ON THIS MONTH'S EDITION OF “CONNECT NEW YORK, ” WE ARE EXPLORING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE EMPIRE STATE, INCLUDING SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON A MAJOR EMPLOYER COMING TO CENTRAL NEW YORK.

DON'T GO ANYWHERE.

[♪♪♪] WELCOME TO CNNY I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - HOST OF WCNY'S THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM, A DAILY PUBLIC RADIO SHOW, BROADCASTING FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.

ON THIS MONTH'S EPISODE, WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NEW YORK, INCLUDING WHAT IT COSTS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN BUSINESSES, BUILDING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS JOB GROWTH, AND MAINTAINING A QUALIFIED WORKFORCE.

AND BEFORE WE DIVE INTO THESE ISSUES WITH OUR PANEL OF INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS AND POLICYMAKERS, WE'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE STORY OF MICRON, WHICH — AS THE RESULT OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES — HAS COMMITTED TO BRING THOUSANDS OF HIGH-TECH JOBS TO RIGHT HERE IN THE SYRACUSE AREA.

"CONNECT NEW YORK" PRODUCER, ALEC AMBURSO, HAS AN UPDATE ON THIS ONGOING PROJECT.

>> EVERY SQUARE FOOTED OF MICRON'S MASSIVE EXPANSION THE SIZE OF 40 FOOTBALL FIELDS WILL BE BUILT WITH GOOD-PAYING UNION CONSTRUCTION JOBS, THE LARGE EVIDENCE PLA PROGRESSIVE AGREEMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> WE'RE BRINGING THE CHIPS MANUFACTURING BACK TO AMERICA AFTER 40 YEARS AND IT'S GOING TO TRANSFORM OUR SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY.

AND IT'S GOING TO CREATE NEW ECO-SYSTEM IN RESEARCH, DESIGN AND DESIGN CHIPS IN AMERICA.

I GET CRITICIZED FOR BEING THE MOST PRO UNION PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY.

AND UNIONS BUILT THE MIDDLE CLASS.

>> WE PROJECT THAT OUR INVESTMENTS WILL HELP TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN JOBS OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

MORE THAN 50,000 JOBS HERE IN NEW YORK AND THAT INCLUDES 9,000 PERMANENT MICRON MANUFACTURING JOBS HERE IN CLAY.

JUST A LITTLE BIT FROM HERE.

MANY OF THEM PAYING CATCH THIS... 100,000 DOLLARS A YEAR AND IT DOESN'T REQUIRE A COLLEGE DEGREE.

[APPLAUSE] THE CNY COALITION IS A GRASSROOTS, PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATION THAT WAS FOUNDED IN JANUARY OF 2017 SHORTLY AFTER THE ELECTION.

>> WE SUPPORT MICRON BECAUSE BASICALLY, THEY ARE GOING TO INVEST MILLIONS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO CENTRAL NEW YORK AND THOSE INVESTMENTS CANNOT HELP BUT IMPROVE THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

WE ARE SIMPLY CONCERNED ABOUT SPECIFIC ISSUES REGARDING JOBS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING FOR THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

>> $500 MILLION THAT WILL BE INVESTED IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, IN THE LOCAL WORKFORCE.

MICRON ESTABLISHED A NUMBER OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL UNIVERSITIES AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO BUILD THAT PIPELINE OF WORKERS THAT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE THIS SUCCESSFUL.

IT'S GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE AND THEY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY MANUFACTURING JOBS THAT ARE GOING TO BE FAMILY SUSTAINING FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> THE LANDSCAPE IN SYRACUSE IS NOT GREAT EVEN THOUGH UNEMPLOYMENT IS NOT USUALLY HIGH.

A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF THE JOBS THAT ARE HELD BY PEOPLE AT THE LOWER END OF THE ECONOMIC LADDER ARE LOW PAYING SERVICE JOBS.

THE FACT IS IN A HIGHLY AUTOMATED FACILITY THERE WON'T BE AN ENORMOUS JOBS BECAUSE THE PROCESSES ARE AUTOMATED AND THE JOBS ARE JOBS FOR PEOPLE WITH FAIRLY HIGH DEGREES OF EDUCATION.

>> A LARGE NUMBER OF JOBS WILL BE THE POTENTIAL 40,000, I'VE SEEN THE NUMBERS FROM 40 TO 100,000 ADDITIONAL JOBS THAT ARE GOING TO BE SERVICING THE MICRON FACILITY AND THOSE ARE GOING TO BE LOCAL TRADES AND CONTRACTORS AND SUPPLIERS AND PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY ARE DELIVERING MATERIALS ET CETERA.

>> .

>> MICRON ITSELF WILL HIRE 9,000 PEOPLE TO RUN THESE FACILITIES.

IT WILL TAKE 4500 WORKERS TO BUILD THE FACILITIES AND THEN ALL OF THE SUPPLIERS ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT PROVIDERS ALL OF THE MATERIAL PROVIDERS A HUGE AMOUNT OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WILL FLOW THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE REGION.

>> WE SUPPORT UNIONIZATION OF THE MICRON FACILITY.

WE THINK THAT UNION JOBS ARE JOBS THAT GUARANTEE GOOD-PAYING JOBS AND GUARANTEE GOOD BENEFITS AND THOSE GOOD BENEFITS AND JOBS BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

SO WE ARE STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF UNION ORGANIZING FOR THE MICRON FACILITY.

>> A LOT OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS ADMIRABLE IN THE SENSE IT WILL WORK TOWARDS CREATING THOSE JOBS.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S DOING IT AT THE LEVEL THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

>> AMERICA MANUFACTURING IS BACK.

AND COMMUNITIES LIKE SYRACUSE ARE READY FOR THE COMEBACK STORY.

AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THINGS UP TO OUR PANEL, AND WE'RE JOINED IN THE STUDIO BY KEVIN YOUNIS, COO AND EXECUTIVE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF NEW YORK STATE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT, AMY DESJARDINS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE, AND ROBERT SIMPSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CENTERSTATE CEO, AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION BASED IN SYRACUSE.

IS ONE OF THE CHIEF ARCHITECTS THAT IS BRINGING MICRON TO CENTRAL NEW YORK, WHAT FROM THAT EXPERIENCE IS RELATABLE IN OTHER AREAS POTENTIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO JOB GROWTH?

OR IS THIS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE THAT WE SHOULD JUST CHERISH FOR WHAT IT IS?

>> I THINK THERE WERE LESSONS COMING IN THAT WERE PART OF THE MICRON EFFORT AND PROCESS AND THERE'S LESSONS COMING OUT.

AND A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT COME TO MIND, THE LOCAL STATE, FEDERAL, PARTNERSHIPS, RIGHT, WERE ALL OF US IN A ROOM WORKING TOGETHER UNDERSTANDING WHAT EACH OTHER BROUGHT TO THE DISCUSSION BEING OPEN, TRANSPARENT AND COOPERATING WITH EACH OTHER THAT SORT OF BIPARTISAN EFFORT WAS REALLY, REALLY CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE SEE AND TAKE IT TO THE NEXT PROJECT.

AND THAT WAS REALLY CRITICAL.

