Computer Chip Hybrid Integration Partnership Announced
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assemblywoman RoAnn M. Destito (D - Utica) and Governor Paterson have announced a partnership between the State University of New York Institute of Technology (SUNYIT) and the University at Albany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE), to create the “Computer Chip Hybrid Integration Partnership” (CHIP).
According to Governor David A. Paterson, This new collaboration will create as many as 675 new jobs in the Mohawk Valley and Capital Regions combined. The partnership will be funded with $92.5 million in New York State capital investment, which includes:
- $50 million from the 2009-2010 Empire State Development Corporation Capital budget for the construction of 120,000 square foot semiconductor packaging center at CSNE,
- $27.5 million from the 2008-09 SUNY Capital Plan for the construction of a new building that will function as SUNYIT’s Center for Advanced Technology, and;
- $15 million in Assembly discretionary funding.
Read more information here.
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New York Small Business Task Force Created
Governor David A. Paterson announced the creation of the New York Small Business Task Force, which will focus existing State resources and develop new strategies to promote the growth and development of small business enterprises in New York. Governor Paterson has named William J. Grinker of Seedco Financial Services, Inc. as the Chair of the Task Force. The Task Force will deliver a final report to Governor Paterson in November, which will include solutions and recommendations on issues such as:
- reducing government regulatory burdens;
- increasing access to financial capital;
- developing technical assistance programs; and
- workforce development.
Read more information here.
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$21.5 Million in Funding Allocated for Stem Cell Research
$21.5 million in State funding for stem cell research is now available, through the release of two Requests for Applications (RFAs) announced by Governor David A. Paterson on July 8. The State is seeking proposals to stimulate stem cell research, as follows:
- Investigator-Initiated Research Projects and Innovative, Developmental or Exploratory Activities (IDEA) in Stem Cell Research ($15 million) – to stimulate and support basic, applied, translational, pre-clinical and clinical investigations on any aspect of stem cell biology that will lead to a better understanding of the unique properties of stem cells and allow their use to treat disease; and
- Targeted Projects in Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research ($6.5 million) – to derive and characterize new human embryonic stem cell lines, devise novel and improved derivation methods, increase efficiency in the production of new lines, standardize protocols, and enhance their potential for clinical application.
Read more information here.
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Legislation to Streamline Local Government and Reduce Property Taxes Signed Into Law
The “New York Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act” – a bill to streamline New York’s local governments, reduce waste, lower the cost of doing business and reduce property taxes was signed by Governor David A. Paterson on June 25. This law establishes a single, comprehensive procedure to consolidate or dissolve several kinds of local government entities, which until now have been governed by disparate provisions of law, in order to make it easier for such governments to consolidate or dissolve. The consolidation and dissolution procedure set forth in the bill will apply to towns, villages and districts, including special districts and improvement districts.
Read more information here.
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Office of Taxpayer Accountability Formed
Governor David A. Paterson announced the creation of the Office of Taxpayer Accountability. As part of the Executive Chamber, the Office will have a full-time mission to save taxpayers money by lowering costs, sharing services, eliminating duplication, improving service delivery, limiting unnecessary and unfunded mandates, and attacking waste, fraud and abuse. It will also have an ongoing focus on local government reform and implementing recommendations made by the Local Government Commission on Efficiency and Competitiveness and the Property Tax Commission.
Read more information here.
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State Unveils Matching Grant Program To Drive Economic Recovery
Governor David A. Paterson unveiled "Bold Steps to the New Economy: A Jobs Plan for the People of New York." The plan is designed to capitalize on federal stimulus dollars to drive economic recovery in the fields of energy, environmental protection, technology and health care. Governor Paterson announced the creation of an Innovation Economy Matching Grants program that will provide a 10-percent match for every stimulus dollar the federal government awards through competitive grants to research facilities in New York State. New York will allocate $100 million over several years for this program which is expected to leverage one billion dollars in federal research funding.
Read more information here.
View Governor Paterson's report here.
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Governor Paterson's Director of Operations Announces Retirement
Governor David A. Paterson announced that Director of State Operations Dennis P. Whalen will resign his position and retire from public service, effective September 8, 2009. Valerie Grey has been selected to replace Whalen. Before being appointed to the position of Director of State Operations last year, Mr. Whalen served as the State’s top health care advisor as Deputy Secretary to the Governor for Health and Human Services. As Deputy Secretary to the Governor for Health and Human Services, Mr. Whalen had previously served as the top health care advisor to Governor Paterson. He has held other senior posts in the Department of Health and served in a number of policymaking positions at the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, including Deputy Commissioner for Program Services. He began his career in State government in 1974 as a public health educator at the Department of Health.
Ms. Grey has served as First Deputy Secretary to the Governor since April 2009, and prior to that she served as the Assistant Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services. From 2007 to 2008, Ms. Grey served as Assistant Commissioner of Government and External Affairs of the New York State Department of Health. Before joining the Department, Ms. Grey was the Director of Government Affairs for Greenberg Traurig, LLP from 2006 to 2007, and from 2003 to 2006, Ms. Grey served as Vice President of AmeriChoice of NY, Government Affairs and Regulatory Compliance division. Ms. Grey worked for the New York State Comptroller in the Office of Budget and Policy Analysis from 1996 to 2003.
Read more information here and here.
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Governor Paterson Announces Additional Adminstration Appointments
Governor David A. Paterson has announced the appointments of Marty Mack to serve as Deputy Secretary for Appointments, Cathy Calhoun to serve as Deputy Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs and Thomas Congdon to serve as Deputy Secretary for Energy. The Governor has also announced the appointments of Marissa Shorenstein as Deputy Director of Communications and Press Secretary and Latia Curry as Director of Special Projects.
Read more information here.
Controversy Over Finger Lakes Truck Policy
A report recently issued by an Albany group is critical of the New York State Department of Transportation’s Large Truck Policy (LTP), which now prohibits through travel by large trucks on seven roads in the Finger Lakes Region. Entitled “The Unreasonable Impact of the Reasonable Access Highway Regulation”, the report examines the economic impacts of the LTP and concludes that NYSDOT underestimated the policy’s impact on the State.
Using case study estimates from a number of affected businesses, this report concludes that the policy holds potential for significant job loss and that NYSDOT miscalculated the implications of the LTP. The policy is premised on protecting the character of certain local communities by eliminating truck traffic, but critics say that the Department is “reacting to emotional input from community residents more than hard analysis”.
NYSDOT officials say that the policy implemented last year is aimed at keeping large trucks on interstate highways, and end a practice of trucks using local roads across the Finger Lakes and Central New York regions, to save money on fuel and avoid tolls and weigh stations.
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Upcoming Legislative Public Hearings
Click here for the New York State Legislature Public Hearing Calendar.
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