Niagara USA Chamber

In an e-mail message distributed state-wide today from the desk of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, he states that the best way to get New York’s economy moving again is by focusing on three things: jobs, jobs, and jobs.
 
The Governor has designed an economic blueprint to create tens of thousands of jobs by putting New Yorkers to work on vital projects that will keep New York competitive and safe.
 
These projects include improving more than 100 bridges, repairing 2,000 miles of roadways, building a new energy superhighway to power economic growth throughout the state, and using private investment to construct the largest convention center in the nation.
 
Click here to learn more about Governor Cuomo’s bold plan to create jobs and restore our economy. 
 
New York State works when New Yorkers are working. Together, with Governor Cuomo’s plan, we will build a better future for our state.
 
 
P.S. — Looking for a job? Find jobs by region and sector and see which industries are growing on the Jobs Express web site.

Niagara County Legislature Deputy Majority Leader Dave Godfrey (l.) and Lockport Mayor Michael W. Tucker listen intently as Empire State Development Corp. Senior Vice President for Regional Economic Development Sam Hoyt answers a question posed by Niagara County Treasurer Kyle R. Andrews (r.). Godfrey, Tucker, and Andrews were among approximately 65 local government officials and community leaders in attendance Wednesday at a formal briefing on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's 2012-2013 executive budget delivered by Hoyt, a former Buffalo assemblyman.

Hoyt Brings Budget Session to Lockport

Top government officials from Niagara County, Lockport, and surrounding communities were on-hand Wednesday at Lockport City Hall to receive a briefing on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s 2012-2013 executive budget from one of the state’s top economic development officials.

Sam Hoyt, the former Buffalo assemblyman tapped to serve as senior vice president for regional economic development at the Empire State Development Corp., addressed an audience of approximately 65 individuals, primarily representatives of local and county government, on the $132.5 billion proposed spending plan.

The final budget passed by New York state’s government will impact county, municipal, and school budgets in the form of mandated local spending and state aid. Local leaders have urged Albany to develop a mechanism to fully fund state mandates.

As part of efforts by the Cuomo Administration to build support for the budget, Hoyt and other top administration officials are delivering similar briefings in all 150 of the state’s Assembly districts.

Among the local leaders in attendance was Niagara County Treasurer Kyle R. Andrews, who thanked Hoyt for providing local government officials with the budget synopsis.

“I think a lot of us were certainly extremely pleased to see the continued efforts out of Albany to place fiscal constraints on their spending and to create an environment more conducive to local business and job creation—and with an eye toward reducing the cost of operations for local governments,” Andrews said. 

“I know that I’m particularly optimistic about the proposed freeze in Medicaid cost increases and the Tier VI pension reform, which target the two largest drivers of county cost from year to year,” Andrews noted.  “Addressing those two cost drivers is critical to making Niagara County more competitive when it comes to things like drawing employers to our region.”

Andrews, Lockport Mayor Michael W. Tucker, and Legislature Deputy Majority Leader Dave Godfrey spoke directly with Hoyt after the briefing, relating local concerns about major cost drivers, and reiterating local support for reducing the local share of Medicaid and pension funding.

Efforts Leading to Job Growth, Retention

Niagara County lawmakers received the first segment of a two-part annual briefing on the state of the county’s economy and economic development efforts from the men tasked with leading the herculean effort to keep Niagara County’s economy growing against the backdrop of a weak national economy Tuesday night.

County Legislature Economic Development Committee Chairman Rick Updegrove, R-Lockport, and Niagara County Industrial Development Agency Chairman Henry M. Sloma delivered the address, which clocked in at just under 20 minutes, highlighting both economic development successes in 2011 and laying out part of the county’s strategy for 2012. 

When the Legislature meets again in two weeks, Updegrove will flesh out that strategy fully in a second half to tonight’s address.

“Functioning as the Niagara County Center for Economic Development, the Niagara County Department of Economic Development and the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency have achieved many successes for Niagara County,” Updegrove told a packed Legislative chamber, with county legislators, department heads, and approximately 50 spectators on hand for the address.

Updegrove then reiterated the core mission of the county’s Economic Development Department.

“The Department of Economic Development has obtained grants to clean up brownfields, turned underutilized land into certified shovel-ready development sites, participated in the work of the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council ensuring that Niagara County received its fair share, and worked with local municipalities to promote sustainable development,” Updegrove said.

“The Niagara County Industrial Development Agency has put specific emphasis on our urban cores through the Opportunity Zones program, retained large manufacturers, helped companies expand, and attracted new businesses to Niagara County,” Updegrove said, summing up the agency’s successes in 2011.  “The NCIDA has expanded the number of jobs and opportunities available to Niagara County residents, and will continue to do so in the year ahead.”

2012 Economic Address for Niagara County