867
the reason it has been attracting business that

3606
04:05:09,867 --> 04:05:15,640
industry to this state. In the last six years, we have

3607
04:05:15,640 --> 04:05:19,577
created over 325 jobs statewide, secured 32.5 billion in new

3608
04:05:19,577 --> 04:05:22,547
funding and worked with a variety of companies in all of

3609
04:05:22,547 --> 04:05:25,550
those things. So in conclusion, you know, we

3610
04:05:25,550 --> 04:05:30,221
would really like to again thank you for all that you do and

3611
04:05:30,221 --> 04:05:32,690
respectfully ask for your continued support in

3612
04:05:32,690 --> 04:05:36,360
consideration of collaboration with the governor incentive for

3613
04:05:36,360 --> 04:05:41,298
full funding of these programs as well as any new areas of

3614
04:05:41,298 --> 04:05:45,437
emphasis that beat some of the state needs in pfas and

3615
04:05:45,437 --> 04:05:47,705
manufacturing technologies that we all want to keep our water

3616
04:05:47,705 --> 04:05:51,905
and healthy areas safe. >> thank you distinguished

3617
04:05:57,982 --> 04:06:02,653
members of the committee, jen smith in my role within cornell

3618
04:06:02,653 --> 04:06:06,124
university's center for regional economic advancement, I lead

3619
04:06:06,124 --> 04:06:11,329
grow new york, a nystar funding food and ag start-up accelerator

3620
04:06:11,329 --> 04:06:15,266
and competition. I'm honored to making new york

3621
04:06:15,266 --> 04:06:18,803
farms and producers and high tech agri-businesses can thrive.

3622
04:06:18,803 --> 04:06:22,600
thank you for your time. The headlines of grow new york

3623
04:06:22,600 --> 04:06:25,410
are impressive since 2019, grow new york start-ups have created

3624
04:06:25,410 --> 04:06:30,810
over 250 new jobs, raised over $100 million in follow on

3625
04:06:31,616 --> 04:06:36,988
funding create new markets for farmers and new food business

3626
04:06:36,988 --> 04:06:41,926
and address labor and climate constraints so my testimony will

3627
04:06:41,926 --> 04:06:43,694
address the demonstrated potential for food and

3628
04:06:43,694 --> 04:06:47,565
agricultural start-ups to diversify, strengthen and expand

3629
04:06:47,565 --> 04:06:50,301
new york's economy, incrementally by building a

3630
04:06:50,301 --> 04:06:54,501
strong infrastructure for growth and exponentially through

3631
04:06:55,639 --> 04:06:59,839
industry changing technologies. Start-ups kirkly those working

3632
04:07:00,445 --> 04:07:06,445
in agtech and food teak build new sources of growth,

3633
04:07:07,651 --> 04:07:11,522
positively impact farmers top and bottom lines anchoring

3634
04:07:11,522 --> 04:07:15,590
skilled diploma in the region and broadening opportunities in

3635
04:07:15,590 --> 04:07:18,620
rural areas of the state. Upstate new york has a long

3636
04:07:18,620 --> 04:07:22,867
tradition of growing, making, moving, storing selling food and

3637
04:07:22,867 --> 04:07:28,140
the grow new york program defined and enriches agrisystem

3638
04:07:28,140 --> 04:07:32,210
built on dairy farming and value added dairy production, small

3639
04:07:32,210 --> 04:07:37,948
and mid sized vy verse family farms, trees fruits, grape,

3640
04:07:37,948 --> 04:07:41,286
maple and controlled environment agriculture among others.

3641
04:07:41,286 --> 04:07:43,821
the illustration I like to use when I'm talking about grow

3642
04:07:43,821 --> 04:07:49,270
new york's ability to strengthen the region is craft cannesery,--

3643
04:07:49,270 --> 04:07:53,827
a contract manufacturer of marinades based in genesee

3644
04:07:54,499 --> 04:07:56,701
county. Our 2022 investment into craft

3645
04:07:56,701 --> 04:08:00,237
cannery let them expand their processing facility and add an

3646
04:08:00,237 --> 04:08:04,709
inline metal detector that scans sealed products which expanded

3647
04:08:04,709 --> 04:08:07,846
the volume and type of products and pliers they can work with

3648
04:08:07,846 --> 04:08:11,480
meaning they have doubled their number of employees, more than

3649
04:08:11,480 --> 04:08:14,386
doubled their number of sales, and means more regional farms

3650
04:08:14,386 --> 04:08:19,124
are selling more products to more small food businesses that

3651
04:08:19,124 --> 04:08:23,924
can contracts with them. In 2024 inequity based start-ups

3652
04:08:25,263 --> 04:08:29,333
raided 18.7 billion across 869 deals, signaling a return to

3653
04:08:29,333 --> 04:08:31,569
pre-pandemic venture capital trends.

3654
04:08:31,569 --> 04:08:36,969
start-ups in the grow new york region received 91.48 million.

3655
04:08:38,542 --> 04:08:41,645
the entirety of upstate new york receives less than 1% of the

3656
04:08:41,645 --> 04:08:44,149
venture capital invested in new york state.

3657
04:08:44,149 --> 04:08:49,487
to continue to nurture a nation leading food and agtech

3658
04:08:49,487 --> 04:08:52,490
ecosystem in an economic region defined in part by lack of

3659
04:08:52,490 --> 04:08:56,561
investment by vcs, it's essential to use state funded

3660
04:08:56,561 --> 04:08:59,764
competition resources as a starter is to help start-ups

3661
04:08:59,764 --> 04:09:02,834
scale and grow thus attracting outside investment.

3662
04:09:02,834 --> 04:09:05,369
to illustrate the potential of grow new york to help attract

3663
04:09:05,369 --> 04:09:10,400
venture funds into our state, I'll tell you about a scribe bio

3664
04:09:10,400 --> 04:09:13,644
science, this they were founded in 2017 in ithaca is a spinout

3665
04:09:13,644 --> 04:09:18,516
from cornell and the voice thompson institute based on the

3666
04:09:18,516 --> 04:09:22,319
discovery of soil molecules detectable by plants which react

3667
04:09:22,319 --> 04:09:26,519
by priming their inmate-- innate defense responses.

3668
04:09:26,857 --> 04:09:32,630
in short, it's a sustainable non-toxic way for crops to

3669
04:09:32,630 --> 04:09:37,463
resist disease and pathogens, the lead commercial product won

3670
04:09:38,770 --> 04:09:43,570
a $500,000 investment in 2021 providing legitimacy for them to

3671
04:09:44,141 --> 04:09:45,142
raise 2.5 million in a seed round.

3672
04:09:45,142 --> 04:09:49,147
that funding facilitated field trials and local hires which in

3673
04:09:49,147 --> 04:09:52,884
turn led to a strategic partnership with nutrient ag

3674
04:09:52,884 --> 04:09:57,755
solutions which is integrating them into their premixes for the

3675
04:09:57,755 --> 04:09:59,900
u.s. Market. Based on the strength of the

3676
04:09:59,900 --> 04:10:03,560
company and their data, ascribe has a multimillion dollar

3677
04:10:03,560 --> 04:10:06,297
oversubscribed series eight set to close this fall.

