The Business Council of New York State, Inc.

2004 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Staff Contact: Ken Pokalsky

Following is The Business Council's 2004 Legislative Program. It identifies priority issues to be addressed by the Committees and Councils during 2004.

  • Support creation of a refundable state credit for real property taxes (similar to the Empire Zone RPT benefit) that would apply statewide to manufacturers making significant capital investments for the purpose of improving their productivity and competitiveness and retaining existing employment.


  • Support amendments to the Empire Zone program that assures continued eligibility of businesses with multiple facilities in New York, when such businesses make significant capital investments within a zone.


  • Oppose legislation that would place additional restrictions on the designation of Empire Zone acreage, or that would impose unreasonable program qualification criteria.


  • Support an extension of the "Power for Jobs" program for participant's whose contracts will expire in 2004.


  • Support creation of additional Empire Zones, with priority given to counties that have not received any zone designations.


  • Support full funding of key Empire State Development Corporation programs, including but not limited to: "Jobs Now," Empire State Economic Development Fund, Regional Technology Development Centers, and business marketing programs.


  • Support increased state support for incumbent worker training and training programs that target employer needs.


  • Support necessary amendments to the new "Brownfield Program" tax credits to assure that earned credits can be taken by program participants, and can be transferred to subsequent site owner/developers.


  • Support legislation that would promote the in-state commercialization of technologies developed through New York's university-based technology investment programs.


  • Support the development and adoption of reasonable land use and development planning initiatives. Oppose legislation which restricts economic growth in New York under the guise of promoting "smart growth."


  • Support the expansion of the state investment tax credit for telecommunications equipment.


  • Make permanent the investment tax credit for the securities industry.


  • Authorize an expansion of certified capital companies, or CAPCO's, which will make additional, private sector capital available for new investments in targeted geographic areas/economic sectors.
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The Business Council of New York State, Inc.
 152 Washington Avenue  |  Albany, New York 12210-2289  |  518-465-7511