Empire State Development meetings

Third Event Co-hosted with the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and New Partner Ghetto Film School Connects Diverse Content Creators with Entertainment Experts for Career Advice and Guidance Bronx Community College (BCC) and IATSE Local 52 Welcome Inaugural Class of Film Production Training Program 25 Students to Begin Training This Month for Careers in the Entertainment Sector  Photos are Available Here Empire State Development (ESD) today co-hosted the New York State Multicultural Creativity Summit, an interactive workshop that provides a roadmap for content creators of diverse backgrounds to navigate the film and television industry. The Summit, hosted by the Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & Television Development and the Motion Picture Association (MPA) together with new partner Ghetto Film School, is the most recent of New York State’s initiatives to promote the inclusion of diverse voices in the entertainment industry. “New York State’s film and television industry is driving the statewide economy, generating billions of dollars in economic activity and more than one million hires to date,” said Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-Designate Eric Gertler. “Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, today’s Summit and the new Film Production Training Program at BCC will expand opportunities for the next generation of diverse filmmakers, writers, directors, producers and studio executives to gain a seat at the table and build an even stronger, more inclusive entertainment industry.” The Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & Television Development (MPTV) works closely with studios, non-profit organizations and film festival curators to promote New York State’s talent and help expand pathways for aspiring filmmakers, writers and producers. The interactive workshop featured panel discussions that provided advice and guidance for diverse content creators looking to advance their careers in the film and television industry, followed by a networking session with representatives from CBS Corporation, HBO, NBCUniversal, Viacom, Walt Disney Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Bros. Entertainment and more industry leaders. Speakers at the event included The Blacklist Executive Producer Laura Benson, CBS’ upcoming drama series Tommy Executive Producer and Director Christine Moore, BET Networks Chief Social Impact and Communications Officer Jeanine Liburd, HBO Talent Development and Programming Manager Robert Patla, WarnerMedia Entertainment Executive Vice President of Multicultural Marketing, Brand & Inclusion Strategy Lucinda Martinez and others. This is the third Multicultural Creativity Summit and the first held at the SkySquare Conference Center at Viacom in New York City. The first two events were hosted at the HBO Theater in New York City in May 2017 and October 2018. “The future of the film and television industry depends on a wide variety of stories being told by diverse creators, on screen and behind the camera,” said Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association. “The State of New York provides an incredible opportunity for people of all backgrounds to tell their stories. The Motion Picture Association is proud to co-host this Summit and support inclusive storytelling in New York and throughout our industry.” “The New York State Multicultural Creativity Summit has helped our industry to prioritize inclusive storytelling,” said Gail MacKinnon, Senior Executive Vice President of Global Policy and Government Affairs at the Motion Picture Association. “New York State is both a home to many diverse communities and a key production hub for the film and television industry, generating 100,000 jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity every year. We look forward to continuing to work with Governor Cuomo, the Legislature, Empire State Development, and our multicultural partners in the state on events like this one that build a diverse and inclusive pipeline of creative professionals.” “I am honored to be a part of New York State’s Multicultural Creativity Summit this year,” said Sharese Bullock-Bailey, Chief Strategy and Partnership Officer at the Ghetto Film School. “The film and entertainment industry thrives when diverse creators are given a platform to showcase their art. Every individual, organization, company and filmmaker taking part in today’s summit is playing a significant role in breaking boundaries and embracing diversity in media.” Today’s Summit is part of a larger statewide initiative to increase diversity and inclusion and create equal opportunities in the film and television industry. During the Second New York State Multicultural Summit in October 2018, New York State announced an unprecedented partnership with Bronx Community College and IATSE Local 52 to launch a new 14-week program that will train up to 100 students for work in union trade crafts, such as property, carpentry and electric. This year, the program welcomes its first cohort of 25 students scheduled to begin classes focused on the Electric craft this month, with a curriculum being developed by some of the top electricians in the film and television industry. Upon completion of the program this spring, graduates will receive a Bronx Community College/CUNY Continuing Education Certificate in Film and Television Production and will be officially ready for hire on production sets, soundstages and studios. Bronx Community College Dean for Workforce and Economic Development Kenneth Adams said, “Governor Cuomo’s support of Bronx Community College’s new Film Production Training program will enable our students to prepare for and succeed in demanding film and television production jobs that previously were beyond their reach.  Our program will create a pipeline of skilled and diverse talent for Local 52 while it opens up rewarding career opportunities for CUNY students.” IATSE Local 52 Vice President John Ford said, “Local 52 looks forward to working with BCC on this project to provide qualified technicians to the employers in the entertainment industry.  