I THINK THE FOCUS PARTICULARLY WITH THE BIG PROJECT LIKE THIS AROUND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT AND AROUND MAKING SURE THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TARGETED EFFORTS AROUND DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS AND WORKFORCE TRAINING.

MICRON IS A GREAT PARTNER IN TERMS OF FOCUS ON WORKFORCE.

FOCUS ON JUST DIVERSITY, FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY.

THOSE TWO LIKE ARE BIG ELEMENTS LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, PARTNERSHIPS MAKING SURE THERE IS A MORE ROBUST PACKAGE AROUND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IT TAKES THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM TO SUCCEED.

>> ROB, KEVIN MENTIONED THIS IDEA OF BEING A PARTNERSHIP.

BUT IT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE IS THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING IT RAIN SO TO SPEAK WHEN IT COMES TO SUBSIDIES AND THE TAX INCENTIVES WHO DO YOU SEE THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PLAY BRINGING THOUSANDS OF JOBS TO AN AREA?

U I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.

WITHOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NONE OF THESE INVESTMENTS HAPPEN IN AMERICA.

THEY CONTINUE TO HAPPEN IN ASIA.

IF IT'S NOT FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND FOLKS LIKE KEVIN WE ARE IN A POSITION TO WIN THIS DEAL IN NEW YORK STATE BUT OUR LOCAL PARTNERS PLAYED A ROLE AS WELL.

OUR EXECUTIVE PUT A SITE TOGETHER THE TAXPAYERS ARE MAKING SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO BRING THIS PROJECT TO BEAR.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IN THIS DISCUSSION AROUND RECRUITING MICRON TO CENTRAL NEW YORK THERE WAS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO SELL OUR COMMUNITY TO THIS COMPANY.

EVERYPLACE WANTED TO WELCOME MICRON TO THEIR BACKYARD.

WE TOOK AN APPROACH, THE TEAM, RIGHT, THE LOCAL STATE, FEDERAL PARTNERS TOOK AN APPROACH WE WERE GOING TO BE HONEST WITH MICRON ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE TRAJECTORY AND THE WORK WE'VE DONE OVER 10-15 YEARS TO PUT US INTO A COMPETITIVE POSITION.

BUT WE WERE NOT SHY ABOUT ARTICULATING SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.

CHALLENGES LIKE SIGNIFICANT RACIAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC SEGREGATION.

CHALLENGES LIKE HIGH RATES OF POVERTY.

HIGH RATES OF CHILDHOOD POVERTY AND WHAT WAS FASCINATING ABOUT THAT DISCUSSION WE FOUND A PARTNER WHO WANTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE REMARKABLE ASSETS THE HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND WATER AND WANTED TO BE OUR PARTNER IN SOLVING THE CHALLENGES THAT HELD OUR COMMUNITY BACK.

THAT IS UNIQUE TO FIND IN AN ECONOMIC DEAL BUT IT IS A MODEL WE ARE EAGER TO RECREATE AS CENTRAL NEW YORK IS IN A POSITION WE CAN BE MORE SELECTIVE ABOUT THE PARTNERS WE INVITE INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT IS ANTICIPATED TO GROW AND A COMMUNITY WILL BE IN DEMAND.

>> AND YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION AND GOING TO BE PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS MOVING FORWARD?

>> NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

>> THE CENTER STATE FOLKS WERE CRITICAL.

THE LOCAL GLUE TO UNDERSTANDING IN GREAT DETAIL THEIR COMMUNITY TELLING THE STORY WITH DATA TELLING THE STORY WITH PEOPLE THAT ELEMENT WAS CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS AND THE WORK THAT CENTER STATE AND THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DOING FOR THE 10, 15 YEARS TO PUT THEM IN A POSITION TO SUCCEED.

IT'S NOT JUST THE 5.8 IN STATE.

IT WAS THIS COMMUNITY AND THE TRAJECTORY BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS IS ABSOLUTELY ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MICRON PROJECT OR ANY REALLY MAJOR HIGH-TECH INVESTMENT IN NEW YORK STATE, WHAT ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT?

WHAT ARE THE PROMISES THAT YOU ARE LOOKING TO SEE FULFILLED ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO WORKFORCE?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

AND JUST IF WE GO BACK TO THE VIDEO THAT WAS JUST SHOWN WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN, IT STARTED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, RIGHT?

WE COME WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT LOOKING FOR GOOD UNION JOBS THAT THAT IS AT THE TABLE THAT COMES WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND LABOR STANDARDS.

AND WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK TOO FAR BACK WHEN WE WERE AROUND IN THE 90s WITH THE NAFTA AGREEMENT.

>> I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUT I HEARD ABOUT IT.

>> WE WERE AROUND.

AND THERE WERE SO MANY COMPANIES THAT WENT TO CHINA AND MEXICO BECAUSE OF CHEAP LABOR.

AND LOW LABOR STANDARDS.

AND IT IS AN INTENTIONALITY THAT WE'VE SEEN THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE OF REALLY FOCUSING ON HOW DO WE ON-SHORE THOSE JOBS RESHORE THAT MANUFACTURING SO THAT IT'S NEW YORK BECOMES THE BEACON IN THIS DEVELOPMENT WHETHER IT'S SEMICONDUCTOR, OR RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS.

AND IN PARTICULAR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT I BRING IT BACK TO GOOD UNION JOBS BECAUSE THOSE ARE PATHWAYS OUT OF POVERTY AND HOW DO WE GET THE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE CAREERS AND IT TAKES AN ECOSYSTEM.

WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND PARTNERS LIKE C.E.O.

IN DIFFERENT REGIONS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

STATE LEGISLATURES.

IT'S FUNDING.

IT TAKES A LOT OF MONEY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN'T SAY OKAY DEVELOP A PROGRAM.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TRAINING.

THE UNIONIZED BUILDING TRADES THEY HAVE APPRENTICESHIPS WITH THEIR BUSINESS CONTRACTORS.

IT IS A JOINT PARTNERSHIP WHERE IT'S STATE-OF-THE-ART TRAINING.

WITH THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES COMES NEW TRAINING AND IT'S ALL WRAPPED AROUND ADVANCING SKILL VICE-PRESIDENT.

AND ALSO WITH SAFETY BEING PAIR MOUNTED.

>> IS THE CONCERN ABOUT UNION JOBS LIMITED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SEMICONDUCTOR PLANT?

OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT EXTENDS TO THE WORKFORCE THAT IS PERMANENTLY THERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS CONSTRUCTION FIRST BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO BE ON THE GROUND BUILDING THE PROJECTS.

BUT JUST THERE'S THE PERMANENT JOBS.

SO AS, AGAIN, GOING BACK TO WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID THERE ARE GOING TO BE CLOSE TO 9,000 PERMANENT JOBS IN THE MICRON FACILITY.

AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WORKERS HAVE A VOICE ON THE JOB POTENTIALLY?

THEY WILL BE HIGH EARNERS AND THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE ANCILLARY BUSINESSES AROUND SUPPORTING THE WORK IN MICRON.

THE SMALL TO MEDIUM MANUFACTURERS THAT HAVE TO SUPPORT THE SUPPLY CHAIN.

