Empire State Development news and press releases

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the start of New York State's 2018 fall foliage season, which includes the popular I LOVE NY weekly fall foliage reports. Additionally, the #NYLovesFall social media campaign returns this year to further promote and encourage visitation to New York’s picturesque autumn locations and attractions. Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, "New York State’s fall foliage season is both colorful and crucial to our state's tourism industry, drawing visitors from around the world to our communities and supporting our regional economies and local businesses." New York State has one of the longest and most colorful foliage seasons in the nation, thanks in part to its size and location. On any given weekend, from late September through mid-November, somewhere in the state is experiencing peak foliage. Fall is also one of the state’s most popular travel times of the year, drawing visitors from around the world who support local businesses and attractions. Last autumn, New York State welcomed more than 63 million visitors between September and November, generating an estimated $28.26 billion in economic impact across the state. Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, "New York State offers countless ways to experience our world-class foliage. Whether traveling along a scenic byway, riding up a mountain gondola or down a thrilling zipline, floating in a hot air balloon, cycling along a bike trail, paddling down a tranquil river or hiking a High Peaks trail, you can find what you love surrounded by the autumnal splendor of New York State." The I LOVE NY weekly foliage report – a detailed map charting fall color progress, vantage points for viewing spectacular foliage, suggested autumn getaways and weekly event listings – is available on the I LOVE NY website. Reports are also available toll-free at 800-CALL-NYS (800-225-5697) from anywhere in the U.S., its territories and Canada. The report uses information gathered by more than 75 volunteer Leaf Peepers, located throughout the state’s 11 vacation regions, who track the weekly foliage changes. For more information on how to volunteer, please contact foliage@esd.ny.gov. To promote the state's spectacular autumn sights and scenery, I LOVE NY will again host a social media campaign featuring photos taken by Twitter and Instagram users. Each week throughout the foliage season, one outstanding New York State fall foliage photo posted using the #NYLovesFall hashtag will be selected and shared on the I LOVE NY Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages on "Foliage Fridays." Users must tag photos with the name of the location of where the image was taken to qualify. 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 Governor Cuomo’s 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, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov. About New York State New York State features 11 beautiful vacation regions, featuring landmarks such as Niagara Falls, the largest park in the continental U.S. in the Adirondacks and treasures such as the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and the Corning Museum of Glass. New York State offers diverse activities for all: outdoor fun - snowmobiling, skiing and snowboarding, fishing, hiking and boating, year-round festivals and exploring the rich history and culture of one of the 13 original colonies. Visitors also enjoy the fine cuisine, beverage trails and farm-to-table fresh foods. For more information on New York State’s rich history, visit paththroughhistory.iloveny.com. Information on all tourism attractions is available at iloveny.com.     Contacts: Adam Ostrowski (ESD) | adam.ostrowski@esd.ny.gov | (518) 292-5148 ESD Press Office | PressOffice@esd.ny.gov | (800) 260-7313