These are good jobs that provide employer sponsored health and retirement benefits.” New York State continues to lead the nation in the fight for social justice and embracing diversity by passing legislation to ensure LGBTQ rights and marriage equality, welcoming our immigrant community, launching a women's equality agenda and fighting workplace discrimination. The Multiculturalism Summit, along with PITCHNY℠ held last month which connects aspiring film students and recent graduates from diverse backgrounds with industry professionals for informational panels, roundtable discussions and one-on-one pitch practice sessions, builds on Governor Cuomo's legacy of expanding opportunity, increasing diversity, promoting inclusion and standing up for all minority groups in New York State. About the Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & Television Development The New York State Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & Television Development (MPTV), a division of Empire State Development, offers film, television and commercial productions and post-production tax credits for qualified expenditures in New York State. The office also serves as a liaison between production companies and city and local governments, state agencies, a network of statewide contacts, local film offices and professional location scouts and managers. For more information on filming in New York State or the Film Production and Post-Production Tax Credit Programs, please visit www.NYSFilm.com.    About Empire State Development Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency. 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 Governor Cuomo’s 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, please visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov. Contact: Skye Ernst | [email protected] | (212) 803-3765 ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313

Business invests more than $2 million to renovate historic property with the support of Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) See picture of Old Library Restaurant and Event Center here Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the substantial completion of renovations on the Old Library Restaurant and event center in Olean, creating a unique regional destination for visitors. The project also includes the future expansion of a day spa in an adjacent Victorian era home, which currently serves as an inn. The $2 million-plus investment is expected to result in the addition of up to 65 employees.  “Our Downtown Revitalization Initiative is creating new opportunities across New York – transforming communities, creating jobs, and bringing back a sense of hope and pride,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “With support from the DRI, Olean is reimagining its future, bringing back historic buildings, and investing in the downtown streetscape to improve safety and walkability for pedestrians and bicyclists. The renovated Old Library Restaurant and Event Center will help to draw more visitors to Olean to support continued economic growth in Cattaraugus County and Western New York.”   “For more than 100 years the Old Library has been a gathering place for residents,” said Daniel and Kathryn DeCerbo, Old Library Restaurant and Inn owners.  “It will be our pleasure to extend this tradition and attract new visitors to Olean. We are thankful for the support of New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, which helped make our unique and inviting renovations possible.”  Extensive improvements have been made to the interior and exterior of the former Carnegie Library, an architecturally significant landmark located at 116 South Union Street. The Beaux-Arts style library, listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, was built in 1909 with $40,000 provided by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The interior features a grand stairway and entrance, large rooms and a central atrium. Renovation of the current Old Library Restaurant and adjacent Inn includes improvements to the exterior and interior of restaurant which encompass, but are not limited to, lighting, flooring, atrium, bar/lounge, dining, mezzanine, kitchen and bathroom areas. Exterior improvements include landscaping of both properties and additional renovation of the Inn at 120 South Union to include a future expansion of a float spa. The success of The Old Library project will be measured by increased bookings of events, banquets, overnight stays and return on investment. In addition to providing jobs, the owners are supporting the local economy by featuring local artists and musicians and purchasing produce and meat from local farms. Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, “The Old Library’s new chapter, made possible by the DRI, will contribute to Olean’s goal of a vibrant downtown that will make residents proud and introduce visitors to all the region has to offer.” Secretary of State Rossana Rosado said, “The completion of the Old Library Project exemplifies how Olean is capitalizing on the Governor’s DRI program to create a thriving downtown community for residents and visitors to enjoy.” The Old Library received a $719,500 DRI capital grant to expand its business, create jobs and increase tourism to the Olean area.  The project supports the following DRI strategies: Promotes the restoration and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings to accommodate new and expanding businesses. Establishes a destination restaurant, event center and boutique inn in the heart of the downtown to better support tourism and visitation. Complements and leverages the planned improvements to Lincoln Park, which is directly across Union Street, and reinforces the area around the Union Street/State Street intersection as the civic and cultural heart of downtown. Creates up to 65 new employment opportunities in the downtown district. Leverages adjacent DRI-proposed projects including South Union Streetscape. Elevates the importance and momentum of downtown’s renewal and resurgence and signals this to other potential downtown investors. