Sen. Foley Hosts Jobs Roundtable

Brian X. Foley

March 15, 2010

Business, Academic, and Community Leaders Offer Ideas to Creat Jobs, Boost Long Island's EconomyOn Friday, March 12, State Senator Brian X. Foley (D - Blue Point) brought together business, academic, and community leaders at a jobs roundtable to support the creation of new jobs and boost Long Island's economy. In addition to industry leaders, Senator Foley was joined by Senator William Stachowski, Chair of the Senate Economic Development Committee, to discuss ways the New York State Senate can continue to help small businesses and those seeking work during these tough economic conditions.

"As a New York State senator, my number one priority is to help create jobs on Long Island and across New York State," said Sen. Foley, who chairs the powerful Senate Banking Committee. "This jobs roundtable is an opportunity to effectively communicate with business leaders and others looking to have their ideas heard. We are fully committed to strengthening small businesses and spur the kind of robust job creation we need to turn the corner on this economic recession."

Roundtable participants gave first-hand reports on the effect of the “credit crunch,” and offered insights on what is holding back expansion. They also addressed the importance of New York State helping to promote hiring by small and medium sized businesses.

Participants included industry leaders from a broad cross-section of Long Island’s businesses as well as civic and academic leaders (See complete list at the bottom of this release).

Recognizing that New York State can be a high-cost environment for business, Senator Foley asked about costs that are most detrimental and how they can be reduced. He also brought up reform of the Empire Zone program, a significant aspect of the proposed budget, and sought input on which economic development programs work and how they could work better.

“Our job is to get people back to work," said Senator William Stachowski. "Immediate action as well as a long-term strategy to address the unemployment crisis is the only thing that will get New York working again. We are enlisting the expertise of industry leaders to draft comprehensive job creation proposals that will be included in the state budget,” said Senator Stachowski. “We must address the economic crisis facing New York families and businesses. I commend Senator Foley for hosting this jobs roundtable and look forward to continuing to work with him to help businesses and working families across New York State."

The jobs roundtable comes at a crucial time as the Senate works towards finalizing the 2010-2011 budget.

"Listening to business leaders and advocates and utilizing their unique insights to craft a smart budget is a crucial reform adopted by this senate," said Sen. Foley, who serves on the Senate Economic Development Committee. "Together, we will advance the policies needed to help businesses and communities on Long Island and across the state."

“This jobs roundtable was a unique opportunity for Long Island’s leading advocates to play a role in the state’s budget process and contribute their ideas about boosting job creation on Long Island,” said Raymond Donnelly, Deputy Executive Director for Business and Workforce Programs at the Long Island Forum for Technology (LIFT). “I congratulate Senator Foley for hosting this roundtable and giving Long Island’s businesses and advocates a voice on economic development matters.”

Mark Grossman, New York State Dept. of Labor’s Long Island Regional Representative, praised the roundtable discussion: “As the busiest state agency in the state, we see first-hand the need for robust job creation and economic development on Long Island,” said Grossman. “The jobs roundtable hosted by Senator Foley is an excellent forum to communicate the immediate need for policies that facilitate job creation and grow New York State out of this economic recession.”

The roundtable was attended by participants representing the following organizations and businesses: