Bonacic: Senate Budget Plan Expands Empire Zones To Include Delaware County

State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/I/C - Mount Hope) announced today that the Senate Budget plan authorizes 11 new Empire Zones through a competetive process that would allocate four zones in 2005-06, three zones in 2006-07, and four in 2007-08, to ensure that each county would have at least one zone.

Senator Bonacic said that the plan also creates college technology zones and agrizones. The Senate plan extends the sunset date to July 31, 2015. "The expansion of Empire zones will provide crucial State investment in our economy to stimulate business and job growth," stated Senator Bonacic.

"Counties such as Delaware have had to compete for business growth with neighboring counties that were able to provide incentives that Delaware County lacked," continued Senator Bonacic. "This expansion is crucial for job creation, business growth, and the economic vitality of our communities throughout New York State."

The Empire Zone program has been very successful in providing incentives for businesses to remain in the State and also in attracting several new ones to locate here, creating jobs, and revitalizing areas in need. The program previously did not include Nassau, Putnam, Delaware, Greene, Schoharie, Hamilton, Tompkins, Yates, Livingston, and Wyoming Counties.