CALL TO ACTION - Empire Zones

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A Call To Action - Empire Zones

* In 1986, the New York State Legislature created the Economic Development Zone
Program.
* In 2000, the program was revised, expanded and renamed "Empire Zones."
* On December 16, 2008, Gevernor David A. Paterson announced changes to the
Empire Zones durnig his 2009-2010 Budget Proposals address.

Click here to download a copy of the Proposed Reforms to the Empire Zone Program.

Click here to download Executive DIrector, Robert Dimmig's, comments from the Friday, Feb. 13th Chamber Luncheon.

We need your help to call on the New York State Legislature to reject changes to the Empire Zone program, as proposed by Governor Paterson. The proposals will reduce participation in the program, not lead to genuine reform. The integrity of the program will be sacrificed for short-term budget savings.
The Empire Zone program has given our community an opportunity to influence its own destiny, rather than resign ourselves to decline. In six years, the Town of Tonawanda Empire Zone has leveraged $300 million in new wages, $280 million in new investment, and an average of 500 jobs per year.
If the Governor’s proposals are enacted, companies will no longer trust New York State as a partner, taking their projects to other states or countries. Others will scale back or abandon plans, rejected by a state using arbitrary measures and ignoring basic business principles. The proposals must be rejected.

Click here for to download a copy of this petition.

Send a letter to your elected official as soon as possible to ensure your voice is heard. A sample letter (below) can be copied and pasted onto your company letterhead and tailored to your needs.

SAMPLE LETTER

[Date]

[Addressee]
[Title]
[Address]
[Town, State, ZIP]

Re: Empire Zone Proposals

Dear [Addressee];

As a representative of [company or association], I would like to express opposition to Governor Paterson’s proposed changes to the Empire Zone program. The proposals are designed to reduce participation in the program, not lead to genuine reform. Instead, the integrity of the program will be sacrificed for short-term budget savings.

[Please describe your company or association, including your mission and your interest in the local or regional economy. If you represent a zone company, please describe how the program has influenced job creation and investment, and how that activity led to new opportunities. Please describe the impact you believe the Governor’s proposals would have on your company or association].

We believe that important changes have already been made in response to calls for reform. Loopholes have been closed. Boundaries have been redrawn. Application procedures and annual reviews have been strengthened. New procedures have been developed to hold companies accountable for projections of jobs and investment. Development plans have been written to clearly state the goals and objectives of each zone, including the areas and type of businesses that are targeted.

In contrast, the Governor’s proposals will have a significant, negative impact on job creation and investment in distressed areas. Companies will no longer trust New York State as a partner, taking their projects to other states or countries. Others will scale back or abandon plans, rejected by a state using arbitrary measures and ignoring basic business principles.

I hope that you share our concerns and that you will reject Governor Paterson’s proposed changes to the Empire Zone program. I would like to thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

[Name]
[Title]

Send your CALL TO ACTION Letter to:

Honorable David Paterson
Governor
The Executive Chamber
The Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

Honorable Malcom Smith
Majority Leader
909 Legislative Office Bldg
Albany, NY 12247

Honorable Sheldon Silver
Speaker of the Assembly
932 Legislative Office Bldg
Albany, NY 12248

CC:

Assemblyman Robin Schimminger
3514 Delaware Ave.
Kenmore, NY 14217-1298
and
Legislative Office Bldg, Room 847
Albany, NY 12248

Kenneth Adams
Executive Director
The Business Council of NYS, Inc.
152 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12210-2289

Ken Pokalsky
Senior Director Government Affairs
The Business Council of NYS, Inc.
152 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12210-2289

Michael Moran
Director of Communications
The Business Council of NYS, Inc.
152 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12210-2289

Brian McMahon
Executive Director
NYS Economic Dev't Council
111 Washington Ave., 6th Floor
Albany, NY 12210

Dennis Mullen
Empire State Development
400 Andrews St.
Rochester, NY 14604

Robert Wilmers
ESDC Chairman
Empire State Development Corp.
700 Liberty Building
Buffalo, NY 14202

Senator Mike Ranzenhofer
8203 Main St Ste 4
Williamsville NY 14221

Crystal Peoples
New York State Assembly
792 E. Delavan Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14215
and
Legislative Office Bldg, Room 619
Albany, NY 12248

Sam Hoyt
New York State Assembly
936 Delaware Ave.
Suite 005
Buffalo, NY 14209
and
Legislative Office Bldg, Room 837
Albany, NY 12248

Mark Schroeder
New York State Assembly
2019 Seneca St.
Buffalo, NY 14210
and
Legislative Office Bldg, Room 323
Albany, NY 12248

Antoine Thompson
New York State Senate
Legislative Office Bldg, Room 615
Albany, NY 12247
and
65 Court St., Room 213
Buffalo, NY 14202
and
619 Pine Ave.
Niagara Falls, NY 14302

William Stachowski
New York State Senate
Legislative Office Bldg, Room 837
Albany, NY 12247
and
2030 Clinton St.
Buffalo, NY 14206

Andrew Rudnick, President & CEO
Buffalo Niagara Partnership
665 Main St., Ste 200
Buffalo, NY 14203-1487

Stanford H. Lipsey, Publisher
The Buffalo News
PO Box 100
Buffalo, NY 14240

Visit the Empire Zone Website here: http://www.tonawanda.com/Empirezone/index.html
Email Robert Dimmig for questions or to find out how else you can help: rdimmig@tonawanda.ny.us