In accordance with current Legislation, this meeting will be conducted via teleconference. The public may listen to the meeting via webcast by clicking the link below. Members of the public may submit comments on the Agenda items in writing to [email protected] by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. All comments received by the deadline will be distributed to the Members prior to the meeting and will posted on-line.

Public Notice

Today, The Times Union published commentary by Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight, on the passage of New York State’s nation-leading Green CHIPS legislation, which will allow the state to further attract the semiconductor industry while ensuring a commitment to environmental sustainability and an obligation to deliver tangible community benefits. Text of the commentary is available below and can be viewed online here. Commentary: Green CHIPS bill will bring big investment to New York Hope Knight June 21, 2022 Earlier this month, the Legislature overwhelmingly, and with bipartisan support, passed the nation’s first Green CHIPS bill, which now gives our state a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the economic trajectory of upstate New York. The passage of Green CHIPS amends the longstanding Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit program to better attract multi-billion-dollar semiconductor manufacturing facilities, further enhancing New York’s competitiveness against other states vying for chip fabs. Green CHIPS will help cement our state as the nation’s leader in an industry that produces one of the United States’ top five exports and is the top contributor to domestic labor productivity growth. In combination with New York state’s long-standing semiconductor investments, it positions New York to gain a greater percentage of federal aid and private investment from the federal Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (“CHIPS”) Act. Regardless of when Congress is able to pass the CHIPS Act, New York has already taken steps to grow the industry here at a time when global competition is increasing. The global chip shortage is hurting Americans where we can least afford it: our wallets. Supply chain issues and a decline in the United States’ share of global chip production are causing undue hardships to every aspect of the economy.  This erosion of U.S. chip production capacity puts our nation at a strategic disadvantage in several critical areas, including national security, technological innovation, and economic growth and independence. Because more than 300 industries – from cars to cellphones – use chips, their scarcity drives up prices of other consumer goods. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo put it more bluntly: The lack of chips, she said, is directly responsible for the worst inflationary pressure we’ve suffered in forty years. Why is Green CHIPS important to New York? • Jobs. Any recipient of Green CHIPS will need to invest at least $3 billion in the state and create at least 500 company jobs. Locally, look no further than Malta and Marcy for what the industry means to a community: GlobalFoundries, which has invested over $15 billion in the region, has been transformational in the Capital District. Wolfspeed, which just cut the ribbon on a billion-dollar fab in Marcy, has already invested millions of dollars in internships, workforce development programs and curriculum enhancements at SUNY, and has created hundreds of local, high-paying jobs in the Utica area. Green CHIPS will attract more transformational projects that build on upstate New York’s traditional strength in manufacturing and create new jobs at every level -- not just engineering jobs that require advanced degrees, but jobs of the future for the regions and people of our state who have suffered and need them the most.  • Community benefits. Building on similar provisions in the Federal CHIPS Act, Green CHIPS represents a holistic and inclusive model of economic development for chip fabs by ensuring that each project will deliver real community benefits, including prevailing wage, workforce training, and programs to expand opportunity for disadvantaged populations • The environment. Green CHIPS has the potential to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by tying financial assistance to ensuring that more semiconductors – which are critical components of sectors that will help combat climate change, such as electric vehicles, energy efficiency, energy storage and clean energy – are manufactured in a more sustainable production process, in line with the draft guidelines released by the New York State Climate Action Council • Accountability. Green CHIPS is a discretionary, pay-for-performance incentive. Companies would​ not receive any state assistance until they meet their annual job, investment, and other project commitments.   U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and other members of the New York congressional delegation are doing their part by working to pass the federal CHIPS Act. By passing Green CHIPS, New York has shown that we are ready to do our part to address the national chip shortage, and that we can balance economic opportunity with environmental sustainability.  Hope Knight of New York City is president and CEO of Empire State Development.    Contact: Kristin Devoe | [email protected] | (518) 414-1087 ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313      