3678
04:10:06,297 --> 04:10:10,101
I share these two case studies as evidence that the investments

3679
04:10:10,101 --> 04:10:12,770
made in the earlier years of grow new york are starting to

3680
04:10:12,770 --> 04:10:16,507
pay off now. I ask that you continue to fund

3681
04:10:16,507 --> 04:10:19,377
grow new york for further rounds of competition.

3682
04:10:19,377 --> 04:10:23,247
new york has long been a bread basket for the northeast.

3683
04:10:23,247 --> 04:10:26,784
it has been a beacon for innovators with a program like

3684
04:10:26,784 --> 04:10:29,853
grow new york, we combine the strengths, agrifood capability

3685
04:10:29,853 --> 04:10:33,724
and productivity and start-up stickiness with the net result

3686
04:10:33,724 --> 04:10:37,995
of more opportunity for more kinds of people, especially in

3687
04:10:37,995 --> 04:10:42,195
rural parts of the state. Thank you.

3688
04:10:44,469 --> 04:10:46,937
>> thank you. I would like to begin by

3689
04:10:46,937 --> 04:10:49,807
thanking you, chairman stirpe, chair buttenschon and the

3690
04:10:49,807 --> 04:10:51,677
members of the assembly economic development and small business

3691
04:10:51,677 --> 04:10:54,478
communities for, of course, the opportunity to testify here

3692
04:10:54,478 --> 04:10:58,780
today. My name is julie suarez,

3693
04:10:58,949 --> 04:11:03,749
associate dean for cornell college agricultural and life

3694
04:11:04,288 --> 04:11:07,558
sciences, we are nested within the private ivy league

3695
04:11:07,558 --> 04:11:10,270
institution of cornell university but we are also

3696
04:11:10,270 --> 04:11:13,164
uniquely a contract college and deeply embedded within the state

3697
04:11:13,164 --> 04:11:15,966
university system of new york. So we have both the public and

3698
04:11:15,966 --> 04:11:19,704
private facing mission. And for over 150 years, we have

3699
04:11:19,704 --> 04:11:23,373
been very proud to serve as new york's land grant

3700
04:11:23,373 --> 04:11:28,646
institution today I want to focus my remarks on one over

3701
04:11:28,646 --> 04:11:30,470
arching economic development issue, the tremendous

3702
04:11:30,470 --> 04:11:32,383
opportunity for new york's farmers, rural communities and

3703
04:11:32,383 --> 04:11:35,385
consumers arising from the growth of dairy manufacturing I

3704
04:11:35,385 --> 04:11:38,723
also want to thank these committees, the legislature and

3705
04:11:38,723 --> 04:11:43,261
the governor for taking a chance in 2018 by funding our center of

3706
04:11:43,261 --> 04:11:46,798
excellence in food and agriculture at our agritech

3707
04:11:46,798 --> 04:11:49,660
campus 234 jefe. I'll share-- in geneva.

3708
04:11:49,660 --> 04:11:53,137
I'll share an upupdate in our c coe as well.

3709
04:11:53,137 --> 04:11:57,674
I wanted to say I believe strongly in taking

3710
04:11:57,674 --> 04:12:01,545
responsibility for my mistakes. I stapled your pages together

3711
04:12:01,545 --> 04:12:03,348
incorrectly this morning so I will abridge my remarks.

3712
04:12:03,348 --> 04:12:06,951
will you find more written data in the testimony and would I

3713
04:12:06,951 --> 04:12:09,420
like to say I did it to make sure you are paying attention

3714
04:12:09,420 --> 04:12:12,743
but the reality is it was a simple error so forgive me.

3715
04:12:12,743 --> 04:12:16,981
just this week I wanted to talk about data from the

3716
04:12:16,981 --> 04:12:18,982
international dairy foods association which ranked

3717
04:12:18,982 --> 04:12:23,321
new york state number one in the nation for new investments in

3718
04:12:23,321 --> 04:12:28,580
dairy manufacturing capacity. Let me reemphasize this again.

3719
04:12:28,580 --> 04:12:31,195
new york is first in the entire nation for private sector

3720
04:12:31,195 --> 04:12:33,595
investments in dairy manufacturing.

3721
04:12:33,665 --> 04:12:37,335
cornell has long noted in fact this committee as well as other

3722
04:12:37,335 --> 04:12:41,338
colleagues in the legislature, that our state has incredible

3723
04:12:41,338 --> 04:12:44,750
potential in world food manufacturing due to our

3724
04:12:44,750 --> 04:12:46,478
climate, including abundant water resources even though we

3725
04:12:46,478 --> 04:12:50,547
are currently in a drought. Our innovative farmers, science

3726
04:12:50,547 --> 04:12:53,617
driven competitive edge, proximity to over 100 million

3727
04:12:53,617 --> 04:12:58,880
consumers in the eastern sea board and the state's favorable

3728
04:12:58,880 --> 04:12:59,890
tax and investment climate for farmers.

3729
04:12:59,890 --> 04:13:02,626
it has been my observation that new york's economic development

3730
04:13:02,626 --> 04:13:06,300
agenda often focuses on the latest high tech trend, what

3731
04:13:06,300 --> 04:13:11,168
appears to be bright, shiny and easy to visualize taking for

3732
04:13:11,168 --> 04:13:14,971
granted the strength of our agrifood system so I really want

3733
04:13:14,971 --> 04:13:18,776
to commend the governor, ag an markets and the legislature for

3734
04:13:18,776 --> 04:13:21,445
these recent investments in this sector.

3735
04:13:21,445 --> 04:13:23,914
nationally over 11 billion is being invested in dairy

3736
04:13:23,914 --> 04:13:26,384
manufacturing. The gap between our first ranked

3737
04:13:26,384 --> 04:13:31,722
new york at 2.8 billion and second ranked texas at

3738
04:13:31,722 --> 04:13:36,193
1.5 billion and wisconsin at 1.1 billion is striking and

3739
04:13:36,193 --> 04:13:38,395
highlights new york's competitive advantage.

3740
04:13:38,395 --> 04:13:41,665
research at cornell shows that manufacturers base location

3741
04:13:41,665 --> 04:13:45,690
decisions first on access to an abundant milk supply.

3742
04:13:45,690 --> 04:13:47,805
again our farmers are attracting these investments.

3743
04:13:47,805 --> 04:13:53,277
second, on water access, and third on labor costs and

3744
04:13:53,277 --> 04:13:55,790
availability. Environmental regulations feed

3745
04:13:55,790 --> 04:13:59,483
cost land availability and taxes rank far lower.

3746
04:13:59,483 --> 04:14:02,483
with record breaking manufacturing investment,

3747
04:14:03,870 --> 04:14:05,623
farmers face a generational opportunity to grow jobs and

3748
04:14:05,623 --> 04:14:09,930
investment in a rural community while remaining economicallily

3749
04:14:09,930 --> 04:14:11,493
viable and environmentally sustainable.

3750
04:14:11,562 --> 04:14:15,990
preliminary estimates suggest we need to grow our annual milk

3751
04:14:15,990 --> 04:14:17,636
supply by 5 to 6 billion pounds a year.

3752
04:14:17,636 --> 04:14:21,305
we have two innovation constraints that may limit this

3753
04:14:21,305 --> 04:14:23,107
growth. First new york's available

3754
04:14:23,107 --> 04:14:27,578
farmland is finite. And second, our labor shortages

3755
04:14:27,578 --> 04:14:31,182
persist at both the farm and manufacturing levels.

