Empire State Development news and press releases

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Harlem Community Development Corporation Directors Meeting, 163 West 125th Street, 17th Floor Conference Room This meeting is open to the public. The public may also view and listen to the meeting by clicking the link below.  Members of the public wishing to attend in-person or to submit comments on the Agenda items may do so in writing to [email protected] by 4:30 PM on Thursday, December 7, 2023. All comments received by the deadline will be distributed to the Directors prior to the meeting and posted online. Members of the press wishing to attend should please call (800) 260-7313

Comprehensive Master Plan Envisions Over 2,800 Units of Housing, Including Affordable Housing, and Fulfills Other Local Needs and Priorities Such as Community Facilities, Open Space, and Much-Needed Amenities Plan Reflects Extensive Community Visioning Process Led in Partnership with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Complements Governor Hochul’s Bold Vision to Address New York State’s Housing Crisis Through Executive Action – Including Initiative to Repurpose State-Owned Sites as Housing Read the Creedmoor Master Plan Here Governor Kathy Hochul today unveiled the Creedmoor Community Master Plan, a community-driven framework for redeveloping underutilized land at the 125-acre Creedmoor Psychiatric Center campus in Eastern Queens. The plan seeks to transform approximately 58 acres of the State-owned Creedmoor campus from surface parking lots, overgrowth, and vacant buildings into a vibrant new community with homes, recreational spaces, greenery, and neighborhood retail. It is the result of a six-month collaborative planning process led by Empire State Development and the Queens Borough President's Office, facilitated with help from the Metropolitan Urban Design Workshop. The plan, which was released today at a meeting with community stakeholders, is available here. “Creedmoor represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for New Yorkers to reimagine State land and plan for the emerging needs of tomorrow,” Governor Hochul said. “Working together in productive partnership with the community – and thanks to the leadership of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards – we can build more housing, create more jobs, and strengthen Eastern Queens for the next generation.” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. said, “The potential before us on the Creedmoor campus is limitless, as the new Creedmoor Master Plan boldly outlines. From thousands of units of housing to historic homeownership opportunities to school seats to community facilities to retail, this plan represents the single largest investment in Eastern Queens in generations, and I could not be more excited for the work ahead. It’s taken decades to get to this moment, and I’m deeply grateful to Governor Hochul, Empire State Development and the residents of Eastern Queens for their tireless dedication and partnership in developing this community-centric proposal from the ground up. We’re making history every day in Queens, and this project is yet another example of our borough’s bright future.” Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “After decades of unrealized promises about Creedmoor, today Governor Hochul, ESD, and Borough President Donovan stand together in partnership with the community to support this comprehensive plan to strengthen Eastern Queens. This vision represents a new opportunity for the neighborhoods around Creedmoor to finally move forward on local priorities and prepare for the community’s emerging needs.” The Creedmoor Community Master Plan introduces over 2,800 units of new housing, with more than 55 percent designated as homeownership. This would represent the area’s single largest new investment in housing since the 1950s and its largest single expansion in homeownership opportunities in nearly 50 years. The Plan also introduces a mix of affordable rental options for seniors and families, and continues a nearly 80-year history of veteran housing in Eastern Queens by offering individuals who have served in the armed forces preferential access to a portion of the project’s units. In addition, the Plan designates approximately 14 acres for open space and sets aside locations for amenities such as a recreation center, daycare facility, school, and neighborhood retail. Read the full press release here.

Whiting Door Manufacturing Corporation Will Add 25 New Jobs When $4 Million Project is Completed  Empire State Development (ESD) announced today that Whiting Door, a manufacturing company that supplies roll-up and swing doors for the transportation industry, will undergo a  $4 million expansion at its Akron facility. The project, located in Akron, NY will support at least 25 new jobs in the state-of-the-art manufacturing space.  “Whiting Door, a community-dedicated company doing business across the globe, is one of the top performers of Western New York’s manufacturing economy,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight. “With a highly skilled workforce and plans for a new state-of-the-art facility, the company is in an excellent position to create more jobs and products, and to grow the regional economy." The family-owned-and-managed company has operated in Western New York for more than 70 years, with additional facilities in California and partners in over 14 countries covering the globe. Whiting developed the first practical overhead roll-up door for trucks and trailers in 1953. Today, Whiting remains the world's leading designer and supplier in the industry with a full line of dry freight, insulated and specialty roll-up doors, swing doors. Whiting also produces custom laminated panels for marine, rail and industrial applications. The company is known for its custom engineered products and remains the only ISO Certified company in the roll-up door industry.   Whiting was recently engaged to manufacture lightweight doors that supports a large contract to produce up to 150,000 zero-emission and low-emission internal combustion engine delivery vehicles over the next 10 years. Whiting’s expansion project supports the facility, state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment and warehousing space needed, and will be built by 2025 to support full-volume production.   Ben Whiting, Vice President at Whiting Door Manufacturing said, “It is exciting to move toward production after a seven-year design, development and bid process. Our engineering and production teams were instrumental in bringing this from concept to reality.  We evaluated several options to support the project from different geographies, but ESD helped close the gap, allowing us to build at home.” ESD is incentivizing Whiting Door to continue to grow in Erie County by providing up to $500,000 in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits in exchange for job creation commitments.  Additionally, the New York Power Authority Board of Trustees will review an application for a $595,000 funding award through its Western New York Power Proceeds Fund for the firm at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday, December 11. If approved, the award will further support the company’s expansion and job creation. Learn more about Whiting Door here.  Senator Patrick Gallivan said, “I congratulate Whiting Door on the expansion of its Akron facility and wish them continued success. This exciting project supports the company’s existing workforce, creates new jobs, and helps build the local economy. Whiting’s commitment to Western New York and its partnership with Empire State Development sends a positive message about our community and our region.” Assembly Member Stephen Hawley said, "I'm proud to see that Whiting Door, a local, family-owned company is expanding its facilities in Akron. Businesses like this provide much-needed employment opportunities for our citizens which in turn, support the local economy. I look forward to seeing the impact that these new investments will have on our community." Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said, “Businesses such as Whiting Door are critical parts of Erie County’s economy, employing thousands of residents and producing products locally that are known worldwide. Whiting Door’s choice to expand here in Akron rather than starting a new chapter elsewhere is more confirmation of Erie County’s favorable business climate and world-class workforce, and I wish them well in their expansion.” 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.  Contact: Pamm Lent | [email protected] | (716) 846-8309 | (716) 560-8815