Investment Complements “Southern Tier Soaring” - The Region’s Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that Amphenol Aerospace, one of the world's largest manufacturers of interconnect products for the military, commercial aerospace, and industrial markets, will construct a 5-megawatt solar farm on its industrial campus in the Town of Sidney, Delaware County. The new solar farm, which will utilize a large land site in the Village that would otherwise be unusable because it is located in a floodplain, will provide power to the rest of Amphenol’s operations and will promote stability of the electrical supply as the power generated goes back into the grid-especially during peak usage periods in the summer. The total project cost has been placed between $14 and $15 million. “Amphenol Aerospace’s resilience and resurgence has been tremendous and we’re proud to support their continued commitment to the Southern Tier,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky. “This is a great example of a business making a forward-thinking investment that will not only help their bottom line but benefit the local community and our environment.” In 2012, to ensure Amphenol Aerospace maintained its presence in New York State after the devastation it experienced during flooding in 2006 and 2011, Empire State Development, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), New York State Homes & Community Renewal (HCR) and local officials offered support totaling more than $32 million to construct a new manufacturing facility. Thanks to that support, more than 1000 jobs have been retained in the region. Ryan Fisher, General Manager of Amphenol Aerospace Operations, a division of Amphenol Corporation said, “New York State and ESD have been wonderful partners in helping secure a sustainable future on the former site of our factory.  Their additional financial support provided critical monies needed to complete our investment in a project that not only puts to productive use our former site, but provides environmentally friendly, low cost electricity to our facilities.  Truly a win for our customers, employees and community.” In 2011, the flooding caused by Hurricane Irene resulted in millions of dollars in damage to Amphenol’s operations in Sidney, forcing the company to build a new plant. Since then, the site of the former plant has been deemed undevelopable. Amphenol Aerospace will now abate, demolish and construct a 5-megawatt solar farm on the site, which will provide the energy equivalent to powering 832 homes annually. To assist the company with its plan to build the solar farm, ESD has offered a performance-based grant of up to $1.25 million, as recommended by the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council. Increasing the use of solar supports the mandate that 50 percent of the state’s electricity come from renewable resources by 2030. Administered by NYSERDA, the $1 billion NY-Sun initiative is designed to scale-up solar and move the state closer to having a sustainable, self-sufficient solar industry. Since 2011, solar in New York State has increased more than 1,000 percent and leveraged nearly $2.8 billion in private investments. There are more than 12,000 people engaged in solar jobs across New York. Alicia Barton, President and CEO, NYSERDA said, “We commend Amphenol Aerospace for integrating solar energy into its operations portfolio as part of its rebuilding effort. In the face of climate change, Governor Cuomo’s forward-thinking clean energy initiatives are enabling companies of all sizes to realize the cost-saving benefits and environmental stewardship associated with renewable energy and NYSERDA is proud to be a partner in this effort.” This project supports the efforts of the locally-developed Southern Tier Soaring strategic plan, which includes a significant focus on forward-thinking investments in advanced manufacturing and 21st Century industries. State Senator James L. Seward said, “Amphenol’s ability to succeed and grow has a direct impact on the success of our region and the future well-being for hundreds of families.  I was pleased to lend my support to the solar farm project which will lead to clean, renewable electricity that will benefit our climate and our economy.” State Assemblyman Clifford Crouch said, “I am thrilled to see Amphenol Aerospace receive the necessary funding to build a new solar farm in Sidney. Over the last ten years, Amphenol Aerospace has shown their investment and belief in our community by sticking it out so that 1,000 jobs remained in the Southern Tier after enduring devastating flooding. Their new solar farm project again highlights their commitment to our region and the environment, helping to reduce strains put on the power grid from their facilities during their busy season, and doing so in an environmentally conscious way.” Delaware County Legislature Chairwoman Tina Mole said, “Amphenol Aerospace is the Delaware County’s largest employer, providing over 1,000 jobs in our region. They are leading the way in advance manufacturing, and through this project, taking a leading role in environmental sustainability. This project will help to reduce their high energy costs and remain competitive in the industry.” Amphenol Aerospace, a Division of Amphenol Corporation, is one of the largest manufacturers of interconnect products in the world for the Military, Commercial Aerospace and Industrial markets. Amphenol designs, manufactures and markets cylindrical and rectangular, electronic, fiber optic, EMI/EMP filter, and a variety of special applications connectors and interconnect systems. The currently has approximately 1,000 employees in Delaware County, who work to incorporate state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies including CNC machining, die-casting, molding, impact and extruding, plating, screw machining and process controls. For more information about Amphenol Aerospace, visit http://www.amphenol-aerospace.com. Accelerating Southern Tier Soaring  Today's announcement complements “Southern Tier Soaring the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The State has already invested more than $4.6 billion in the region since 2012 to lay for groundwork for the plan – attracting a talented workforce, growing business and driving innovation. Today, unemployment is down to the lowest levels since before the Great Recession; personal and corporate income taxes are down; and businesses are choosing places like Binghamton, Johnson City and Corning as a destination in which to grow and invest. Now, the region is accelerating Southern Tier Soaring with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, announced by Governor Cuomo in December 2015. 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 10,200 new jobs. More information is available here.   Contact: Shari Voorhees-Vincent | Shari.Voorhees-Vincent@esd.ny.gov | (585)399-7055 ESD Press Office | PressOffice@esd.ny.gov | (800) 260-7313

With videoconferencing to: ESD-Buffalo Regional Office 95 Perry Street Suite 500 Buffalo, NY 14203