3756
04:14:31,182 --> 04:14:33,983
new york's over arching challenge to meet rising dairy

3757
04:14:33,983 --> 04:14:37,788
demand and ensurings growth aligns with our clcpa goals that

3758
04:14:37,788 --> 04:14:42,859
we believe that cornell cals, agriculture be a significant

3759
04:14:42,859 --> 04:14:44,761
part of the solution to climate challenges.

3760
04:14:44,761 --> 04:14:45,929
our research addressed two priorities.

3761
04:14:45,929 --> 04:14:50,200
the first is per cal efficiency ensuring that dairy cows are

3762
04:14:50,200 --> 04:14:53,700
healthy, well fed and producing milk with higher concentrations

3763
04:14:53,700 --> 04:14:56,740
of the proteins and amino acids manufacturers needs.

3764
04:14:56,740 --> 04:15:00,344
the second is advancing on farm technology, labor assisted

3765
04:15:00,344 --> 04:15:04,848
devices and robotics including a.I. Enabled robotics.

3766
04:15:04,848 --> 04:15:08,485
support for research and development to continue to boost

3767
04:15:08,485 --> 04:15:11,221
per cow efficiency will assist new york state in meeting the

3768
04:15:11,221 --> 04:15:15,920
demands for mill frk all of these new processing plants.

3769
04:15:15,920 --> 04:15:17,294
in fact historic precedent based on research and development at

3770
04:15:17,294 --> 04:15:21,698
cornell suggests that farmers can adequately meet at least

3771
04:15:21,698 --> 04:15:25,336
3.5 billion in additional pounds of milk produced annually

3772
04:15:25,336 --> 04:15:27,971
without significantly adding to cow numbers should new york

3773
04:15:27,971 --> 04:15:31,107
decide to invest in science, recognizing my time is super

3774
04:15:31,107 --> 04:15:36,312
limited I'm going to switch to our center on excellence at our

3775
04:15:36,312 --> 04:15:39,916
geneva campus and I wanted to just highlight a few brief

3776
04:15:39,916 --> 04:15:43,587
bullet points if I may. Since its establishment in 2018,

3777
04:15:43,587 --> 04:15:49,587
our coe has worked with over 1100 and supported over 1500 new

3778
04:15:52,462 --> 04:15:56,133
and retained jobs primarily in the rural spaces but also in

3779
04:15:56,133 --> 04:16:00,933
new york city. We have help generate and

3780
04:16:02,673 --> 04:16:06,873
increased member revenue companies by 57 million and

3781
04:16:08,344 --> 04:16:11,944
helped companies acquire 87 million in non-governmental

3782
04:16:12,820 --> 04:16:15,152
funds. The coe has had a remarkable

3783
04:16:15,152 --> 04:16:18,355
impact in our spaces an spaits job growth.

3784
04:16:18,355 --> 04:16:21,240
we appreciate your leadership in funding it and helping us to

3785
04:16:21,240 --> 04:16:23,628
support and develop our new eastern new york center which we

3786
04:16:23,628 --> 04:16:27,970
expect to extend our services to the eastern part of the state as

3787
04:16:27,970 --> 04:16:28,631
well. So thank you and I'm happy to

3788
04:16:28,631 --> 04:16:33,431
address any questions. >> thank you everyone for the

3789
04:16:36,106 --> 04:16:40,306
opportunity to be here and testify today.

3790
04:16:41,450 --> 04:16:46,445
I'm mike kennerknecht, assistant director of state relations and

3791
04:16:48,385 --> 04:16:52,589
economic development coordinator at the university of rochester.

3792
04:16:52,589 --> 04:16:55,993
the university is the largest private employer and largest

3793
04:16:55,993 --> 04:17:01,531
healthcare provider in upstate new york in fact we directly and

3794
04:17:01,531 --> 04:17:05,469
indirectly support 66,700 jobs in the state of new york.

3795
04:17:05,469 --> 04:17:09,690
that's one out of every 126 jobs.

3796
04:17:12,943 --> 04:17:17,140
many of the affiliates are going to be hospitals, long-term care

3797
04:17:17,140 --> 04:17:19,482
facilities, but some of the affiliates that I'm going to

3798
04:17:19,482 --> 04:17:24,210
talk about today are very critical state and federal

3799
04:17:24,210 --> 04:17:25,756
assets. One of which I'm going to start

3800
04:17:25,756 --> 04:17:28,759
out with and go out of order if you are following along in the

3801
04:17:28,759 --> 04:17:31,428
testimony. I'm going to jump to next core

3802
04:17:31,428 --> 04:17:34,765
and illuminate because I haven't heard it mentioned t. Nextcore

3803
04:17:34,765 --> 04:17:37,367
is an affiliate of the university of rochester, the

3804
04:17:37,367 --> 04:17:40,437
only state and federally designated incubator in the

3805
04:17:40,437 --> 04:17:44,637
finger lakes region. Programs offered at nexcore

3806
04:17:46,176 --> 04:17:50,114
leverage regional assets to drive workforce development and

3807
04:17:50,114 --> 04:17:53,183
resulted in 1.2 billion in economic impact and over 8,000

3808
04:17:53,183 --> 04:17:56,183
jobs created or retained since 2018.

3809
04:17:56,787 --> 04:18:02,593
some of the state programs that nextcore offers is venture for

3810
04:18:02,593 --> 04:18:06,330
climate tech and scale for climate tech, embark,

3811
04:18:06,330 --> 04:18:08,730
manufacturing accelerator and luminate.

3812
04:18:10,601 --> 04:18:15,401
luminate, I want to touch on this now.

3813
04:18:15,472 --> 04:18:17,540
nextdoor administers the luminate program.

3814
04:18:17,540 --> 04:18:22,780
the largest in the world as far as a business accelerator for

3815
04:18:22,780 --> 04:18:27,478
start-ups in the opi spates, optics photonics and imaging.

3816
04:18:27,817 --> 04:18:31,421
luminate has invested 25 million in 85 start-ups and those

3817
04:18:31,421 --> 04:18:35,225
companies have spent $21.6 million on more than 140

3818
04:18:35,225 --> 04:18:40,300
projects with new york sign manufacturing and supply chain

3819
04:18:40,300 --> 04:18:43,434
companies. These efforts have resulted in

3820
04:18:43,434 --> 04:18:48,834
210 new direct hires and support or retained an estimated 700

3821
04:18:49,173 --> 04:18:51,908
jobs. Companies in the portfolio have

3822
04:18:51,908 --> 04:18:55,508
raised an additional 437 million, providing an

3823
04:18:55,512 --> 04:19:01,718
estimated 14-1 investment ratio the reason I wanted to lead with

3824
04:19:01,718 --> 04:19:05,321
this is because luminate, like other programs, is funded

3825
04:19:05,321 --> 04:19:08,458
through the innovation venture competition program.

3826
04:19:08,458 --> 04:19:14,198
it was a $75 million fund established in the budget a few

3827
04:19:14,198 --> 04:19:18,134
years ago proprovide funding for the programs for five years.

