S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  6717

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             March 30, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. CRESPO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ARROYO,
  AUBRY, FINCH, JAFFEE, MOYA, RAMOS, RIVERA, ROBERTS,  ROBINSON,  RODRI-
  GUEZ, SCHIMEL, SEPULVEDA -- read once and referred to the Committee on
  Higher Education

AN ACT in relation to requiring the Empire State development corporation
  in  consultation  with  the  state  university  of  New York, the city
  university of New York and the commission on independent colleges  and
  universities  to study the economic impact of optimizing kitchen incu-
  bators in New York state

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Legislative intent.  The legislature hereby finds that in
order to improve the economic opportunities for its citizens and  entre-
preneurs,  it  must  use  the established capabilities of its university
systems to offer space and resources to  the  next  generation  of  food
manufacturing businesses.
  It has been documented that the chief obstacle for start-up food manu-
facturing  businesses is their inability to access affordable commercial
kitchen space. Currently all over the state, there are only a few kitch-
en incubators facing high demand and unable to meet  the  needs  of  the
many potential start-up businesses.
  Kitchen  incubators  are  valuable  resources for New York state as it
moves  to  promote  more  job  development,  business  development   and
increased tax revenues.
  In  New York City alone, there are more than 900 food firms, with over
16,000 employees and another 2,500 who are self-employed. This has  been
viewed  as  evidence  of  entrepreneurs' intent on developing their food
manufacturing ideas into full scale production  capabilities  and  fully
functional business entities.
  Minority  and immigrant populations are growing significantly through-
out the state and so are their number  in  entrepreneurship  activities,

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD05741-01-5
              

A. 6717                             2

including  in the development of foods from their native place of origin
and this creates growing demand for such foods  by  increasing  minority
and immigrant communities.
  Kitchen  incubators  housed  at select college campuses throughout New
York state and New York city will help  develop  new  entrepreneurs  and
increase the economic benefits of such activities for the entire state.
  However,  New York must do more to propel these business start-ups and
potential manufacturers into full scale operations and  should  move  to
allow  its university systems to expand their regional economic catalyst
activities to serve entrepreneurs looking to enter the food  manufactur-
ing sector.
  S 2. For purposes of this act, the term "kitchen incubator" shall mean
an  affordable  small space with shared ovens, ranges, industrial mixers
and other commercial kitchen equipment, to be rented by entrepreneurs to
assist them in the development and/or manufacturing of food products for
commercial purposes.
  S 3. a. The Empire State Development Corporation, in consultation with
the state university of New York, the city university of New  York,  and
the  Commission  on  Independent  Colleges  and  Universities and groups
selected by the Empire State Development Corporation,  shall  study  and
examine  the potential economic impact for optimizing kitchen incubators
in New York state including establishing and/or expanding such  opportu-
nities  in  the state university of New York, the city university of New
York, and the Commission on Independent Colleges.
  b. The study conducted pursuant to this  section  shall  evaluate  the
impact  of  such  optimization  on  entrepreneurship  efforts in growing
minority and immigrant populations.
  c. The Empire State Development  Corporation  shall  create  a  report
containing  recommendations  for the creation, funding and future expan-
sion of kitchen incubators throughout the state and on college campuses;
and increasing entrepreneurial success  in  the  culinary  industry,  by
providing comprehensive advisory and business development services along
with  access  to  facilities  and  equipment in a co-working environment
conducive to collaboration, networking and mentorship.
  d. The report compiled by the  Empire  State  Development  Corporation
pursuant to paragraph c of this section shall be submitted to the gover-
nor and the legislature not later than May 1, 2016.
  S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.