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo launched the Downtown Revitalization Initiative in 2016, a $100 million effort to improve the vitality of urban centers across New York State. Downtown Olean was selected as a Round Two DRI winner for Western New York, receiving $10 million based on the strength of its vision for downtown renewal. Olean’s vision is to make the city vibrant and residents optimistic about opportunities to work, to learn and to thrive in Olean, with a special emphasis on retaining younger and college-educated residents. A renewed commitment by the city and numerous public and private partners to revitalize Olean has resulted in key investments downtown, including the redevelopment of the historic Manny Hanny Building and several other major mixed-use buildings. WNY Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chair and Buffalo State College President Dr. Katherine Conway-Turner said,” The REDC recognizes the vital importance of our Downtown districts to the continued growth and future development of the entire region. Projects such as the Old Library are helping to reinvigorate the heart of Olean. By investing in the character and authenticity of Olean’s downtown the DRI is helping the community capitalize on its assets and enhance the urban opportunities for businesses, residents and visitors.” Senator George Borrello said, “Today marks another milestone in realizing the transformation of downtown Olean into a thriving cultural destination and economic engine for the region. The state’s investment of DRI funds, combined with the DeCerbo’s incredible vision and determination, have given new life to the Old Library – a historic gem that was a beloved gathering place for generations.  As a restaurant and event center, this beautiful building will bring residents and visitors to the heart of Olean, stimulating the economy and adding a new chapter to the legacy of this proud landmark.” Assemblyman Joseph Giglio said, “This is the kind of project that energizes a community, and we look forward to all of the good things that are going to happen as a result. Innovative ideas like this are a key to success for communities. It is wonderful to witness the repurposing of the historic Carnegie Library, which has been a center of activity since it was built in 1909.” City of Olean Mayor William J. Aiello said, “We thank Governor Cuomo for selecting Olean as a DRI recipient. We are pleased to attend the ribbon cutting for one of our most dynamic DRI projects. Thanks to the remarkable renovations, this great old building will serve the community as a unique restaurant for years to come.” About Empire State Development Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency. 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 Governor Cuomo’s 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, please visit and www.esd.ny.gov. Contacts: Pamm Lent (Governor’s office) | [email protected] | 716-846-8309 Laura Magee (ESD) | [email protected] | 716-846-8239

New York’s foliage isn’t the only thing getting attention this fall.  Our economy is just as vibrant, with plans for a $1 billion, 600-job silicon-carbide wafer fabrication facility, the completion of a 50-mile drone corridor, developing the state’s cybersecurity sector and support for advance cancer research, autumn has been a season of innovation in New York State. These are just a few of the many ways New York is the state of the future: Hiring is underway and construction plans are on schedule for Cree Inc.’s $1 billion 200mm silicon carbide wafer (SiC) fabrication facility, the Mohawk Valley Fab. In September, Governor Cuomo announced a public-private partnership with Cree, a global leader in silicon carbide (SiC) technology, for creation of the state-of-the-art facility. The facility will produce power electronics chips to meet the needs of industry, and with anticipated demand from the electric vehicle market. The company has committed to create more than 600 full-time jobs. Cree is currently leasing space on the SUNY Polytechnic Institute campus in Albany using equipment purchased as part of the New York Power Electronics Manufacturing Consortium (PEMC) – in October, Cree and the New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering and Science (NY CREATES) successfully completed the first silicon carbide test wafers at the Albany campus. The Cree partnership includes workforce development across the SUNY system to prepare New Yorkers for 21st century jobs. It's official: New York State is home to the nation’s first 50-mile drone corridor, stretching from Central New York to the Mohawk Valley. Governor Cuomo announced the corridor’s completion earlier this month. The corridor is the country’s most advanced and will allow companies to test UAS-related products and unmanned traffic management (UTM) technologies for uses in a wide range of industries from forest management to film. The Nov. 12 drone announcement coincided with news of an expansion of CenterState CEO’s Tech Garden, home to new startups, to the UAS-focused GENIUS NY business accelerator competition and anchor of the Syracuse City Center Innovation hub. New York State continues to build a tech talent pipeline for its key industries, including a growing homeland and cybersecurity sector. On Nov. 12, the Governor announced the opening of the Cybersecurity Innovation and Research Center at Hofstra University. The $1.35 million center, with $200,000 in state support, features top tech and simulation software allowing students to react to realistic cyberattacks. The Hofstra center is the latest in a series of cybersecurity-focused programs and initiatives recently announced across the state. Last month marked the opening of the Center for Therapeutics Research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island, one of the country’s top research institutions and home to groundbreaking discoveries for more than a century. The facility, which opened on Oct. 30 and is supported by a $25 million state grant, will research advanced therapies for genetic diseases, with a focus on cancer research and is expected to draw the world’s leading scientists to advance that research, adding to the strength of Long Island’s thriving biotech industry.  In October, the New York State Innovation Summit in Rochester brought together companies and entrepreneurs to showcase and discover the new technologies that are supporting innovation and driving business growth in New York State. ESD’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR) and FuzeHub, a statewide nonprofit that helps manufacturers become more competitive, hosted the Oct. 7-8 event, which coincides with the NYSTAR annual meeting. Attendees learned about growing their businesses in New York State, about the capabilities defining the next generation of technology and manufacturing and about the state’s critical innovation assets and expertise. Also on the agenda: a NYSTAR video highlighting those assets. 