3828
04:19:18,134 --> 04:19:22,205
luminate and others are going to be funded through 2026 but after

3829
04:19:22,205 --> 04:19:26,409
that, there will not be funding so we are hoping that when we

3830
04:19:26,409 --> 04:19:31,809
see the executive budget proposal and the final budget

3831
04:19:34,618 --> 04:19:38,422
this spring, the competition program will continue to be

3832
04:19:38,422 --> 04:19:39,957
funded. I'm going to skip back because

3833
04:19:39,957 --> 04:19:43,694
can I not be here without talking about the centers for

3834
04:19:43,694 --> 04:19:47,294
advanced technology and centers of excellence.

3835
04:19:50,668 --> 04:19:55,468
new york state supports 30 centers statewide for centers

3836
04:19:55,839 --> 04:20:01,178
for advantaged technology. They have long been one of the

3837
04:20:01,178 --> 04:20:05,315
most successful, if not the most successful economic development

3838
04:20:05,315 --> 04:20:08,385
program for new york state. These are the state's numbers,

3839
04:20:08,385 --> 04:20:12,522
not our numbers. But they average anywhere from

3840
04:20:12,522 --> 04:20:18,522
20 to 1 to 40 to one return on investment every single year.

3841
04:20:18,929 --> 04:20:24,734
in the 2024 reports, from esd, the most recent ones available,

3842
04:20:24,734 --> 04:20:30,675
the cats and the c coes helped to regenerate 3156 jobs and

3843
04:20:30,675 --> 04:20:36,546
general rate over 900 million in economic impact with an roi

3844
04:20:36,546 --> 04:20:42,419
greater than 31-1 and that's for the 2022-2023 reporting year.

3845
04:20:42,419 --> 04:20:45,223
it's the most recent one available.

3846
04:20:45,223 --> 04:20:48,691
at the university of rochester, we are very fortunate to have

3847
04:20:48,691 --> 04:20:55,291
three cats and coes, our center for advanced technology is ceis

3848
04:20:58,568 --> 04:21:02,439
which focuses on the optics photonics and imaging space.

3849
04:21:02,439 --> 04:21:06,509
our center of excellence is in data science and artificial

3850
04:21:06,509 --> 04:21:09,646
intelligence and thanks to support from the legislature, a

3851
04:21:09,646 --> 04:21:16,653
couple years ago, we had one of the newest coes which is rna

3852
04:21:16,653 --> 04:21:19,188
research and therapeutics, a joint center of excellence with

3853
04:21:19,188 --> 04:21:23,660
the university of albany and the university of rochester.

3854
04:21:23,660 --> 04:21:26,263
and one thing I want to touch on real quick.

3855
04:21:26,263 --> 04:21:27,731
I know time is going to run out quick.

3856
04:21:27,731 --> 04:21:31,936
is a connection with empire a.I. When I was here last year, the

3857
04:21:31,936 --> 04:21:34,738
university of rochester was not part of empire a.I. But we are

3858
04:21:34,738 --> 04:21:38,674
now. And this touches on some of the

3859
04:21:38,674 --> 04:21:41,740
recent comments about collaboration.

3860
04:21:43,613 --> 04:21:50,813
the newest coe that I touched on which is a collaboration with

3861
04:21:51,288 --> 04:21:52,889
the university of rochester and university of albany is now

3862
04:21:52,889 --> 04:21:57,894
working on a project with the empire a.I. Consortium,

3863
04:21:57,894 --> 04:21:59,429
researchers at the university of rochester and university of

3864
04:21:59,429 --> 04:22:03,299
albany are using computer vision and a.I. To analyze the recorded

3865
04:22:03,299 --> 04:22:07,499
movements of patients with neuromuscular diseases, most

3866
04:22:08,105 --> 04:22:12,305
common form of adult onset muscular dystrophy.

3867
04:22:13,844 --> 04:22:16,846
researchers hope to use the empire a.I. System to develop

3868
04:22:16,846 --> 04:22:22,846
innovative treatments for als. This is a great example of

3869
04:22:23,586 --> 04:22:26,560
collaboration not just between public and private institutions

3870
04:22:26,560 --> 04:22:29,659
but also how the centers of scheps are collaborating with

3871
04:22:29,659 --> 04:22:32,729
each other-- excellence are collaborating with each other

3872
04:22:32,729 --> 04:22:36,533
and supporting greater statewide nishs like empire a.I.

3873
04:22:36,533 --> 04:22:43,133
so I just say in conclusion, the university of rochester is

3874
04:22:43,940 --> 04:22:49,940
grateful for the programs that receive state funding at the

3875
04:22:50,213 --> 04:22:52,749
university I know the state eats financial outlook is

3876
04:22:52,749 --> 04:22:55,850
challenging. It seems like it is almost every

3877
04:22:55,850 --> 04:23:00,485
year but we certainly want to encourage strong sustained

3878
04:23:01,291 --> 04:23:03,826
investment and university based innovation and economic

3879
04:23:03,826 --> 04:23:06,226
development programs. Thank you.

3880
04:23:09,199 --> 04:23:15,799
>> I guess I'll start off and new york state, in effect.

3881
04:23:25,715 --> 04:23:29,185
>> somehow I can never turn these things on or off so thank

3882
04:23:29,185 --> 04:23:32,456
you for your question, you know, I'll speak from my college, the

3883
04:23:32,456 --> 04:23:37,460
college of agriculture and life science as thought for the-- and

3884
04:23:37,460 --> 04:23:42,131
not for the overall university. We have had over 110 million in

3885
04:23:42,131 --> 04:23:44,668
it cancel grants and contracts since january, multiyear

3886
04:23:44,668 --> 04:23:47,700
research contracts, a lot of them were in the climate space

3887
04:23:47,700 --> 04:23:49,941
and let me point out that whether we are talking about

3888
04:23:49,941 --> 04:23:52,809
climate change we are also talking about the climate

3889
04:23:52,809 --> 04:23:56,145
adaptation and assisting our farmers do things like climate

3890
04:23:56,145 --> 04:23:58,282
smart agricultural briding so that our farmers have the tools

3891
04:23:58,282 --> 04:24:02,190
that they need in the form of field crops, vegetables,

3892
04:24:02,190 --> 04:24:06,890
specialty crops that are adapted to the next climate change

3893
04:24:06,890 --> 04:24:10,260
adaptation that we see. So the 100 millionings having an

3894
04:24:10,260 --> 04:24:11,295
immediate impact on our institution.

3895
04:24:11,295 --> 04:24:17,330
I would point out that this comes after a long-term systemic

3896
04:24:17,330 --> 04:24:19,503
issue that has been identified in the first trump

3897
04:24:19,503 --> 04:24:24,903
administration in 2019 where usda conducted a survey of what

3898
04:24:25,375 --> 04:24:27,511
new york, what our federal government was investing in

3899
04:24:27,511 --> 04:24:30,113
agricultural sciences based r & d.

3900
04:24:30,113 --> 04:24:34,851
back in 2019, and it hasn't gotten any better.

3901
04:24:34,851 --> 04:24:39,990
we found out that china, the european union, argentina and

3902
04:24:39,990 --> 04:24:42,459
brazil are outpacing our investment as a society in

3903
04:24:42,459 --> 04:24:45,395
public sector agricultural research and technology

3904
04:24:45,395 --> 04:24:46,864
innovation. This is a significant challenge

3905
04:24:46,864 --> 04:24:49,332
for our federal government and for our state to grapple with

3906
04:24:49,332 --> 04:24:54,204
that we will have long-term implications on our farmers.

