Empire State Development news and press releases

Due to public health concerns and as authorized by Executive Order of the Governor, this meeting will be conducted via video conference and teleconference. The public may view and 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 pm on Wednesday, April 21, 2021.

Provides Over $1 Million Annually for Job Creation and Training Programs that Support a Diverse and Inclusive Workforce in the Motion Picture and Television Production and Post-Production Industries    Eligible Training Programs May Receive Up to $500,000    Empire State Development today announced the launch of the New York Entertainment Workforce Diversity Grant Program. More than $1 million annually in matching funds will support diversity and inclusivity in job creation and training programs for New York's film and television industries. The grant program is funded through the Empire State Entertainment Diversity Job Training Development Fund which, at the suggestion of industry leaders, is financed by an allocated percentage from New York State’s film tax credit program.    Empire State Development Acting Commissioner, and President & CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, "Through this important initiative, more than $1 million will support the development of a more diverse and inclusive workforce for one of New York's fastest-growing industries. Film and television production has a multiplier effect in both creating jobs and spending with a significant economic impact on our economy, and this program will help ensure the industry reflects the New York's greatest strength -- our diversity."  Matching grants from $25,000 to $500,000 will be awarded for job creation and training programs that support efforts to recruit, hire, promote, retain, develop, and train a diverse and inclusive workforce. These training programs should aim to provide talent to production and post-production companies in the motion picture and television industries within the state of New York. Eligible applicants will be required to provide 2:1 matching funds and can be a not-for-profit organization or corporation, a for-profit corporation, a guild or a labor union.     Eligible programs include the training of individuals involved in the principle creation of or editing of a film or television product. These skills and crafts include but are not limited to:    Grip/Electric    Carpentry    Writing    Editing    Showrunners    Production Assistant    More information, instructions and registration for the virtual information sessions are available here.   This program is part of a larger statewide initiative to increase diversity and inclusion and create equal opportunities in the film and television industry. This includes the New York State Multicultural Summit, an interactive workshop that guides content creators of diverse backgrounds to better understand and advance their careers within the film and television industry, and PITCHNY®, which provides aspiring young filmmakers, producers and writers from across New York with resources and mentorship from entertainment industry leaders.     Additionally, this program builds upon the successful Film Production Training Program, an unprecedented partnership between New York State, Bronx Community College and IATSE Local 52 to train students for work in union trade crafts, such as property, carpentry and electric.      New York State’s Film and TV Production industry continues to be one of the fastest growing industry sectors across the state. A recent report from HR&A Advisors, an economic development consultant and research agency, found that the New York film and television industry grew 4.5 times faster than the overall State economy, translating to a 55 percent increase from 2004 to 2018, and capturing one in three jobs added to the sector nationwide.    Since media production has been permitted to return at the end of summer 2020, more than 80 productions that applied to participate in the New York State Film Tax Credit Program have returned to work. These productions anticipated hiring over 195,000 individuals over the course of their production and directly spending more than $4 billion dollars across New York State. In 2019 and 2020 the film tax incentive program led to over $20 billion in anticipated economic impact and supported 114,200 full time jobs.  Every dollar in tax credit issued through New York State’s Film Tax Credit Program leads to over $9 in economic activity.   New York State has made unprecedented investments in workforce development. Since 2019, when Governor Cuomo announced $175 million State investment for job training projects, nearly $32 million dollars in awards have been announced to 278 projects benefitting more than 18,000 New York workers. Awarded projects under the new WDI Consolidated Funding Application will support strategic regional efforts that meet businesses’ short-term workforce needs, long-term industry needs, improve regional talent pipelines, enhance the flexibility and adaptability of local workforce entities, and expand workplace learning opportunities.      Motion Picture Association Chairman & CEO Charles Rivkin said, “We are proud to be part of the development of this important program to create a more diverse production workforce in New York and look forward to working with our companies to facilitate this new pipeline for employment.”    IATSE International Vice President and Local 52 President John Ford said, "Local 52 looks forward to engaging in these programs as they come to fruition. Thanks to the support of the Governor and the Legislature, we anticipate the need for a diverse workforce trained to provide production with the people they need to get the job done.”     Chair, Post New York Alliance President and COO Trevanna Post Yana Collins Lehman said, “The Post New York Alliance looks forward to participating in the NYS workforce development program. We share ESDs strong commitment to extending opportunities to all communities in New York State and to diversifying the film and television post-production industry.”    About the Governor's Office of Motion Picture & Television Development      The New York State Governor's Office of Motion Picture & Television Development, a division of Empire State Development, aims to grow and support the film, television and commercial industry by guiding filmmakers through the many programs and assets New York State has to offer, promoting and publicizing the state’s infrastructure, talent and film production, post-production, and commercial tax incentives 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. More information on filming in New York State or the Film Production and Post Production Tax Credit Programs can be found here.  About Empire State Development   Empire State Development 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 NY,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development can be found here and here.  Contact: Kristin Devoe | [email protected] | (518) 414-1087 Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313  