SO WITH THAT, HOW DO WE TAKE THE GOLD STANDARD OF THE BUILDING TRADES APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS ALL ARNICA REAR DEVELOPMENT, SAFETY, WAGES, BENEFITS AND HEALTHCARE HOW DO WE TAKE THAT MODEL AND MAYBE INSTITUTE IT WITHIN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND POTENTIALLY DEVELOP APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS THERE SO THAT WE PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

WE GET IT IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS SO THERE'S YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SO THEY KNOW THAT OH, I DON'T MAYBE HAVE TO GO TO A FOUR YEAR CAREER, I CAN PARTNER WITH AN EMPLOYER AND GET THAT ON THE JOB TRAINING, EARN WHILE YOU LEARN.

THEY ARE GETTING FUNDING AND THEY ARE GETTING TRAINING ALONG THE WAY.

SO THAT IS A MODEL WE'RE INTERESTED IN PARTNERING.

AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S LABOR PIECE AGREEMENTS ATTACHED TO THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC STANDARDS AND LABOR PIECE MEANS THERE IS NO FIGHTING OF THE UNIONIZATION IT IS A MUTUAL BENEFIT THE EMPLOYER STAYS ON THE SIDELINES AND LET THE WORKERS DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT A VOICE ON THE JOB.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS EXCITE BEING THIS MOMENT WE'VE SAID FOR A LONGTIME OUR COMMUNITY AMBITION IS TO REDUCE THE LEVELS OF INEQUALITY IN NEW YORK TO PROVIDE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN DISADVANTAGED THROUGHOUT CENTRAL NEW YORK.

WHILE ECONOMIC GROWTH IS NO GUARANTEE OF GREATER FUTURE SHARED PROSPERITY AS YOU HAVE ARTICULATED WELL, IT IS A NECESSARY PRECONDITION TO LIFT PEOPLE OUT OF THE CONDITION THEY ARE IN.

WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT CENTRAL NEW YORK SUFFERED 60, 7080 YEARS OF DECLINE, POPULATION LOSS AND WAGE SHRINKAGE AND JOB GROWTH AND THE OPPORTUNITY WITH MICRON PRESENTS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO REINJECT INTO THE ECONOMY AND CREATE THE MARKET FORCES THAT ALLOW US TO LIFT PEOPLE UP INTO NOT ONLY NEW JOBS BUT CAREERS WITH GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES AND A HUGE AMOUNT OF THE WORK THAT IS GOING ON WHETHER IT'S INVESTMENTS BY THE GOVERNOR AND INVESTMENTS BY OUR LOCAL PARTNERS LIKE OCC AND SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON WITH OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IS AROUND ENSURING THAT THE FROB JOBS BEING CREATED THROUGHOUT MICRON AND THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SUPPLY CHAIN AND CONSTRUCTION IN CENTRAL NEW YORK ARE OPEN, ACCESSIBLE AND WORKFORCES MORE REFLECTIVE OF THE DIVERSITY OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> HOW DO WE REALIZE THAT THOUGH?

IT'S ONE THING TO SAY WE'VE GOT $100,000 JOB THAT JOE BIDEN IS TOUTING AND ANOTHER THING TO FILL THAT JOB WITH THE PEOPLE THAT KEVIN AND ROB IS TALKING ABOUT IN CENTRAL NEW YORK THAT HAVE DEALT WITH TERRIBLE CHALLENGES AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THEY ARE DIRECT BENEFICIARIES AND NOT BENEFICIARIES OF HOSPITALITY JOBS THAT OPEN UP AS A RESULT OF THIS JOB GROWTH?

>> IT'S INTENTIONALITY.

SO WE JUST ANNOUNCED WHAT WE CALL ONRAMP.

IT IS A STATE-WIDE PROGRAM TARGETED ADVANCED MANUFACTURING WORKFORCE TRAINING.

IT'S MODELED AFTER A WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER IN BUFFALO.

AND IT'S PLACED ON THE EASTSIDE OF BUFFALO.

IT IS A SORT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SITE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER ALL OF THE PARTNERS.

TRAINING IN THAT FACILITY IS PROVIDED BY THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES BUT IT'S IN A PLACE THAT IS ACCESSIBLE.

IT IS IN A PLACE WHERE FOLKS THAT ARE HISTORICALLY ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THERE AND GET THE WORKFORCE TRAINING.

THE OTHER THING THAT IS IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE PROVIDING THIS WORKFORCE TRAINING, TO DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS YOU CANNOT GIVE THEM THE TRAINING AND SAY GO GET IT, GOOD LUCK.

IF YOU WANT SUCCESS YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE THE WRAP AROUND SERVICES AND SUPPORT PEOPLE IN A ROBUST WAY TO SUCCEED AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS AT NORTHLAND.

ON THE NORTHLAND CAMPUS, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES DO THE TRAINING.

THEIR SUCCESS RATE IS MULTIPLES IN TERMS OF FOLKS COMING IN AND DOOR AND GRAD A8ING.

GRADUATING.

BECAUSE OF THE WRAP AROUND SERVICES.

SO SUCCESS RATE IS HIGHER BOTH IN TERMS OF COMPLETION AND PLACEMENT INTO THE WORKFORCE IS HIGHER BECAUSE A KEY PARTNER IS THE INDUSTRY.

INDUSTRY DRIVES THEIR PARTNERS, THEY DRIVE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CURRICULUM.

HAVING THE INDUSTRY PARTNERS MEANS THE WORKFORCE TRAINING GETS THE FOLKS INTO THE JOBS.

>> YOU HAVE INDUSTRY DRIVEN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING YOU HAVE THE WRAP AROUND SERVICES TARGETED AN ACCESSIBLE TO DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS WITH THE WRAP ASH SERVICES.

>> WE ARE DOING IT HERE AND THE SYRACUSE BUILD AND WE ARE TAKING THOSE THINGS AND SCALING THE SUCCESSFUL MODELS.

ONRAMP, IS TAKING NORTHLAND WORKFORCE TRAINING AND BRINGING IT TO CENTRAL NEW YORK THAT IS THE FIRST INVESTMENT IN MICRON AND THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN THROUGH THE REST OF UPSTATE.

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

THAT IS HOW YOU DO IT.

>> AND JUST TO GO FURTHER ON WHAT KEVIN WAS SAYING IN BUFFALO, AND NOT ONLY IN BUFFALO BUT THE BUILDING TRADES HAVE PREAPPRENTICE PROGRAMS AND IT GIVES FOLKS THE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THEY ARE DIRECT ENTITY INTO APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.

TO ARE EXAMPLE THERE IS A GREAT GROUP CENTER FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE JUSTICE INVOLVED.

THEY ARE PARTNERING IN THE CITY OF BUFFALO WITH THE LABORERS.

SO THEY ARE TAKING THEIR GRADUATES FROM C.E.O.

AND THEY ARE GOING INTO A PREAPPRENTICE PROGRAM.

AND KNOWING THAT AFTER A FOUR-SIX WEEK PROGRAM THEY HAVE DIRECT ENTRY INTO THE LABORERS APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

YES, THEY ARE DOING WHATEVER THE CURRENT WORK IS IN BUFFALO BUT IT'S SCALING UP TO MAYBE THE NEW PROJECT OF THE 33 OR THE BUFFALO BILLS STADIUM.

AND WITH THAT, WE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE GROUPS THAT HAVE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS.