3907
04:24:54,204 --> 04:24:58,274
so in brief, the lack of federal r & d is going have significant

3908
04:24:58,274 --> 04:25:04,274
consequences on our ability to fulfill the rand grant mission

3909
04:25:05,948 --> 04:25:10,286
to help have the competitive advantage and the impact has

3910
04:25:10,286 --> 04:25:14,486
been and continues to be incredibly difficult.

3911
04:25:14,991 --> 04:25:18,591
>> everybody else having the same sfek?

3912
04:25:19,696 --> 04:25:24,568
>> I think it's the uncertainty and just always managing your

3913
04:25:24,568 --> 04:25:29,390
way through that, what are the overhead rates going to be

3914
04:25:29,390 --> 04:25:31,410
moving forward. A critical source of equipment

3915
04:25:31,410 --> 04:25:34,978
that we usually acquire, at least at clarkson university

3916
04:25:34,978 --> 04:25:37,514
uses its dollars on overhead that allows us to work with a

3917
04:25:37,514 --> 04:25:41,183
lot of smaller companies, the knollton technologies ought of

3918
04:25:41,183 --> 04:25:45,588
watertown that don't have the infrastructure in their own

3919
04:25:45,588 --> 04:25:49,459
business to have the same equipment that is going to be

3920
04:25:49,459 --> 04:25:53,930
one of the unknowns, how we work on that I would love to think

3921
04:25:53,930 --> 04:25:57,767
about how we can get more incentive from corporations to

3922
04:25:57,767 --> 04:26:03,767
help with those investments rather than just by the project

3923
04:26:03,873 --> 04:26:06,873
because transelectron microstope is 1.5 millions.

3924
04:26:08,411 --> 04:26:11,549
when you are working with the semiconductor industry, that's

3925
04:26:11,549 --> 04:26:13,216
one project but you need multiple projects to pull that

3926
04:26:13,216 --> 04:26:17,553
together and that's what we have been using the federal I I

3927
04:26:17,553 --> 04:26:19,823
their, too all of us at universities are doing a better

3928
04:26:19,823 --> 04:26:22,591
job explaining how our research has impact.

3929
04:26:22,591 --> 04:26:28,243
we often wrote paragraphs that had a lot of technical language.

3930
04:26:28,243 --> 04:26:30,778
we got an e.p.a. Grant after it had been pulled because I made a

3931
04:26:30,778 --> 04:26:34,249
lot of pleas going nobody wants to drink pfas in their water.

3932
04:26:34,249 --> 04:26:38,530
let's figure out we are trying to help you and our human rights

3933
04:26:38,530 --> 04:26:43,258
find a cheaper way of creating a sensor technology that can do it

3934
04:26:43,258 --> 04:26:46,861
for $200 instead of 5,000 per test run and we can do it

3935
04:26:46,861 --> 04:26:49,197
cheaper, faster better and we need to prove this out.

3936
04:26:49,197 --> 04:26:53,601
that seemed to be enough that we got that money back.

3937
04:26:53,601 --> 04:26:57,671
so having to explain it in ways how it impacts communities, I

3938
04:26:57,671 --> 04:27:00,875
think is really important and that's not always how many of us

3939
04:27:00,875 --> 04:27:06,875
had written grants for the typical reviewer of a program.

3940
04:27:11,285 --> 04:27:15,485
have you experienced-- the university of rochester

3941
04:27:16,757 --> 04:27:20,761
typically receives in excess of $400 million in federal research

3942
04:27:20,761 --> 04:27:24,899
funding annually. That supports thousands of jobs

3943
04:27:24,899 --> 04:27:30,237
across the region. So certainly the changes that we

3944
04:27:30,237 --> 04:27:34,575
have seen whether it's respect to funding for research to

3945
04:27:34,575 --> 04:27:38,246
overhead rates, all of that certainly has a negative impact

3946
04:27:38,246 --> 04:27:45,446
on jobs, on hiring decisions, but also that goes to what win

3947
04:27:45,453 --> 04:27:49,324
said on the previous panel, it's going to impact I.p. And

3948
04:27:49,324 --> 04:27:54,596
innovation because in the life sciences space, without the

3949
04:27:54,596 --> 04:27:57,866
funding for some of these projects, it's going to impact

3950
04:27:57,866 --> 04:28:02,660
the opportunity for companies, start-ups and others.

3951
04:28:09,144 --> 04:28:11,213
>> again, thank you to all of you.

3952
04:28:11,213 --> 04:28:15,683
we hear you loud and clear and I can el you, I work with julie

3953
04:28:15,683 --> 04:28:21,623
quite a bit and she has brought this information along to us.

3954
04:28:21,623 --> 04:28:25,930
I host a farm tour annually and she is always there.

3955
04:28:25,930 --> 04:28:29,831
so she is the boots on the ground for our agricultural

3956
04:28:29,831 --> 04:28:37,310
community so I thank you for that I just want to clarify,

3957
04:28:37,638 --> 04:28:39,707
with the folks that have testified and I've asked

3958
04:28:39,707 --> 04:28:45,180
everyone, do you work with them at all any that testified today?

3959
04:28:45,180 --> 04:28:49,918
>> well jen and I worked very closely together with the

3960
04:28:49,918 --> 04:28:51,187
cornell center for regional economic...

3961
04:28:51,187 --> 04:28:56,991
>> no I mean the other panels. >> I'm sorry, I misunderstood

3962
04:28:56,991 --> 04:28:58,991
your question. >> generally?

3963
04:28:59,728 --> 04:29:03,331
>> I'm just looking again to see if these partnerships are being

3964
04:29:03,331 --> 04:29:08,869
made and clearly we are going to have to start making sure that

3965
04:29:08,869 --> 04:29:15,900
we all introduce each other I know we work with others across

3966
04:29:15,900 --> 04:29:18,146
the state because our ecosystem is smaller and that's how we get

3967
04:29:18,146 --> 04:29:22,417
bigger and better resource access by partnering with

3968
04:29:22,417 --> 04:29:25,220
centerstate, partner is with the utica chamber even on a number

3969
04:29:25,220 --> 04:29:27,355
of things. We have a lot of the same

3970
04:29:27,355 --> 04:29:31,226
overlap and corporations and alumni businesses and air force

3971
04:29:31,226 --> 04:29:34,629
research lab contracts that were heavily involved so we are

3972
04:29:34,629 --> 04:29:37,233
spending a lot of time across the state of new york.

3973
04:29:37,233 --> 04:29:40,301
we are used to in the north country making a drive to go to

3974
04:29:40,301 --> 04:29:44,239
places so and hanging out with our friends at suny esf in a lot

3975
04:29:44,239 --> 04:29:48,910
of the projects, so we are very much much with all of them.

3976
04:29:48,910 --> 04:29:51,780
did I new york state business council manufacturing tour on

3977
04:29:51,780 --> 04:29:55,717
all of the north country stops this past week as well.

3978
04:29:55,717 --> 04:30:01,289
>> and the only other question is are farmers and our folks in

3979
04:30:01,289 --> 04:30:03,992
agriculture are aware, right, have you made sure they

3980
04:30:03,992 --> 04:30:09,998
understand what is happening as you have been such a strong

3981
04:30:09,998 --> 04:30:13,601
crutch and sanes to them. Are you giving them any sort of

3982
04:30:13,601 --> 04:30:16,205
advice of what to do if you are not there?