Investment Complements “Finger Lakes Forward” – The Region’s Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that Assured Edge Solutions plans to grow its manufacturing operations at the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park in the City of Geneva. The custom vegetable processing and co-packing company will move from its current location on the campus into a new building that will be under construction soon. Moving into the new space will allow the innovative company to create up to 21 new jobs; 14 jobs will be retained. Assured Edge Solutions expects to be operational in the new space in the fall of 2021. Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO Eric Gertler said, “The Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park in Geneva, with its focus on agribusiness-related biotech research, has been instrumental in Assured Edge Solution’s continued growth. Their collaboration is a great example of what can be achieved when our top-tier universities partner with New York State businesses.”  ESD is assisting Assured Edge Solutions with the expansion project with up to $150,000 through the Excelsior Tax Credit Program. Ontario County and Greater Rochester Enterprise also collaborated on the project.  The total project cost for the relocation has been placed at $201,000. The expansion of the second building at the technology park where Assured Edge Solutions will be located is also being supported by a $1.47 million federal EDA grant and a $500,000 Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) round five grant from Empire State Development.  Dan Rao, President of Assured Edge Solutions said, “We are very excited to be able to partner with Empire State Development to expand our operations as well as remain local here in the City of Geneva. We identified the area’s need to have small to mid-size custom vegetable processing and co-packing capabilities and as a result our company has grown significantly. We look forward to this next phase of growth.” Assured Edge Solutions, which was founded in 2012, produces custom ingredient and co-packs for a variety of customers. Their operations range from raw ingredient processing to custom blend manufacturing. Additionally, Assured Edge Solutions partners to co-pack organic frozen vegetables for a major local retailer. The company has been running its manufacturing operation at the Technology Park since 2017. The Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park in the City of Geneva is a seventy-two-acre research, development and production campus that is fostering the needs of food and agriculture companies, additionally offering access to college faculty and facilities. Through this public-private initiative, start-up companies, small businesses, and large multinational companies alike are leveraging the resources they need to thrive. Cathy Young, Director of the Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture said, “AES is a prime example of a successful food startup that is growing by leaps and bounds, and their progress proves that New York State is an outstanding place to accelerate your business.  Dan Rao and his team are great innovators whose story of hard work and perseverance is an inspiration to other entrepreneurs.  Their journey of beginning in the incubator space at the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park and expanding to a new manufacturing building on site is a clear demonstration of the incredible ecosystem that exists through Cornell AgriTech, the Center of Excellence and local, state and federal partners.  We are grateful that ESD is providing these economic development incentives to grow jobs and opportunities that will reap benefits for families and the region’s economy.” State Senator Pam Helming said, “Assured Edge Solutions is a Tech Farm success story and I congratulate CEO Dan Rao on this exciting expansion. AES’ growth reflects what an incredible asset we have in Cornell AgriTech as an economic driver for food, beverage and ag businesses. As a member of the Cornell AgriTech Advisory Council, I am proud to champion their work and to support the City and County in putting Geneva, Ontario County and the Finger Lakes on the map as a leading location for food, beverage and ag businesses. Thank you to Empire State Development, Ontario County and everyone involved for this shared commitment to growing businesses and jobs in our vital ag and food industry.” State Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan said, “Agriculture is an extremely important sector of our local economy.  The expansion of Assured Edge Solutions is a testament to the success of the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park and their work to incubate agriculture businesses.  This new project will bring good paying agriculture jobs to our community.  It is great to see the hard work of Empire State Development assist in expanding Assured Edge Solutions in the City of Geneva.” Ontario County Industrial Development Executive Director Mike Manikowski said, “As Chairman of the Tech Farm Board and as the Economic Development Director for Ontario County I am happy to learn of the State’s support for Assured Edge Solutions (AES). AES, headed by its CEO Dan Rao, has been a tenant of ours for several years now. We welcome their growth and see them as an anchor tenant for Tech Farm 2. The innovative products that AES produces have added to the Finger Lakes agricultural bounty and provided good stable jobs for the City of Geneva and Ontario County. Working in partnership with the City, County and State the Tech Farm continues to add new innovative ag, food and beverage businesses to our area.” Matt Hurlbutt, President and CEO, Greater Rochester Enterprise said, “Assured Edge Solutions is thriving in the Greater Rochester, NY region because of the world-class R&D assets at Cornell AgriTech, fully integrated food and beverage manufacturing supply chain, and highly skilled talent. The GRE team connected Assured Edge Solutions to local partners and resources to accelerate their business growth plan.” For additional information about Assured Edge Solutions, visit: http://assurededge.com/. For additional information about the Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture visit: https://cals.cornell.edu/cornell-agritech/partners-centers-institutes/center-excellence-food-agriculture. 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 State has already invested more than $8.07 billion in the region since 2012 to lay the groundwork for the plan – 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, 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 8,200 new jobs. More information is available here.​ Contact: Shari Voorhees-Vincent | [email protected] | (585)399-7055 ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313