Paper Board Packaging Manufacturer Constructed New, 105,000 Square-Foot Facility in the Town of Henrietta; Commits to Creating Close to 40 New Jobs Investment Complements “Finger Lakes Forward” – The Region’s Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that Premier Packaging Corporation, has officially opened a 105,000 square-foot, newly constructed, manufacturing facility in Wiregrass Business Park in the Town of Henrietta, Monroe County. The company which provides paper board packaging to some of the country’s largest digital photo finishing, food packaging, and medical device companies built the plant to better accommodate demand for its products and has additionally committed to creating up to 37 new jobs as part of the expansion project; 52 jobs will be retained. Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Premier Packaging Corporation’s new facility reinforces the company’s commitment to the Finger Lakes, a region that offers the “whole package” to top-notch businesses looking for skilled talent. New York's targeted support for forward-thinking projects like this one will continue to strengthen the economy, creating top quality jobs in Monroe County and across the state.”   Premier Packaging Corporation was founded in 1989 and was acquired by DSS, Inc. in 2010. DSS is a multinational company, operating businesses in consumer packaging, blockchain security, direct marketing, healthcare, medical real estate, and securitized digital assets.  Premier has been a market leader in providing innovative and secure solutions for paperboard packaging from heavy mailing envelops and photo sleeves, to sophisticated custom folding cartons and complex 3-dimensional direct mail solutions. Premier’s innovative designs deliver functionality, marketability, sustainability, and anti-counterfeiting technology. Premier Packaging Corporation President and DSS Chief Operating Officer, Jason Grady said, “We are grateful to ESD for providing Premier with an opportunity to advance our business. As a multinational company, we had several options when considering a new location, but with the help of ESD, we are able to continue to call this area home and excited to begin operations in our new state-of-the-art facility in Henrietta. The Upstate NY and Finger Lakes region has proven as an ideal place for us to operate our business, service our customer base, and further expand our offerings, and we look forward to continuing that succuss moving forward.” ESD is assisting Premier Packaging by providing up to $700,000 in performance-based Excelsior Tax Credits in exchange for job creation commitments. Monroe County, Rochester Gas & Electric and Greater Rochester Enterprise are also assisting with the company’s continued growth. The total project cost has been placed at $6.2 million. State Senator Patrick Gallivan said, “I congratulate Premier Packaging Corporation on its new manufacturing facility in Henrietta and its decision to expand in Monroe County.  The project adds new jobs, secures existing ones and sends a positive message to the community.  Supporting existing businesses and helping them to grow is critical as we work to expand the economy of our region and New York State."  State Assembly Member Harry Bronson said, “I applaud Premier Packaging for their commitment to our region,” said Assemblymember Harry Bronson. “Today’s announcement by the company shows that the Rochester area has a strong, diverse, and skilled workforce and is in an economic position to create jobs for the future. I look forward to Premier Packaging’s growth and the addition of new jobs at their new Henrietta campus.” Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said, “Monroe County continues to prove itself to be a hub of economic growth, technological advancement and entrepreneurial spirit – and that is further demonstrated by Premier Packaging Corporation’s investment in our community and neighbors. My thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul and Empire State Development for continuing to foster job growth and prosperity for Monroe County.” Henrietta Town Supervisor Stephen L. Schultz said, “We were very happy to learn Premier Packaging would be expanding their production facilities and chose Henrietta’s Winegrass Business Park to do so, creating up to 37 new jobs in addition to the 52 existing employees on staff. Innovative programs at the Rochester Institute of Technology, such as their Packaging Science program, help to bring in strong talent to Henrietta. In an effort to retain that talent, we have partnered with Monroe County and the State of New York and have rezoned the areas south of the RIT campus for industrial parks and mixed-use development. Premier Packaging is another great example of the numerous companies that have located in office parks near campus as a result, growing a strong industrial center, and creating many well-paying jobs for our residents and for those throughout the region. The efforts of Empire State Development and Monroe County to attract businesses to the area has paid big dividends.” Bob Duffy, President and CEO of Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Committee Co-Chair, said, “Congratulations to Premier Packaging Corporation on this exciting expansion in the Town of Henrietta, which proves once again that the Greater Rochester/Finger Lakes region is an ideal place for innovative companies to grow and thrive. Thank you to our partners in government and economic development for helping to enhance business investment and growth in our region. We look forward to assisting Premier Packaging Corporation President and DSS Chief Operating Officer Jason Grady and his team with their continued success.” Matt Hurlbutt, President and CEO, Greater Rochester Enterprise said, “Premier Packaging Corporation continues to leverage the packaging assets and expertise available in the Greater Rochester, NY region to support its growth. This expansion is another great example of collaboration – including an outstanding developer who supplied a facility that met the company’s needs. This support, coupled with a competitive cost of doing business, made Rochester the right location for Premier Packaging Corporation’s expansion.” For additional information regarding Premier Packaging visit: https://www.dsssecure.com/packaging/. For additional Information regarding DSS, Inc.: visit: https://www.dssinc.com/. Accelerating Finger Lakes Forward  Today’s announcement complements “Finger Lakes Forward,” the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The regionally designed plan focuses on investing in key industries including photonics, agriculture‎ and food production, and advanced manufacturing. Now, the region is accelerating Finger Lakes Forward with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative. The State’s $500 million investment will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion – and the region’s plan, as submitted, projects up to 8,200 new jobs. More information is available here. ​ About Empire State Development Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency (www.esd.ny.gov). The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing the Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NEW YORK,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov. ### About DSS, Inc. DSS is a multinational company operating businesses within nine divisions: Product Packaging, Biotechnology, Direct Marketing, Commercial Lending, Securities and Investment Management, Alternative Trading, Digital Transformation, Secure Living, and Alternative Energy. DSS strategically acquires and develops assets to enrich the value of its shareholders through calculated IPO spinoffs and a parametric share distribution strategy. Since 2019, under the guidance of new leadership, DSS has built the necessary foundation for achievable growth through the formation of a diversified portfolio of companies positioned to drive profitability in multiple high growth sectors. These companies offer innovative, flexible, and real-world solutions that not only provide mutual benefits for businesses and their customers, but also create sustainable value and opportunity for transformation. For more information on DSS visit http://www.dssworld.com. Contact: Shari Vincent | [email protected]| (585) 399-7055 | (800) 260-7313 Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313