3983
04:30:16,205 --> 04:30:20,740
I mean I know one of the farms you were doing a study in the

3984
04:30:20,740 --> 04:30:23,411
corn field that we were there and you didn't even, because it

3985
04:30:23,411 --> 04:30:28,616
has to be random, you didn't even know we chose that farm so

3986
04:30:28,616 --> 04:30:31,619
I thought it was fun. We coordinate quite a bit

3987
04:30:31,619 --> 04:30:33,821
internally. If I may go back to address your

3988
04:30:33,821 --> 04:30:36,558
first question which I didn't understand at first so forgive

3989
04:30:36,558 --> 04:30:40,950
me we do actually collaborate quite a bit with our community

3990
04:30:40,950 --> 04:30:45,166
college partnerships and in fact while I do not do this directly

3991
04:30:45,166 --> 04:30:48,369
myself, our cornell workforce program that the state

3992
04:30:48,369 --> 04:30:52,373
legislature also funds has been working hand in hand with mohawk

3993
04:30:52,373 --> 04:30:55,243
valley community college on the suny apprenticeship program.

3994
04:30:55,243 --> 04:30:58,313
so I'm really pleased to say we have a pre-apprenticeship for

3995
04:30:58,313 --> 04:31:03,113
dairy inarmers already approved through mohawk valley community

3996
04:31:03,250 --> 04:31:08,500
college and we have multiple feed processing apprenticeship

3997
04:31:08,656 --> 04:31:14,560
programs ongoing one with cayuga community college and milking

3998
04:31:14,795 --> 04:31:18,266
ingredients, one with upstate niagara on the verge of getting

3999
04:31:18,266 --> 04:31:20,601
approved and partnership with the local community college

4000
04:31:20,601 --> 04:31:22,537
there. And our faculty members do the

4001
04:31:22,537 --> 04:31:29,137
food safety training and in fact, our goal is to create

4002
04:31:40,955 --> 04:31:45,755
connectivity. So while my work is centered in

4003
04:31:45,893 --> 04:31:50,898
start-up works which is an incubator hotspot in ithaca, we

4004
04:31:50,898 --> 04:31:53,834
are regularly engaging with our colleagues in central new york,

4005
04:31:53,834 --> 04:31:58,238
the finger lakes and the southern tier explicitly by the

4006
04:31:58,238 --> 04:32:00,909
mandate of our contract but increasingly in the north

4007
04:32:00,909 --> 04:32:04,445
country and the mohawk valley, too, to make sure that there is

4008
04:32:04,445 --> 04:32:09,917
a good fit between start-ups and the resources that are out there

4009
04:32:09,917 --> 04:32:13,120
in new york state and more than that, to kind of convene people

4010
04:32:13,120 --> 04:32:19,120
around those resources so there is fluency and understanding to

4011
04:32:19,860 --> 04:32:22,530
the part of the resources themselves what is available for

4012
04:32:22,530 --> 04:32:25,266
start-ups working in the food and ag space.

4013
04:32:25,266 --> 04:32:28,336
and that includes the farms and the food businesses that are

4014
04:32:28,336 --> 04:32:33,341
already here scwhr thank you. >> can I just add one more piece

4015
04:32:33,341 --> 04:32:37,611
about the center for excellence in healthy water solutions.

4016
04:32:37,611 --> 04:32:40,748
water is a great asset for new york and a number of

4017
04:32:40,748 --> 04:32:43,840
municipalities that are very concerned about the micron

4018
04:32:43,840 --> 04:32:49,840
buildout, what are the processes that's part of the pfas.

4019
04:32:53,161 --> 04:32:56,230
and the same with chobani. Three farms have come to us

4020
04:32:56,230 --> 04:32:58,901
talking about, you are asking for an increase.

4021
04:32:58,901 --> 04:33:01,436
it's going to increase the dairy waste and you've got to manage

4022
04:33:01,436 --> 04:33:05,440
that in a way that doesn't go into the river as and the water.

4023
04:33:05,440 --> 04:33:09,777
have you to create the right digester systems for all of your

4024
04:33:09,777 --> 04:33:13,377
dairy cattle emissions. >> thank you, chair.

4025
04:33:18,386 --> 04:33:21,388
>> to your point, these conflicts are all over

4026
04:33:21,388 --> 04:33:25,192
new york state and as we speak right now, they have been there

4027
04:33:25,192 --> 04:33:29,731
for 15 or 20 years and you are absolutely right, I mean if

4028
04:33:29,731 --> 04:33:32,934
anybody hit the nail on the head today, that was it because the

4029
04:33:32,934 --> 04:33:36,404
average person does not understand what that increase

4030
04:33:36,404 --> 04:33:40,740
means to their community, especially if they live next to

4031
04:33:40,740 --> 04:33:46,674
that farm or they border it. And to your statements about

4032
04:33:46,747 --> 04:33:49,617
pfas, I want to tell you, when I was saving this morning, I asked

4033
04:33:49,617 --> 04:33:54,417
myself, what is my pfas load right now?

4034
04:33:54,622 --> 04:33:57,692
so anything we can do-- and I can speak to you from my degree

4035
04:33:57,692 --> 04:34:01,362
is in agricultural science, my undergraduate, and I have most

4036
04:34:01,362 --> 04:34:04,832
of my military career was in scientific fields.

4037
04:34:04,832 --> 04:34:10,638
so anything that we can do to help you, I am personally all

4038
04:34:10,638 --> 04:34:15,576
about because the average person in our state does not understand

4039
04:34:15,576 --> 04:34:21,715
what we are faced with, and how detrimental these things can be

4040
04:34:21,715 --> 04:34:28,315
to not only people today but being able to reproduce our

4041
04:34:29,189 --> 04:34:31,458
children, our grandchildren, et cetera.

4042
04:34:31,458 --> 04:34:35,329
so I want to ask a question to all of you.

4043
04:34:35,329 --> 04:34:40,534
I understand and my perspective, I have led several federal

4044
04:34:40,534 --> 04:34:43,137
research and development programs and done a lot of work

4045
04:34:43,137 --> 04:34:46,674
with universities so I have been on the other side of it, too.

4046
04:34:46,674 --> 04:34:50,144
have you looked to see, and this is not a trick question.

4047
04:34:50,144 --> 04:34:55,283
I don't know the answer, is what cornell is experiencing is

4048
04:34:55,283 --> 04:34:58,850
purdue experiencing the same thing, is penn state

4049
04:34:58,850 --> 04:35:00,421
experiencing the same thing, et cetera, throughout the country?

4050
04:35:00,421 --> 04:35:07,621
do we know if there are sim rates of reduction or this

4051
04:35:08,429 --> 04:35:10,898
(inaudible). >> that's a good question I know

4052
04:35:10,898 --> 04:35:14,436
that there has been coordination and collaboration amongst the

4053
04:35:14,436 --> 04:35:18,360
association of public land grant universities.

4054
04:35:18,239 --> 04:35:22,420
there have been dislocations in funding for other public land

4055
04:35:22,420 --> 04:35:25,179
grant universities as well. Whether or not it's the same

4056
04:35:25,179 --> 04:35:28,316
amount, I'm not sure. >> I'm just curious.