IT'S NOT JUST GET THEM A JOB AND TRAINING THEY ARE OKAY AND THEY MOVE ON.

WHAT IS IT THAT THEY NEED?

MOST FOLKS IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES THEY HAVE TROUBLE WITH TRANSPORTATION.

IT'S ONE THING TO GET THEM TRAINED AND THE JOB SITES ARE NOT NEAR WHERE THEY LIVE.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE GET THEM DRIVER'S LICENSE AND?

HOW DO WE LEAN ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND DO SHUTTLE SERVICES TO THE JOB SITES.

ONE THING THAT WDI IS WORKING ON IS OUR CHILDCARE PROGRAM AND CHILDCARE IS AN ESSENTIAL WORKFORCE SUPPORT AND I KNOW THE COUNTIES HAVE PROGRAMS THEMSELVES BUT WHAT THE LEGISLATURE JUST PASSED IN THE STATE BUDGET WITH THE HELP OF THE GOVERNOR, AND OUR LEADERS ASSEMBLY MAN BRONSON AND LABOR CHAIR SENATOR RAMOS FOUGHT FOR A PROGRAM THAT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM HELPS FAMILIES WHO ARE ABOVE THOSE THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE SUBSIDIES AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.

AND THAT MAKE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE THAT IF IT DEPENDS.

YOU HAVE TWO-FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS HIGH COST OF CHILDCARE IS CLOSE TO $15,000 A YEAR FOR INFANTS TO FIVE-YEAR-OLDS.

IT'S UNATTAINABLE.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE TO CHOOSE TO GO HOME.

OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TAKES THAT OFF THE TABLE AND THEY ARE ABLE TO GO TO WORK WHICH HELPS MORE WOMEN GET INTO THE WORKFORCE.

AND THE OTHER GOOD THING ABOUT OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE AND THEY HAVE THE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND WE KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF MIGRANTS COMING TO UPSTATE NEW YORK WHICH IS ANOTHER UNTAPPED WORKFORCE.

THEY NEED IMMEDIATE SKILLS TRAINING.

THEY NEED LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND SOFT SKILLS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY WILL NEED CHILDCARE.

SINCE OUR PROGRAM IS STATE FUNDED WE ARE ABLE TO COME IN AND HELP THEM ON THE PATH TO CITIZENSHIP TO PROVIDE THOSE FAMILIES WITH CHILDCARE SO THAT THEY CAN GET IMMEDIATELY INTO THE WORKFORCE.

>> AND I WANT TO STICK WITH CHILDCARE.

AND KEVIN, AMY BRINGS UP THE IDEA OF INCREASING SUBSIDIES BUT IT'S POINTLESS IF THERE IS NOT THE WORKFORCE TO DO THAT WORK.

AS A STATE, DO WE NEED TO FOCUS MORE ON THE IDEA THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NEW YORK IS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH A THRIVING CHILDCARE WORKFORCE AND DO WE NEED TO INVEST IN THAT WORKFORCE?

>> I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES.

AS I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT.

THE GOVERNOR INTRODUCED WHAT IS CALLED THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

AND THAT OFFICE IS VERY INTENTIONALLY TARGETED AROUND INDUSTRIES WHERE THERE IS A NEED.

AND SO AND TO MAKE SURE ANY WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS WE DO THERE IS THOSE ADDITIONAL.

THE PARTNERS WHO ARE WILLING TO PROVIDE THE CHILDCARE AND WHO WILL GO ABOVE AND BEYOND IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDCARE AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES.

THE GREEN CHIPS PROGRAM CHILDCARE IS A KEY ELEMENT OF IT.

MICRON GLOBAL FOUNDRIES HAVE COMMITTED TO BUILDING CHILDCARE FACILITIES ON-SITE OR PROXIMATE TO THEIR FACILITIES.

ABSOLUTELY CHILDCARE WORKFORCE IS SOMETHING I KNOW THE GOVERNOR HAS TALKED ABOUT AND AMY CAN SPEAK TO IT BETTER THAN I CAN.

BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE THERE TO TAKE CARE OF THE CHILDREN.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO PULL UP TO 30,000 FEET, SOMETIMES WE GET CAUGHT IN THIS TRAP THAT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND COMMUNITY PROSPERITY ARE SOMEHOW AT OPPOSITION WITH ONE ANOTHER.

ONE THING WE'VE LEARNED THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

AND WHAT WE'VE HAD IN THIS DISCUSSION WITH MICRON, I THINK AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY IS A ROBUST PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OUR PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERS AND MICRON WHO SHARES A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY VALUES.

WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER AND WORKED TO TRY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AS KEVIN MENTIONED, CHILDCARE ON-SITE THAT MICRON MADE THAT COMMITMENT IS PART OF NEGOTIATING THE DEAL WITH NEW YORK STATE AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

WITHIN A WEEK OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OUR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY AGREED TO RUN EXPRESS SERVICE FROM THE DOWNTOWN OUT TO THE SITE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES AND ELIMINATING TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS.

THE COMPANY THEMSELVES, HAS NEGOTIATED WITH NEW YORK STATE ONE OF THE LARGEST COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FRAMEWORKS IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY.

THIS WAS DONE NOT IN A CONFRONTATIONAL WAY, BUT IT WAS DONE IN A METHODOLOGY WHERE WE ARTICULATED OUR SHARED VALUES AROUND INCLUSION AND SHARED PROSPERITY ALONG WITH ENSURING MICRON'S ABILITY TO BE COMPETITIVE IN A COMPETITIVE GLOBAL MARKET.

AND WORKING ALONG THOSE CORE VALUES AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY ENSURING INTENTIONALITY.

INCLUDING MICRON PUTTING $250 MILLION INTO A LARGE SCALE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND THAT HAS A PRIORITY FUND TO BUILD HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

I JUST WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT SOMETIMES THESE DISCUSSIONS END UP POLARIZED.

THAT IS PART OF WHAT PEOPLE FIND SO FRUSTRATING EVERY DISCUSSION ABOUT ANYTHING DIFFICULT ENDS UP POLARIZED.

HOPEFULLY WE'VE DONE ONE THING HERE IS MODEL A DIFFERENT APPROACH THAT IS COLLABORATIVE AND DESIGNED TO SUPPORT EVERYONE'S MUTUAL INTERESTS.

>> FUNNY ANECDOTE WHEN WE ARE NEGOTIATING WITH MICRON.

THE WAY THEY POST-MORTEM DESCRIBE IT AS NEW YORK WAS COMING IN EVERY STATE WAS COMING IN WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU?

HOW CAN YOU MAKE US CHOOSE US?

AND WE CAME IN AND INTERVIEWED THEM?

>> I THINK WE DID.

>> SO IF WE'RE GOING TO INVEST THIS SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC RESOURCES ARE YOU GOING TO PARTNER ON THE THINGS THAT WE CARE ABOUT?

DO YOU CARE ABOUT CHILDCARE?

DIVERSITY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT?

WE HAD TO KNOW WHO THEY WERE AND THEY ARE ALIGNED WITH US.

WE WERE INTERVIEWING THEM BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS WE NEED A PARTNER THAT WILL LINEUP ON THE THINGS WE CARE ABOUT.

