Chambers of commerce and other business groups from Buffalo, Syracuse, the Capital District, and many other parts of the state have declared their strong support for the "Upstate Agenda for Growth" proposed by The Business Council.
Executives from seven prominent business groups strongly endorsed the Upstate Agenda at a press conference at the state Capitol Nov. 30.
The press conference was hosted by Business Council President Daniel B. Walsh.
"The Upstate Agenda is a message of hope, not of gloom and doom," Walsh said. "In the last four years, New York has cut taxes, reformed regulations, reduced costs of workers' comp and unemployment insurance-all winning moves that are paying off in new growth both upstate and downstate."
"But there's more to be done, and employment statistics that consistently show upstate lagging behind the rest of the economy should give lawmakers special motivation to act quickly and decisively on this agenda," he added.
Participants in the press conference included:
- Wallace Altes of the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce.
- Elizabeth Coleman of the Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
- Anne Flint of the Schenectady County Chamber of Commerce.
- Timothy Hulbert of the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
- Paul Magaril of the Manufacturers' Association of Central New York.
- Elizabeth Pujolas of the Buffalo-Niagara Partnership.
- George Robertson representing the New York State Economic Development Council.
The Upstate Agenda is an initial package of proposals designed to address issues of New York's problems competing with other states in attracting new jobs and retaining existing jobs.
Specifically, the proposals are designed to reduce energy costs, accelerate existing tax cuts, enhance workforce development, repeal mandates in order to lower property taxes, pre-approve potential business sites, and promote New York's economic progress to businesses and economic development professionals both inside and outside New York State.
The Upstate Agenda is motivated by a sense of opportunity created by positive changes Gov. Pataki and the Legislature have made in recent years-changes that are paying off upstate and statewide, Walsh said.
The Business Council's Upstate Agenda has also been endorsed by other business groups from across the state, including: the Broome County Chamber of Commerce; the Genessee County Chamber of Commerce; the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce; the Manufacturers' Association of the Jamestown Area; the Niagara Business Alliance; the Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce; the Orange County Chamber of Commerce; the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce; the Plattsburgh Chamber of Commerce; the Poughkeepsie Chamber of Commerce; and the Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce.
The Upstate Agenda was proposed in a letter from Business Council President Daniel B. Walsh to the legislative leaders earlier this month and announced Dec. 9.
Click here for the press release on the Upstate Agenda for Growth.