4057
04:35:28,316 --> 04:35:32,253
that would be a valuable thing to know to be able to put into

4058
04:35:32,253 --> 04:35:37,592
perspective so that we can make will articles ument to help you

4059
04:35:37,592 --> 04:35:42,620
I will say our agricultural colleges rank number one in the

4060
04:35:42,620 --> 04:35:44,932
nation. We regularly in the top four,

4061
04:35:44,932 --> 04:35:48,536
our r & d spend is 290 million per year annually just in my

4062
04:35:48,536 --> 04:35:52,139
college, not cornells which is even higher than that.

4063
04:35:52,139 --> 04:35:56,544
so our impact is probably greater than other land grants

4064
04:35:56,544 --> 04:36:00,982
just by virtue of frankly how excellent our institution is and

4065
04:36:00,982 --> 04:36:07,421
that is what we really sook to-- seek to preserve for new york

4066
04:36:07,421 --> 04:36:08,956
family farmers. >> no doubt.

4067
04:36:08,956 --> 04:36:14,562
I can personally say the only thing that I wish we could do

4068
04:36:14,562 --> 04:36:20,968
immediately today for cornell is give you more funding because I

4069
04:36:20,968 --> 04:36:25,239
have found-- >> we are always open to that,

4070
04:36:25,239 --> 04:36:28,420
john this is very real. A lot of the things you have,

4071
04:36:28,420 --> 04:36:33,114
you don't have the bandwidth to follow up with respect to how

4072
04:36:33,114 --> 04:36:38,514
many people might take or make use of that.

4073
04:36:45,460 --> 04:36:49,596
as somebody who has done a lot with cornell, that would

4074
04:36:49,596 --> 04:36:51,465
immensely help you help us. >> I thank you for your

4075
04:36:51,465 --> 04:36:56,200
partnership and I will say that if we fail to invest in science

4076
04:36:56,200 --> 04:36:58,873
and agrifeed systems, our kids are going to have a much harder

4077
04:36:58,873 --> 04:37:01,608
tile than we are going to have with the food supply.

4078
04:37:01,608 --> 04:37:05,208
>> you don't center to convince me.

4079
04:37:05,612 --> 04:37:07,612
absolutely. Thank you.

4080
04:37:07,815 --> 04:37:10,215
>> >> so just real quick.

4081
04:37:21,695 --> 04:37:27,635
the numbers jumped a little bit. For rochester, is it 10 million

4082
04:37:27,635 --> 04:37:32,373
or $100 million that is in jeopardy in research?

4083
04:37:32,373 --> 04:37:34,575
>> is it 10 million or 100 million?

4084
04:37:34,575 --> 04:37:38,446
>> the number-- clarification on the number that is in jeopardy

4085
04:37:38,446 --> 04:37:41,582
on research? >> I don't have a number for the

4086
04:37:41,582 --> 04:37:44,719
number of federal grants that are in jeopardy at the

4087
04:37:44,719 --> 04:37:46,586
university of rochester. I know it's in the millions but

4088
04:37:46,586 --> 04:37:53,786
I don't know the overall I know there are multiple news stories.

4089
04:37:57,932 --> 04:38:03,332
it has been clear certain blue states definitely, federal

4090
04:38:03,737 --> 04:38:07,700
grants have been utilized targeting even in admissions,

4091
04:38:07,700 --> 04:38:09,878
schools have to give an admission plan to get federal

4092
04:38:09,878 --> 04:38:15,278
dollars to be approved. The economic multiplier in your

4093
04:38:16,217 --> 04:38:20,487
the direction we are going it could be an economic deterrent

4094
04:38:20,487 --> 04:38:23,991
in the billions for new york state or the country in

4095
04:38:23,991 --> 04:38:28,228
general and specifically on agricultural, I know for

4096
04:38:28,228 --> 04:38:32,767
example, one grant cancel add round the screw worm that can

4097
04:38:32,767 --> 04:38:35,969
possibly cause over a billion dollars in damage for our cattle

4098
04:38:35,969 --> 04:38:38,773
industry, which a lot of people don't know in new york we have a

4099
04:38:38,773 --> 04:38:42,976
robust cattle industry, mostly dairy, but we have a robust

4100
04:38:42,976 --> 04:38:47,681
cattle industry that might now be in danger because of the cuts

4101
04:38:47,681 --> 04:38:53,681
in addition, our and I was surprises that congress members

4102
04:38:55,589 --> 04:38:58,526
defended these cuts because it's going to impact not

4103
04:38:58,526 --> 04:39:01,261
new york city per se but we are looking at the southern tier,

4104
04:39:01,261 --> 04:39:03,812
north country and western new york, where a lot of those

4105
04:39:03,812 --> 04:39:07,150
good paying scientific jobs and research jobs are now in

4106
04:39:07,150 --> 04:39:09,751
jeopardy and I really am concerned about not just the

4107
04:39:09,751 --> 04:39:13,355
current professors who have endowed chairs from it but that

4108
04:39:13,355 --> 04:39:18,559
research assistant that doesn't get the chance to work on an

4109
04:39:18,559 --> 04:39:20,963
awesome scientific project that can create a bright economic

4110
04:39:20,963 --> 04:39:28,236
future for them so my question to you guys is how should we

4111
04:39:28,236 --> 04:39:31,373
pivot and refocus and make it known that research and

4112
04:39:31,373 --> 04:39:33,242
scientific research is key to our economic future?

4113
04:39:33,242 --> 04:39:37,846
how do we pivot that conversation how do we make

4114
04:39:37,846 --> 04:39:42,646
everyone understand how important it is continue to

4115
04:39:43,384 --> 04:39:47,656
raise your voice and speak up your message resonates strongly

4116
04:39:47,656 --> 04:39:50,324
with my heart because I believe strongly in the long-term value

4117
04:39:50,324 --> 04:39:53,161
of research. Not just for our food systems

4118
04:39:53,161 --> 04:39:59,161
which is what I know and our environmental systems clarkson's

4119
04:39:59,401 --> 04:40:03,500
water resources so raising your voice I think is important.

4120
04:40:03,500 --> 04:40:09,500
bee have a wonderful graduate student activity that we have

4121
04:40:09,812 --> 04:40:12,213
science club, the barbara mcclintock club and our

4122
04:40:12,213 --> 04:40:14,951
graduate students are taking action to start a letter writing

4123
04:40:14,951 --> 04:40:18,860
campaign to start talking about the work, kind of as clarkson

4124
04:40:18,860 --> 04:40:22,158
said, in a way that is non-scientific and helps the

4125
04:40:22,158 --> 04:40:24,920
public understand the impact of long-term investments in

4126
04:40:24,920 --> 04:40:27,229
research and science I'm happy to share some of the stories

4127
04:40:27,229 --> 04:40:29,898
with you. They're really heart warming to

4128
04:40:29,898 --> 04:40:33,701
see this ground swell of support I hope is starting to come when

4129
04:40:33,701 --> 04:40:37,380
we as a society realize we need to support scientific innovation

4130
04:40:37,380 --> 04:40:38,774
for our future. >> especially in agriculture,

4131
04:40:38,774 --> 04:40:45,280
like people don't see a point of other countries ahead of us if

4132
04:40:45,280 --> 04:40:48,917
our food supply complain gets interrupted or devastated by

4133
04:40:48,917 --> 04:40:54,322
something we could have stopped we have no one to blame but

4134
04:40:54,322 --> 04:40:57,592
ourselves I will add the timing is kind of funny.