>> WE WILL TAKE A BREAK FROM OUR CONVERSATION AND TURN OUR ATTENTION TO A NEW JOBS PROGRAM THAT WAS CREATED IN THE STATE BUDGET THIS SPRING.

IT IS A $30 MILLION ANNUAL REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT INTENDED TO SUPPORT JOBS AT NEWS OUTLETS AROUND NEW YORK.

WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS EFFORT WITH ZACK A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE EMPIRE STATE LOCAL NEWS COALITION.

HERE IS THAT STORY.

>> ZACK THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> FOR STARTERS WHY IS IT IN THE STATE'S INTEREST TO SUBSIDIZE LOCAL NEWSROOMS OVER NEW YORK?

>> WELL, A GREAT QUESTION.

AND I COMMEND THE GOVERNOR AND ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ESPECIALLY SENATOR HOYLE MAN WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN.

AND LOCAL NEWS IS THE LIFE BLOOD OF COMMUNITIES.

WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS, WHEN A COMMUNITY LOSES THEIR SOURCE OF LOCAL NEWS.

THERE'S DATA THAT SHOWS THAT COMMUNITIES HAVE INCREASED COMMUNITY POLARIZATION, DECREASED VOTER TURNOUT AND IT IS A ECONOMIC ISSUE WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE WATCHDOG IN YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE HIGHER TAXES FOR RESIDENTS AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN HERE IN NEW YORK.

BUT THERE'S NO OTHER PERSON OUT IN THE FIELD COVERING YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, YOUR HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER GAME AND THE FEEL GOOD STORIES THE MARRIAGES WHO MADE THE HONOR ROLL.

WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT LOCAL NEWS AND MAKE SURE COMMUNITIES HAVE THE INFORMATION AND ALL THE GOOD NEWS THAT THEY DESERVE.

>> SO THIS YEAR'S RECENTLY ADOPTED BUDGET INCLUDES $30 MILLION FOR THE PROGRAM WITH A PLAN TO ROLL THIS OUT OVER THREE YEARS.

HOW DO YOU ENVISION THIS WORKING ONCE THE MONEY DOES BECOME AVAILABLE?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BROADCASTERS AND NEWSPAPERS ALIKE?

>> SO THIS IS CERTAINLY GOING TO SAVE DOZENS IF NOT MORE NEWS ORGANIZATIONS JUST OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.

WE SEE OR WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST 20 YEARS HUNDREDS OF NEWSPAPERS IN OUR STATE GO OUT OF BUSINESS.

AND THERE ARE HUNDREDSES OF THOUSANDS WHO DON'T HAVE THAT LOCAL NEWS.

THIS TAX CREDIT $30 MILLION WE KNOW THAT THAT IS A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF A $200 BILLION PLUS STATE BUDGET BUT FOR LOCAL NEWSROOMS WHERE YOU MIGHT HAVE ONE REPORTER OR FIVE REPORTERS, IT IS GOING TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE VIABILITY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE ABILITY TO NOT ONLY RETAIN THEIR NEWS STAFF BUT OUR HOPE IS TO GROW IT.

>> YEAH, THE REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT IT IS A 50% REFUNDABLE CREDIT AGAINST THE FIRST $50,000 OF AN ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES' SALARY DO YOU BELIEVE THIS IS ABOUT HOLDING THE LINE ON STAFFING LEVELS?

OR IS THERE REASON TO BELIEVE IT WILL LEAD TO GROWING NEWSROOMS SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN A LONGTIME HERE IN NEW YORK?

>> WE DO THINK IT WILL GROW NEWSROOMS AND THERE ARE MANY PUBLISHERS WHO HAVE SAID THAT THEY EXPECT TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE OR TO TAKE PEOPLE FROM FREELANCING TO W2s BECAUSE OF THIS TAX CREDIT.

AND THE WAY THAT THAT $30 MILLION IS DIVIDED, THERE IS A $4 MILLION CARVE OUT SPECIFICALLY FOR NEW EMPLOYEES.

SO THERE ARE INCENTIVES IN THE LEGISLATION TO GROW HEAD COUNT AND WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN.

>> A LOT OF THE DETAILS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS TAX CREDIT ARE LEFT UP TO SOME OF THE STATE OFFICIALS AT EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT.

AND THEIR REGULATIONS ARE STILL PENDING THE THIS POINT.

SO WHEN THEY DO WRITE REGULATIONS, THOUGH, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE IN TERMS OF WHO IS COVERED?

WHETHER IT'S OUTLETS OR WHAT TYPES OF POSITIONS ARE COVERED?

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS AND NEW YORKERS THAT BENEFIT FROM THIS ARE THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT MOST.

SO THOSE ARE LOCAL COMMUNITIES, LOCAL NEWSROOMS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS AS TARGETED AS POSSIBLE TO LOCAL NEWS AND ALSO THAT IT'S KIND OF THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SAME POINT, IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE S CORPS THE NONPROFITS THE TRADITIONAL PRINT NEWSPAPERS, PRAFTERS IF YOU ARE PROVIDING LOCAL NEWS TO COMMUNITIES WITH REAL JOURNALISTS, WE WANT TO WE HOPE THAT THE REGULATORS WILL WRITE THE LANGUAGE IN A WAY THAT INCLUDES THEM.

SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR ALL NEWS LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS AND HOPE THAT THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT THEME HERE IS US AND WRITES THIS IN A WAY THAT IS BENEFICIAL TO EVERYBODY.

>> AND IN TERMS OF THE POSITIONS THAT ARE COVERED, WOULD THEY BE LIMITED TO JUST THE NEWSROOM OF AN OUTLET?

OR WOULD OTHER POSITIONS POTENTIALLY BE BENEFITING FROM THIS?

AND IF SO, WHAT IS THE REASON FOR EXPANDING IT BEYOND, SAY, JUST THE JOURNALISTS?

>> SO I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE ALSO HAS TO BE WORKED OUT DURING THE REGULATORY PROCESS.

THE REASON FOR IT EXPANDING BEYOND NEWSROOMS WOULD BE THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT GO INTO MAKING A NEWS OUTLET FUNCTION.

IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE REALITY OF ALL THE EXPENSES THAT COME WITH RUNNING ANY SORT OF ORGANIZATION BUT PARTICULARLY A NEWS ORGANIZATION.

THERE ARE SALES TEAMS, FINANCE TEAMS, HR SUPPORT ALL OF THIS THAT IS REQUIRED TO SUPPORT A BUSINESS THAT CAN EXIST TO PROVIDE LOCAL NEWS TO COMMUNITIES.

SO, I THINK, SOMETIMES WE MIGHT GET A BIT BLINDED BY THE FACT THAT THERE IS A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER PEOPLE AND THESE ARE GOOD-PAYING JOBS THAT NEW YORKERS HAVE THAT ARE SUPPORTED THE JOURNALISTS THAT ARE IN MANY TIMES THE BASE OF A NEWSPAPER OR A BROADCAST STATION.

>> AND DO YOU ENVISION THIS BEING A PERMANENT SUBSIDY OR YOU HOPE NEWS OUTLETS CAN WEAN OFF AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME?

