Empire State Development Blog

World's Top Women's Hockey Players Will Compete in the Mohawk Valley in Spring 2024 Prestigious International Competition Returns to New York After 30 Years Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that Utica was selected as the host city for the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship, tentatively slated for April 4-14, 2024. USA Hockey will host the event in conjunction with the Upper Mohawk Valley Memorial Auditorium Authority and the Adirondack Bank Center and the Utica University Nexus Center. The IIHF World Women's Championship is the premier international tournament in women's ice hockey. Utica will welcome ten international teams, 350 players, 30,000 local spectators and 20,000 overnight spectators to the Mohawk Valley. "The 2024 IIHF World Women's Championship in Utica will mark the next chapter of New York's winter sports legacy," Governor Hochul said. "As the home of the 1994 IIHF World Women's Championship, as well as the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics and this year's FISU Winter World University Games, New York State is proud of its commitment to winter sports and tourism. Now, thanks to significant State investments and upgrades to local infrastructure, Utica and Oneida County are gearing up to host thousands of athletes and spectators for the world's most competitive women's ice hockey tournament and welcome the world to the Mohawk Valley."  International Ice Hockey Federation President Luc Tardif said, "On behalf of the IIHF, I would like to congratulate the City of Utica for earning the honor of hosting the 2024 IIHF Women's World Championship. It is wonderful to be back in the United States for this important women's tournament, and even more so to return to the state of New York, which has more recently hosted the IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship and the IIHF World Junior Championship but has not hosted the Women's Worlds since way back in 1994. The last time the IIHF Women's World Championship was hosted by USA Hockey was back in 2017, which, history has shown, was one of the most important and exciting IIHF events ever. A lot has changed in the women's game from 1994 to 2017 to today, and although fans will certainly be thrilled to witness another chapter in the exceptional United States-Canada rivalry, we also encourage people to watch the teams from Europe and the Far East that are catching up and closing the gap. Finland and Sweden, Czechia and Switzerland, Germany and Japan have all had exceptional performances in Brampton, Ontario, in 2023, and we expect these nations to challenge the North Americans even more in 2024." Read the full press release here.

View Public NoticePublic Hearing InstructionsModified General Project Plan and Lease Modification

$100 Million of Federal Funding Will be Available to Provide Fast and Affordable High-Speed Internet to Underserved Communities in Rural and Urban Areas that Lack Critical Service Part of Governor Hochul’s $1.2 Billion ConnectALL Initiative to Bring Affordable and Equitable Broadband to All New Yorkers Survey Available Here Empire State Development (ESD) and Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) are encouraging owners and managers of affordable housing properties across the state to indicate their interest in the $100 Million Affordable Residential Connectivity Program, which will provide no-cost installation of fiber broadband wiring and equipment upgrades under Governor Kathy Hochul's ConnectALL initiative. ESD and HCR are asking property owners and managers to indicate interest in receiving these fiber installations at no cost, regardless of whether properties already have broadband wiring. Following the survey, interested parties will be contacted with a more detailed application. Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "Having reliable, accessible and affordable broadband is essential to our economy and our quality of life. This program is a vital component of Governor Hochul’s ConnectALL initiative and will connect all New Yorkers, especially in communities that have historically been left behind." New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "As we found out during the pandemic, New Yorkers need affordable, dependable broadband for work, school, and to access critical services. That’s why HCR is committed to seeing as many affordable housing developments as possible take advantage of this $100 million Affordable Residential Connectivity Program that is poised to deliver reliable internet into 100,000 homes. Every owner of affordable housing who is interested in a no-cost way to bring this essential service to their tenants should complete the quick survey and take an important step toward closing the digital divide." Governor Hochul, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand recently announced that New York State was awarded this federal funding from the U.S. Department of Treasury through the American Rescue Plan to expand high-speed internet. This is the largest targeted investment in affordable housing connectivity in the nation. New York estimates this funding will allow them to connect 100,000 homes and families to affordable, high-speed internet across the state by providing affordable housing properties with new or upgraded fiber broadband so that those residents can access internet service options that are high-speed and offered at an affordable monthly price. Through this program, building owners will work with pre-approved Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that will design and install the fiber running to each affordable home. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State has been leading the nation in closing the digital divide. Last year, New York enrolled one million qualifying households in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program, a nationwide subsidy to expand broadband access to low-income households. The federal program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides discounts of up to $30 a month toward internet service for eligible low-income households. Governor Hochul’s $1.2 billion ConnectALL initiative has made significant investments in mapping and data collection; grant programs to support municipal open-access infrastructure, rural broadband projects, and innovative service delivery pilots; broadband upgrades in affordable housing; reforms to streamline deployment and remove regulatory hurdles; and the development of a Statewide Digital Equity Plan and Digital Equity Grant Program. Last year, the ConnectALL office supplemented the federal FCC broadband data by providing more than 31,000 addresses to help the better address the needs of New York communities unserved or underserved by broadband. 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 the New York State Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of "I LOVE NY," 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. About Homes and Community Renewal HCR develops, preserves and protects affordable housing and invests in economically vibrant communities. HCR works with many private, public and nonprofit partners to create safe, healthy and affordable housing opportunities for all New Yorkers. HCR is charged with carrying out Governor Hochul’s new $25 billion, five-year, comprehensive housing plan to increase housing supply by creating or preserving 100,000 affordable homes across New York including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. Contact: Kristin Devoe | (518) 414-1087 | [email protected] ESD Press Office | (800) 260-7313 | [email protected]

This meeting is open to the public. Webcasting of the meeting is available by clicking the link below. Due to building procedures, members of the public attending in-person should please RSVP by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. Members of the press should please call (800) 260-7313; Members of the public should please call (212) 803- 3772. Members of the public may submit comments on the Agenda items in writing to [email protected] by 12:00 pm on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. All comments received by the deadline will be distributed to the Directors prior to the meeting and will be posted online.