Empire Zone Program Update
EDC President Len Fosbrook
 and Financial Director and Empire Zone Specialist Jennifer Switzer recently attended the 2009 Empire Zone Conference. The event, held in Watkins Glen on October 5 and 6, was organized by the New York State Economic Development Council, the entity representing economic development professionals throughout the state.
During an afternoon panel discussion, Len Fosbrook advanced a suggestion for specific and separate benefit programs to be developed that fit the smaller size of businesses within the Adirondack Park. He noted that current program criteria are such that very few businesses in the Park can qualify for benefits. His stance was supported by economic development officials from the Essex County IDA and Jim Martin of The LA Group.
The Empire Zone program director, Randy Coburn, addressed specific programmatic issues occurring since April 2009, including certification and decertification of select firms, the benefit cost standard, and program sunset issues. (For more information about any of these topics, contact Jennifer Switzer at EDC, 761-6007 ext. 308.)
A wide-ranging discussion of possible future New York State economic development programs took place, with opinions from across the state mirroring the economic development challenges of the specific regions. |