THE PROOF WILL BE HOW EFFECTIVE THIS IS, WE THINK THAT IT WILL BE VERY EFFECTIVE AND WE WILL SEE VERY QUICKLY THE BENEFITS THAT THIS PROVIDES TO NEWS ORGANIZATIONS AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT I SERVE.

AND IF YOU LOOK TO SOMETHING LIKE THE FILM TAX CREDIT WHICH STARTED AT A SIMILAR SIZE, THAT HAS CONTINUED TO EXPAND BECAUSE OF ALL THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS THAT IT BRINGS TO OUR GREAT STATE.

>> THERE'S DEBATE ABOUT THAT.

BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE A $700 MILLION PROGRAM.

SO SHOULD THE JOURNALISM MAJORS OUT THERE THINKING ABOUT PROFESSION THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO GROW TO $30 MILLION TO $700 MILLION?

OR IS THIS SOMETHING WHERE YOU VIEW THIS TAX CREDIT AS A BRIDGE TO A STABLE BUSINESS MODEL FOR SOME OF THESE OUTLETS THAT HAVE STRUGGLED WITH THE TRANSITION TO THE DIGITAL ERA?

>> SO I DON'T THINK THEY ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

I THINK I CAN'T PREDICT THE FUTURE AS TO HOW BIG THIS MIGHT EVENTUALLY GET.

BUT, CERTAINLY HAVING THIS TAX CREDIT DOES ALLOW NEWS ORGANIZATIONS TO INVEST THEIR MONEY IN NEW BUSINESS MODELS AND TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE A BIT BETTER NOW THAT THIS IS A MULTIYEAR TAX CREDIT.

I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL SEE NOT JUST THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF THIS BUT THE CIVIC BENEFITS OF IT AND IT WILL BE A STRONG CASE TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND THIS TAX CREDIT IN THE FUTURE.

>> ANY CONCERNS ABOUT MESSY ENTANGLEMENTS?

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MIGHT HAVE GOVERNMENT REPORTERS WHO BENEFIT FROM THIS CREDIT REPORTING ON THE VERY POLICYMAKERS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR 0 DOLLING IT OUT?

>> YOU KNOW IT IS A VERY VALID ISSUE TO RAISE.

WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THIS TAX CREDIT IS CONSTRUCTED IN A WAY THAT WE THINK MITIGATES THAT CONCERN.

BECAUSE THE REQUIREMENTS OR QUALIFICATIONS FOR GETTING THIS TAX CREDIT ARE COMPLETELY OBJECTIVE.

AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF THE ABILITY FOR A GOVERNMENT TO WEAPONIZE THIS OFF THE TABLE.

NOW, I ALSO THINK THAT WE AS AN INDUSTRY, NEED TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE FAITH IN OUR OWN INTEGRITY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE FOREVER.

WE HAVE A SUBSIDY FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WHEN IT COMES TO POSTAL RATES.

THIS NEVER REALLY GETS BROUGHT UP WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COVERING BUSINESSES.

WE HAVE ADVERTISERS EVERYDAY IN OUR NEWSPAPERS AND TV AND RADIO STATIONS.

I THINK WE'VE SHOWN IN THE PAST THAT FOR THE MOST PART WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE THIS WITH OBJECTIVITY AND MAINTAINING INTEGRITY AND I'M ENCOURAGED BY JUST THE OBJECTIVITY OF A TAX CREDIT AND HOW THAT WILL ENSURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THAT JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY.

>> WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH ZACK RICHER IN A LONG ISLAND BASED PUBLISHER AND EMPIRE STATE NEWS COALITION.

ZACK THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS SO MUCH, DAVE.

>> AS WE SAW IN THAT PACKAGE THIS YEAR'S BUDGET INCLUDES ABOUT $30 MILLION TO PROMOTE JOBS IN THE JOURNALISM INDUSTRY ON TOP OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF OTHER TARGETED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TAX CREDITS AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS COMING TO MICRON.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE OR EVEN RETAIN JOBS IN NEW YORK NOW, IS IT THE CASE THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS REALLY BASED AROUND SUBSIDIES OR TAX INCENTIVES?

IS THAT A KEY INGREDIENT THAT WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH?

OR IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE IN THE LONG-TERM TO MOVE AWAY FROM THAT DYNAMIC?

>> I THINK IN THE COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ARE IN WITHIN BOTH NATIONALLY WITH OTHER STATES AND INTERNATIONALLY WITH OTHER COUNTRIES, IT IS A PART OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR SURE.

THAT'S JUST THE REALITY.

ANY OF US IN A PERFECT WORLD IF NOBODY WAS DOING THIS THEN WE SHOULDN'T DO IT.

>> I REMEMBER THERE WAS A GUY, I REMEMBER RICHARD AND -- RICHARD WAS NOT A FAN OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES AND REFERRED TO IT AS CORPORATE WELFARE.

BUT HE SAID THIS, BUT I CAN'T ASK I AM NOT A FAN BUT I CANNOT ASK YOU TO DISARM.

THE WORLD WE LIVE IN IN TERMS OF COMPETING WITH OTHER STATES AND COUNTRIES IT IS A NECESSARY PREREQUISITE TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IT'S NOT IT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT YOU TALKING ABOUT WORKFORCE AND TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND TALK ABOUT JUST SUSTAINABILITY ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE KEY TO THE FULL ECO-SYSTEM.

BUT INCENTIVES ARE.

>> WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE ATMOSPHERE OF INCENTIVES A LOT IS TARGETING NEW JOB CREATION AND SOMETIMES YOU ARE LEFT WITH THOSE EXISTING EMPLOYERS WHO SAY WHAT ABOUT ME?

AND SOMETIMES LIKE JOURNALISTS THEY GET THE PAY OUT ONE DAY AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE SUBSIDIES WHETHER IT'S CASH BENEFITS OR TAX INCENTIVES WHAT DO YOU HEAR FROM LOCAL EMPLOYERS WHO ARE SHUTOUT?

IS THIS A RECURRING CONCERN?

DO THEY WISH THE OVERALL TAX ENVIRONMENT COULD BE BETTER?

ARE THERE OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THEY HAVE?

WHAT DO YOU HEAR?

>> I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN TRYING TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE DOWN THE TAX ENVIRONMENT WHETHER IT'S YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY TAX BURDEN OR THE BURDEN AT THE STATE LEVEL.

THE REALITY IS WE'VE MADE GREAT STRIDES THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ZERO TAX FOR MANUFACTURERS IN NEW YORK STATE IS A BIG DEAL.

WHY IS THAT A BIG DEAL?

BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THE ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT NOT ONLY THE STATE BUT THIS COUNTRY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT FROM IN THE NEXT 10-15 YEARS ARE THE MANUFACTURING JOBS THAT WERE LOST FROM OUR COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK.

AS WE'RE OUT THERE TALKING WITH PARTNERS AROUND DOING BUSINESS IN NEW YORK STATE THINGS LIKE THAT MATTER.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT KEVIN SAID, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS NOT JUST ABOUT EASTBOUND INCENTIVES IT'S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING YOUR COMMUNITY ASSETS, HUMAN, INTELLECTUAL ASSETS, ACADEMIC AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND LEVERAGING THOSE INTO A VALUE PROPOSITION FOR BUSINESS.