4135
04:40:57,592 --> 04:41:01,264
because when I was sitting up there during the hearing,

4136
04:41:01,264 --> 04:41:05,266
university of rochester every few years, we hire an outside

4137
04:41:05,266 --> 04:41:10,538
firm to do an economic impact report for the university.

4138
04:41:10,538 --> 04:41:13,274
it's important to communicate to the community, to the state, to

4139
04:41:13,274 --> 04:41:16,745
the federal government to our elected officials, the impact

4140
04:41:16,745 --> 04:41:23,218
that the university is having. And I got the final draft while

4141
04:41:23,218 --> 04:41:25,554
I was sitting up there. That's something that will be

4142
04:41:25,554 --> 04:41:28,757
coming out soon. I know we at the university try

4143
04:41:28,757 --> 04:41:32,827
to, you know, communicate the impact that the research is

4144
04:41:32,827 --> 04:41:36,231
having, the jubes that it is supporting, the innovation that

4145
04:41:36,231 --> 04:41:39,968
it is helping to foster and, you know, continuing to do that I

4146
04:41:39,968 --> 04:41:44,906
know that my colleagues up here from clarkson, cornell and from

4147
04:41:44,906 --> 04:41:49,110
other institutions across the state continue to do that and it

4148
04:41:49,110 --> 04:41:53,147
is one of the most important things is to communicate that

4149
04:41:53,147 --> 04:41:56,584
impact and it's something I'm going to continue to do.

4150
04:41:56,584 --> 04:42:01,323
plenty of numbers in here and plenty more that are coming.

4151
04:42:01,323 --> 04:42:04,859
>> thank you. >> I add a simple k-12 outreach

4152
04:42:04,859 --> 04:42:09,640
I think is a simpler way of getting more of what we do in

4153
04:42:09,640 --> 04:42:12,534
our labs in front of the children, they go home, they

4154
04:42:12,534 --> 04:42:17,872
talk about it at their dinner table like wow I learned you who

4155
04:42:17,872 --> 04:42:21,809
to program my phone to look at harmful algae blooms with the

4156
04:42:21,809 --> 04:42:25,480
app and decide whether it's got characteristics that are bads or

4157
04:42:25,480 --> 04:42:28,416
good and so citizen science is something that part of the

4158
04:42:28,416 --> 04:42:30,840
outreach. That's always not the easiest

4159
04:42:30,840 --> 04:42:34,756
thing and we think about impacts of federal funding changes that

4160
04:42:34,756 --> 04:42:38,626
are going to be harder to fit that in but I think very much a

4161
04:42:38,626 --> 04:42:42,364
priority how we communicate with the youth in our communities to

4162
04:42:42,364 --> 04:42:45,433
get them excited about the kinds of careers new york has been

4163
04:42:45,433 --> 04:42:50,438
investing heavily in a lot of stem technology companies and we

4164
04:42:50,438 --> 04:42:54,175
have heard that they don't have enough, you know, student

4165
04:42:54,175 --> 04:42:59,914
workers to fill those I had 250 companies come to clarkson.

4166
04:42:59,914 --> 04:43:04,385
I graduate 750 a year at the last career fair and you know, I

4167
04:43:04,385 --> 04:43:07,589
need 180 engineers and you are like, okay, you are not going to

4168
04:43:07,589 --> 04:43:09,658
get them all here. I would love to have that

4169
04:43:09,658 --> 04:43:13,127
problem at a bigger level getting more kids excited about

4170
04:43:13,127 --> 04:43:17,927
the field. >> and I would just like to

4171
04:43:18,133 --> 04:43:23,400
note, too, the first casualty of the reduction in funding coming

4172
04:43:23,400 --> 04:43:29,400
from federal grants is really kind of the scarcity of

4173
04:43:30,411 --> 04:43:35,550
resources with a net result of a lack of collaboration.

4174
04:43:35,550 --> 04:43:39,888
and so, you know, supporting programs that build bridges

4175
04:43:39,888 --> 04:43:43,624
between institutions, so that we are able to work together so

4176
04:43:43,624 --> 04:43:49,240
that researchers are able to collaborate so that asker

4177
04:43:49,300 --> 04:43:52,630
organizations that help researchers translate their

4178
04:43:53,234 --> 04:43:58,340
findings into products and services that benefit our

4179
04:43:59,400 --> 04:44:02,777
society that's see so support is those programs and making sure

4180
04:44:02,777 --> 04:44:06,447
that mandate is built into the kind of programs that we are all

4181
04:44:06,447 --> 04:44:13,470
here talking about today. One thing I was going to add

4182
04:44:15,623 --> 04:44:18,593
real quick, research funding, I think it is important to note

4183
04:44:18,593 --> 04:44:23,993
that when faculty leave a university the federal funding

4184
04:44:25,132 --> 04:44:31,339
that they have been awarded, leaves with them, too so if we

4185
04:44:31,339 --> 04:44:35,543
are unfortunate to lose a researcher to massachusetts,

4186
04:44:35,543 --> 04:44:40,149
california, texas, some other state, they can bring with them

4187
04:44:40,149 --> 04:44:45,553
those jobs you were just talking about because often times grad

4188
04:44:45,553 --> 04:44:48,956
students assistants will follow with them, but hundreds of

4189
04:44:48,956 --> 04:44:52,930
thousands, millions of dollars in federal funding go goes to

4190
04:44:52,930 --> 04:44:55,763
that other institution. It can leave the state.

4191
04:44:55,763 --> 04:44:57,432
new york has been very successful with the new york

4192
04:44:57,432 --> 04:44:59,501
first program. It's focused on medical schools

4193
04:44:59,501 --> 04:45:04,572
like the university of rochester we have been the recipient of

4194
04:45:04,572 --> 04:45:07,442
three dint awards. That program has helped us to

4195
04:45:07,442 --> 04:45:10,178
attract talent from other states, from texas and others,

4196
04:45:10,178 --> 04:45:17,184
to new york and with them has come the star researcher but

4197
04:45:17,184 --> 04:45:23,184
support staff and millions of dollars so it's important to

4198
04:45:23,858 --> 04:45:29,531
also focus on the retention aspect because we don't want to

4199
04:45:29,531 --> 04:45:34,931
lose talented researchers and faculty to other states that

4200
04:45:34,935 --> 04:45:39,207
might be looking at making substantial investments in the

4201
04:45:39,207 --> 04:45:42,677
life sciences and biotech space to try to make up for what is

4202
04:45:42,677 --> 04:45:47,749
being created by changes in the administration down in

4203
04:45:47,749 --> 04:45:50,385
washington. >> I just want to say when you

4204
04:45:50,385 --> 04:45:54,880
were talking about having job fairs and you only have so many

4205
04:45:54,880 --> 04:45:58,930
graduates, one of the top reasons that micron stated that

4206
04:45:58,930 --> 04:46:02,897
they selected was site was because every year within an

4207
04:46:02,897 --> 04:46:07,768
hour and a half of the site, 7200 engineers graduate.

4208
04:46:07,768 --> 04:46:15,711
so that was a big deal for them. Thank you very much and sorry it

4209
04:46:15,711 --> 04:46:24,111
took so long to get to you, but I think it was worth it.