Senator Gallivan Announces Senate Passes GrowNY Program

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) announces the Senate has passed legislation to create an economic gardening program to help stimulate New York’s economy by providing technical assistance to existing businesses looking to expand.  The bill, (S-73) introduced by Gallivan, would establish a pilot program known as ‘GrowNY.”

“The goal of this program is to generate new jobs from so-called second-stage companies,” Gallivan said.  “These are existing businesses already in our communities that have grown beyond the start-up stage and are ready to expand and create additional jobs.”

The legislation directs the Department of Economic Development to contract with regional non-profit economic development entities to administer the program.  The groups would provide technical assistance to eligible businesses, including consulting services, marketing and social media strategies, and referrals.  Other assistance may include identifying shovel ready sites for expansion and guidance in understanding New York State laws and regulations.

To be eligible for assistance under the pilot program, a business must be for-profit and privately held with between 5 and 99 employees.  It must have also maintained its principal place of business in New York for at least the previous two years. 

“The state continues to invest in programs to bring new businesses to New York, which I support, but we also need to provide assistance to those companies already here that are looking to grow,” Gallivan said. 

It is estimated the GrowNY program would cost about $10-million annually to adequately support the economic gardening initiative.  The Senate passed the bill 59-1.

-30-