HOW CAN YOU HELP A BUSINESS WHETHER IT IS A HIGH-TECH COMPANY OR MANUFACTURER OR SERVICE SECTOR BUSINESS HOW CAN YOU HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS WHICH ARE PROFITABILITY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS WE CAN DO THAT.

BUT INCENTIVES ARE PART OF TOOLKIT AND I THINK THEY SHOULD BE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I GIVE NEW YORK STATE A LOT OF CREDIT FOR IS WHEN I CAME BACK TO NEW YORK STATE 21 YEARS AGO, MANY OF THE PROGRAMS WERE NOT PAY FOR PERFORMANCE BASED PROGRAMS.

TODAY THEY ARE.

COMPANIES HAVE TO DELIVER ON THEIR PROMISES OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND JOB CREATION AND JOB RETENTION TO GET A DOLLAR OUT OF MOST OF THE THESE STATE PROGRAMS AND LOCAL PROGRAMS AND THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

PEOPLE DESERVE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AROUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUT DONE RIGHT THE PROGRAMS CREATE MORE VALUE THAN THEY COST AND THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE.

A LOT OF WORK GOES INTO SIZING INVESTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS A RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THE STATE, FOR OUR LOCAL PARTNERS.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING EVERYONE IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORLD THEY TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY.

>> I MEAN, I THINK WHERE IT DOES WORK THERE'S TRARN TRANSPARENCY.

IT'S BUSINESS, LABOR, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND HOW DOES THAT TAX INCENTIVE INCENTIVIZE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY WITH COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENTS.

WHERE SOME AREN'T WORKING ARE WITH THE LOCALIZED IDA'S.

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES.

THERE'S BEEN STRANS PATTERNSY REGULATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT INTO EFFECT WHERE THE COMPTROLLER DOES DO SOME AUDITING OF WHAT THOSE INCENTIVES AND JOB CREATION HAVE CREATED.

BUT THERE ARE MANY THAT GET THESE TAX INCENTIVES WHERE THEY ARE NOT CREATING JOBS.

AND IT IS A SUCK AND A DRAIN ON THE COMMUNITIES AND WHAT THE MOVEMENT NOW IS THERE'S SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE LOSING THAT TAX BASE AND SOMETIMES THEY HAVE TO LAYOFF TEACHERS OR CLOSE PROGRAMS BECAUSE OF THESE SMALL ON LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES ARE GIVING THE TAX BREAKS.

AND ONE WAY TO HELP ADVANCE OR HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY, IS TO HAVE LABOR SEATS ON THE TABLE.

HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS PART OF THAT PROCESS.

SO IT'S NOT JUST THE IDA'S SAYING YES THIS LOOKS GOOD.

WE'LL GIVE THEM A TAX ABATEMENT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE JOBS THEY DON'T CREATE AND REACH THEIR LEVEL OF COMMITMENT.

MODELING AND AFTER WHAT ESD IS DOING AND THAT TRANSPARENCY AND MAKING SURE THERE'S PERFORMANCE AND JOB REQUIREMENTS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ATTACHED TO IT THAT IS THE NEXT LEVEL.

MOVING IDA'S TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE IN THEIR OPERATIONS.

>> AND POINT OUT THERE IS A REMARKABLE AMOUNT OF TRANSPARENCY THAT IS REQUIRED IDA'S IN NEW YORK STATE AND THEY DO A GOOD JOB AND I'M PROUD OF OUR PARTNERS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK AND WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE HEADLINES THERE IS A PROJECT HERE OR THERE THAT MAYBE DID NOT LIVE UP TO THE STANDARD.

THE CONCERN I HAVE SOMETIMES IS THAT WE LABEL OR TRY TO PAINT THEM WITH THE SAME BRUSH.

THE REALITY IS THAT THESE ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TOOLS FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AS WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE PROJECTS LIKE MICRON.

IF NOT FOR THE ONONDAGA IDA WE WOULD NOT HAVE MICRON IN CENTRAL NEW YORK BECAUSE OF THE ROLE THEY DID TO ASSEMBLE THE SITE AND THE TAX BENEFITS.

THESE ARE CRITICAL PARTNERS IN OUR EFFORT TO REBUILD OUR UPSTATE COMMUNITIES.

AND I WANT TO BRING US BACK TO WHERE WE WERE AT THE BEGINNING, OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS UPSTATE NEW YORK HAVE SUFFERED 60, 70, 80 AND 90 YEARS OF DECLINE.

WHEN I MOVED BACK IN 2003, THE SINGLE MESSAGE I HEARD FROM EVERY BUSINESS OWNER WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH JOBS AND THERE'S NOT A CLEAR ECONOMIC FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AS WE THINK ABOUT CREATING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES, GENERATING MEANINGFUL ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PUTTING UPSTATE NEW YORK ON A MAP WHERE WE ARE GLOBALLY RELEVANT HAS BEEN A CRITICAL PART OF THE STRATEGY AND THAT COMES WITH NEEDING TO LINEUP EVERY TOOL AND INCENTIVE.

AS A RESULT OF THAT WORK AND THE PARTNERS INCLUDING OUR IDA'S AND TAX CREDITS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOW WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE UPSTATE NEW YORK FROM THE HUDSON VALLEY THROUGH WESTERN NEW YORK, WE ARE IN THE FRONT ROW SEAT FOR THE MANUFACTURING OF THE MOST CRITICAL INPUT TO THE MODERN ECONOMY SEMICONDUCTOR.

WE ARE NOW BACK IN A PLACE OF GLOBAL RELEVANCE, UPSTATE NEW YORK AND OUR MANUFACTURING THAT WILL BE HAPPENING HERE NOT ONLY MATTERS TO NEW YORK STATE AND OUR COMMUNITIES BUT IT MATTERS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

OUR ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS AS A COUNTRY AND OUR NATIONAL SECURITY DEPEND ON WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.

>> TO FLUSH OUT THE ISSUES THAT AMY RAISED YOU HAVE IDA'S GIVING OUT GRANTS FOR LIKE A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT FOR BUSINESSES THAT SAID PUBLICLY WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS PROJECT REGARDLESS BUT THANKS FOR THE MONEY.

YOU HAVE SOME WHO FIGHT THEIR REGULATORS WHEN IT COMES TIME TO ACTUALLY BE DISCLOSING CERTAIN INFORMATION.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY, I SORT OF GET HUNG UP ON IS THE IDEA THAT 14 YEARS AGO THEN ANDREW CUOMO CAME IN WITH THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS AND BASED ON THE IDEA AS A STATE WE NEED TO BE MORE REGIONALLY FOCUSED.

AN IDA IS HYPER FOCUSED ON THE LOCAL NEEDS.

I'M CURIOUS IF ANYBODY HAS CONCERNS ABOUT THE IDA'S COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER IN NEW YORK OR WHETHER YOU FEEL LIKE THERE IS A ROLE FOR THEM TO PLAY IN GOING TO BAT FOR THEIR NEW YORK COMMUNITY VERSUS POTENTIALLY ANOTHER NEW YORK COMMUNITY?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THE REGIONAL COUNCILS THE EFFECT OF BRINGING EVERYBODY TOGETHER IN THE REGION THERE'S NOT A REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE.

IT IS ALL THE PARTNERS INCLUDING THE IDA'S IN THE REGION.

