Upstate Now: Revitalizing the Upstate Economy

 

New York needs to do more to revitalize the Upstate economy, give businesses the opportunity to succeed, and create new economic opportunities for young New Yorkers. Upstate Now is a 10-point, job creation and economic growth plan that will transform and revitalize the Upstate economy, create new jobs, and generate billions of dollars in new investments in communities all across our State.



Listen to Senator Young's comments to the proposal. Click here.

1. Upstate Now: Lower Taxes for Small Businesses, Manufacturers & Key Industries

Taxes play a key role in helping companies decide where to locate, invest and create new jobs.

From eliminating income and corporate franchise taxes on Upstate’s manufacturers, to further reducing corporate tax rates, to enacting much needed property tax relief for small businesses, the Senate’s plan will help fuel economic growth in Upstate for years to come. The Senate will also pursue efforts to simplify New York’s notoriously complex tax code and to reform the Wicks Law.

2. Upstate Now: Investing in a 21st
Century Infrastructure

Upstate Now calls for targeted investments in Upstate’s infrastructure. Projects include establishing high-speed trains in key Upstate corridors, expanding our roads, water lines and technology infrastructure to support job growth. The plan will also create commerce and economic growth zones around regional airports to promote location of new businesses.

3. Upstate Now: An International Powerhouse in New and Emerging Technologies

The Senate supports new incentives to encourage emerging technology companies that already do research and development in New York, to take that next step and actually manufacture their products in the Empire State. The plan will also seek to more fully integrate the groundbreaking research taking place at New York’s outstanding colleges and universities with the local and regional private-sector economies across Upstate. The plan makes extensive investments to support expansion and assist in the retention of agribusiness and agriculturally related jobs in the State. Building upon the success of the J2K Program, $100 million in critical capital funding will be distributed through Regional Partnerships enacted in 2006.

4. Upstate Now: Lower Energy Costs and Promote Energy Independence

New York’s small business leaders have consistently cited high energy costs as a major obstacle to future growth, profitability and new job creation. Upstate Now advances a continued tax credit program that would help eligible small businesses afford the cost of energy. In addition, the plan will ensure that New York will have renewable energy for the future. Encouraging renewable energy products to sustain future economic growth without being held hostage to a petroleum based economy.

 

 

 

 

5 . Upstate Now: Reducing Health Care Costs for Small Businesses to Insure More Families

The skyrocketing cost of health insurance forces many businesses to face the difficult decision of shifting more of the cost of coverage to employees or dropping coverage entirely. The Senate’s plan would significantly reduce the number of uninsured New Yorkers through a combination of tax advantages, government initiatives and commercial insurance market reforms that would bring health insurance within the means of all small businesses and every New Yorker.

6. Upstate Now: Creating Thriving Main Streets

While the downstate metropolitan region continues to boom, far too many of our Upstate communities continue to face real challenges. Upstate Now addresses this trend by making new investments in programs to revitalize our communities, eliminate blight, rehabilitate old buildings and clean up environmental hazards that inhibit new development.

7. Upstate Now: Winning the Global Competition for Manufacturing Plants

Over the past several years major manufacturing facilities have located in the U.S. New York must succeed in attracting huge new manufacturing investments. The Senate Majority will aggressively pursue initiatives o from strategic investments, and tax incentive packages, to ensure the Empire State is fully prepared to compete and win major manufacturing investments.

8. Upstate Now: Preparing the Finest Workforce in the Nation

Upstate Now seeks to realign the State’s workforce development programs to ensure that they are more effective in meeting dual needs of workers and employers. And while reforming and improving our workforce training programs, the Upstate Now initiative will also provide new incentives to encourage young New Yorkers to live, learn and work in our State.

9. Upstate Now: One-Stop Business Start-Up and Support Program

Our nation’s economic strength was built by industrious Americans who had the courage, foresight and determination to launch their own businesses. Upstate Now includes a wide array of new initiatives to help make doing business in New York easier, and to promote entrepreneurship, encourage investment and provide support for starting and growing a business. Upstate Now will provide an online one-stop location for information, business development, and permitting as well as a new "business hotline" staffed seven days per week.

10. Upstate Now: Marketing Our Outstanding Recreational, Cultural and Tourism Opportunities

Upstate Now will enhance local coordination of marketing New York’s regionally significant destinations and spotlight the State’s historic sites and agricultural tourist attractions. Upstate Now will create a comprehensive statewide system of accessible and safe multiuse thematic trails for every age.