New York State continues to lead the empowerment of minority and women-owned businesses (MWBEs) at every level—with the utilization rate for MWBEs on New York State contracts rising to 29.13% during Fiscal Year 2018-19—once again the highest rate in the nation. Governor Cuomo announced the new number on Oct. 2, in conjunction with the annual MWBE Forum in Albany.  MWBEs won more than $2.93 billion in state contracts during the past fiscal year—adding to a total of more than $15.9 billion since 2011. The Forum, New York State’s largest annual business event for MWBEs, brings together business owners, community leaders, state officials and contractors’ representatives to discuss state contracting opportunities and learn about resources available to minority and women-owned firms. The event furthers Governor Cuomo’s efforts to create a level playing field for MWBEs and to increase their participation in New York State contracting. This year’s Forum, Leading the Nation, was held Oct. 2-3 and featured 49 workshops highlighting New York State’s best-in-the-nation efforts to assist small businesses and MWBEs across New York to learn about State contracting opportunities. Once again, the Forum served as a "one-stop shop" for MWBEs to learn about the state procurement process, receive technical assistance and acquire new skills to successfully expand into new market sectors to grow their businesses. This year’s Forum was attended by more than 2,200 businesses, state agencies and authorities and government officials. Throughout the event, attendees were able to visit with 190+ exhibitors; there were more than 800 one-on-one meetings between MWBEs, prime contractors, and state agencies, as well as more than 200 meetings with certification analysts. This year, attendees had the opportunity to learn about topics ranging from the re-authorization of Article 15-A, which provides statutory authority for the MWBE program, to financing assistance and information on major infrastructure projects. The Forum also highlighted new and expanding initiatives by Empire State Development’s Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development. This year, the Supply & Demand Utilization Initiative, which targets industries with low levels of MWBE utilization and availability, has been expanded to support MWBEs in: advertising and marketing, architecture, engineering, environmental services, financial services, insurance, legal services, medical and clinical services, real estate, communications, IT consulting, software development, medical, dental, and lab supplies, office equipment and furniture, and food and beverage. The initiative provides industry-specific assistance, including specialty webinars, technical services from strategic partners, and individualized outreach and networking days.  The Forum also recognized the relaunch of the MWBE Mentor Protégé Program, which matches prime contractor mentors with certified MWBE firms. The mentor firms guide MWBEs with hands-on technical knowledge and networking opportunities, so they can better access state contracting opportunities. The 2019 MWBE Forum built upon the investments New York State has made in its infrastructure and economic development initiatives and underscored new upcoming opportunities for MWBE firms—including those with some of the state’s top projects:  the Belmont Park Redevelopment; John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia Airports Redevelopment; Vital Brooklyn Projects; and the MTA Capital Plan. This year’s Forum also highlighted the incredible work being done by NYS-certified MWBEs, with a first-time “Journey to Success” panel featuring three MWBE firms that all served as prime contractors on New York State contracts. This year’s gathering also featured a newly expanded MWBE-to-MWBE networking session to encourage the creation of new partnerships and strategic alliances. Four New York State MWBE businesses were recognized as Carey Gabay Excellence and Innovation awardees. This honor — named for Carey Gabay, who served as an Assistant Counsel to Governor Cuomo and as First Deputy Counsel for Empire State Development before he was tragically killed in September 2015 — celebrates New York-certified MWBEs for their entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to innovation and efforts to strengthen their communities, principles that Carey Gabay lived during his service to New York State. The 2019 Awardees for Entrepreneurial Spirit and Achievement as New York State-Certified MWBEs are: Laura Cueva, Interior Innovations Kirit Desai, Derive Technologies. LLC Mary Warren, Black Horse Group, LLC Edward O. Watts, Jr., Watts Architecture & Engineering, D.P.C. The governor’s vision to address the issue of underutilization of MWBEs was, and continues to be, based on common-sense economics—New York’s financial growth and stability is dependent upon the success of its small businesses and of its MWBEs. Governor Cuomo is dedicated to ensuring that MWBEs have access to the tools and resources necessary to win State contracts, build healthy communities and strengthen the economy.