AND THERE IS AN ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGY, THERE'S BRINGING FOLKS TOGETHER TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES.

AND THE IDA'S ARE PART OF THAT ALIGNMENT.

THEY ARE.

LIKE THE MULTIPLE UNIVERSITIES AND EMPLOYERS THEY HAVE DIFFERENT INTERESTS BUT THEY COME TOGETHER DO A REAL STRATEGIC ANALYSIS OF WHAT THEY ARE AND WHO THEY WANT TO BE.

AND THEN TRY TO ROAD TOGETHER.

I STARTED THIS JOB 17 YEARS AGO AND IT IS A VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH WITHIN THE REGIONS INCLUDING ALL PARTNERS.

ARE PEOPLE DOING THEIR OWN THING?

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT THERE IS A MUCH MORE COLLABORATIVE APPROACH AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL AND A RESPECT OF THE STRATEGIES FROM THE STATE LEVEL.

>> THE STATE KNOWS WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU WE'LL DO IF FOR YOU IT'S NOT THE CASE.

THE IDA'S ARE A PART OF THOSE REGIONAL AND THAT IS IMPORTANT.

YOU WANT EVERYBODY IN THE TENT AND ITH THAT IS WHAT THE REGIONAL COUNCIL DOSE.

>> FROM OUR EXPERIENCE WE DON'T SEE OUR LOCAL IDA'S COMPETING WITH EACH TO STEAL BUSINESS ACROSS THE CITY LINE.

I'VE HEARD THAT TALKING POINT FOR 20 YEARS.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

AND FOR THE MOST PART WE SEE OUR ID'S' SHARE INFORMATION AND TRY TO WORK ON REGIONAL STRATEGY AND UNDERSTAND HOW THE ASSETS LINEUP AND CAN BE MUTUALLY SUPPORTIVE.

I THINK WE ARE IN A MOMENT NOW THANKS TO SO MUCH HARD WORK AND COLLABORATION WE ARE IN A MOMENT WHERE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO TRANSFORM THE UPSTATE NEW YORK ECONOMY.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE US ALL NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO TAKE THE FOOT OFF THE GAS OR DISINVEST IN STRATEGIES THAT OVER 10 YEARS HAVE PROVEN TO BE WORKING.

OUR ECONOMY IS GROWING AGAIN.

OUR POPULATION IS GROWING AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 90 YEARS.

THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN DOING OVER THE LAST DECADE OR TWO, ARE DRIVING PROGRESS.

WE'RE MOVING AND BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW WE'RE LIFTING PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED INTO OPPORTUNITY AND TRYING TO ENSURE THAT MORE OF OUR FUTURE PROSPERITY IS SHARED.

AND IT TAKES ALL OF THOSE TOOLS ALL OF THOUGH INCENTIVES AND FRANKLY MORE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT THE OUTCOME FROM THESE INVESTMENTS ARE THE ONES WE WANT.

AND I THINK THAT IS JUST THE FOCUS.

IT NEEDS TO BE THE FOCUS OF OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS.

WE CAN GET CAUGHT UP IN FIGHTS AND ARGUMENTS BUT FOR THE MOST PART FINDING ALIGNMENT TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE OUR STRATEGY AND DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY IS WHERE OUR FOCUS NEEDS TO BE.

>> AMY, DO YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING?

>> I THINK IT'S SEMICONDUCTOR ABSOLUTELY.

BUT WE CAN'T FORGET ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY WHICH CROSSES ACROSS NEW YORK STATE.

WE TALK ABOUT THE OFFSHORE WIND PROJECTS OFF THE COAST OF LONG ISLAND AND WE KNOW THAT IS HAPPENING AND IN NEW YORK CITY.

BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT OUR SUPPOSE STATE COMMUNITIES HOW DO THEY FIT INTO THE SUPPLY CHAIN?

I THINK IT WAS INTENTIONAL FROM NYSERDA AND THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WITH THE CLCPA IT'S JUST NOT BENEFITING THE DOWN STATE COMMUNITIES.

HOW DO WE PLUG INTO THE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT OFF?

WHO HAD THE POWER PLANTS IN THE BACKYARD AND WHOSE CHILDREN HAVE HIGH RATES OF ASTHMA.

LET'S MAKE SURE THEY ARE PART OF THE ECONOMIC SUCCESS AND PART OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN WITH THE MANUFACTURERS.

THE BUILDING WITH THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES.

MAKING SURE THAT THE BUILDING TRADES WHO HAVE TRADITIONALLY DONE THE BUILDINGS WHAT ARE THOSE SKILLS THAT'S THAT THEY NEED TO INSTALL CHARGING STATIONS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A PIPELINE IN THE SYSTEMIC FROM LONG ISLAND TO NEW YORK CITY, WESTCHESTER, CENTRAL NEW YORK OUT TO BUFFALO.

IT'S THAT ECOSYSTEM OF NOT ONLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUT MAKING SURE THE WORKFORCE IS TRAINED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES, ADDED CERTIFICATIONS.

LET'S FACE IT THE ELECTRIFICATION IN TORQUE STATE WE ARE DEALING WITH HIGH VOLTAGE SYSTEMS.

THAT IS GOING TO BE NEW FOR THE ELECTRICIANS AND FOLKS WHO ARE MAINTAINING THOSE FACILITIES, WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER I WON'T GET TOO MUCH INTO IT BUT WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS THE ELECTRIFICATION OF SCHOOL BUSES.

FOLKS WHO HAVE DEALT WITH ENGINES WHERE THEY ARE WORKING ON OIL CHANGES NOW THEY HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO DIAGNOSE THE BATTERIES THAT ARE RUNNING THESE.

HOW ARE THEY MAKING SURE THEY ARE CHARGED?

SO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS JUST AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS VAST AND VARIED BUT IT IS AS LONG AS IT'S PART OF A DISCUSSION WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IT GOES HAND IN HAND.

IT IS A WIN-WIN FOR WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS.

>> ONLY 30 SECONDS LEFT.

KEVIN IN LIGHT WHAT WHAT AMY BROUGHT UP IS ESD INVOLVED IN THE ELEMENTS OF THE GREEN TRANSITION WHETHER IT'S MY PA HANDING OUT POWER OR NYSERDA?

>> WE'RE CLOSE WITH ALL THOSE PARTNERS EVERYDAY.

AND WE TALK ABOUT GREEN CHIPS BUT THERE'S ALSO AN ENHANCEMENT AROUND THE PROGRAM AROUND SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM.

IN TERMS OF THE NATURE AND THE AMOUNT OF INCENTIVES THAT ARE TARGETED.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY, SEMICONDUCTOR AND THE HIGH-TECH A.I.

AND THOSE PACE SPACES WE'RE SEEING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT PRIVATELY AND THAT TREMENDOUS INVESTMENT FROM THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

BUT DONE IN A WAY THAT INCLUDES WORKFORCE, HOUSING, CHILDCARE, THINKING ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE ECONOMY.

>> I THINK THE THING -- >> AND THE A.I.

TALK FOR THE SECOND HOUR OF CONNECT NEW YORK BECAUSE THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TODAY.

THANKS TO YOU ALL FOR SPENDING TIME WITH US TODAY.

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