Empire State Development (ESD) today announced an investment of up to $1.7 million in ENB Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing therapeutics to reverse resistance to cancer immunotherapy. The investment comes from New York Ventures, ESD’s venture capital arm. ENB Therapeutics is a New York City-based MWBE firm. The investment will assist the company with funding its operations over the next 24 to 36 months. Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “This New York Ventures investment in ENB Therapeutics will further the work of a company combatting cancer and advance ESD’s commitment to helping minority and women-owned businesses throughout the state succeed.” Sumayah Jamal, Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer of ENB Therapeutics said, “We are very grateful for the support of New York Ventures as one of our Series A investors and for their commitment to supporting MWBE firms such as ours. This support will help us to develop our lead product, ENB-003, to overcome resistance to immunotherapy across multiple tumor types and indications. We have already demonstrated robust pre-clinical efficacy in relevant mouse models across multiple resistant cancers and a favorable safety profile. We now have the capital necessary to advance ENB-003 into Phase 1 clinical trials during the second half of 2019.” Cancer immunotherapy boosts the natural capacity of immune cells to fight cancer and has shown long-lasting responses in some cancers. However, approximately 60 percent of patients treated with immunotherapy fail to respond to treatment and are left with few other therapeutic options. ENB’s drug solutions can help to unlock the full therapeutic potential of cancer immunotherapy by enabling key immune cells to infiltrate and attack tumors, eradicating tumor cells and prolonging patient survival. The investment will be disbursed through the New York State Innovation Venture Capital Fund (NYSIVCF). About New York Ventures New York Ventures is the venture capital investment arm of Empire State Development, New York State’s chief economic development agency. New York Ventures meets the critical capital needs of the state’s innovation economy by providing funding to high-growth startups as they move from concept to commercialization, through early growth and expansion. More information is available here.   Contact: Adam Kilduff | adam.kilduff@esd.ny.gov | (212) 803-3744 ESD Press Office | pressoffice@esd.ny.gov | (800) 260-7313

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the Syracuse Mets are committing to sign a lease extension to call Syracuse home for at least 25 years. New York State is committing $12.5 million to Onondaga County's major renovation project at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse, in preparation for the arrival of the Mets' minor league franchise in 2019. The $26.25 million project will result in an improved experience for dedicated baseball fans and visitors while ensuring the Mets' farm-team will stay in Syracuse until at least 2043. The Governor also announced the team has been renamed and will now be known as the "Syracuse Mets." "Baseball has been ingrained in Syracuse's history for more than 80 years, and this critically important investment will ensure that it remains an 'amazin' part of this community's future for decades to come," Governor Cuomo said. "By renovating this stadium, we are going to attract new and old fans alike, generate economic activity and increase tourism across the region and help foster the next generation of baseball greats." Last November, Governor Cuomo announced an agreement had been reached for the New York Mets to purchase the franchise rights to the Syracuse Chiefs, a Triple-A minor league baseball franchise, for approximately $18 million. The deal ensured that the team would continue to play at NBT Bank Stadium through at least 2025. Read the full press release here. 

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the release of the Long Island City Life Sciences Feasibility Study, which was conducted by the Long Island City Partnership. The study, which was funded in part by an ESD grant recommended by the New York City Regional Economic Development Council (NYCREDC), found that Long Island City is a critical part of the industry’s potential future in New York City, providing a combination of affordable space, access to transit and a lively community. ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “Long Island City has a critical role to play in fostering the establishment of a life sciences hub in New York City. We are proud to see the results of this state investment and look forward to building on the report’s conclusion that the neighborhood has much of what is needed for a successful hub, including affordable space, access to transit and an excellent workforce.” The report highlights the neighborhood’s ample development sites, appropriate building stock, favorable zoning for life sciences uses, relative real estate costs, proximity to both Manhattan’s East Side medical research corridor and the Cornell Tech innovation campus on Roosevelt Island, convenient access to two major airports and high quality live-work character. Long Island City has 8 million square feet of office and industrial space, making it one of New York City’s largest central business districts. In Round VII of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative, New York State awarded $100,000 to fund the report, which is the result of an extensive series of interviews with 50 key stakeholders in academic, medical and research institutions; government; the real estate industry; life sciences companies at all stages of the business life cycle; and venture capital. The study analyzes three other U.S. life sciences hubs and conducts an economic impact analysis to identify jobs and spending that could be generated by a cluster’s construction and operation. Finally, it gives specific recommendations to further advance a life sciences sector in Long Island City and ensure it grows. The Long Island City Life Sciences Feasibility Study is available here. New York City Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs Partner of Fisher Brothers Winston Fisher and President & COO, New York Genome Center Cheryl A. Moore said, “We are proud to see that the Long Island City Life Sciences Feasibility Study concludes that the neighborhood has ample resources to become the city’s next life sciences industry hub.  We look forward to seeing the city and state build on Long Island City’s potential as a well-located area with the right mix of transit, real estate and the arts to foster a thriving life sciences community.” “New York City is home to some of the finest life sciences research institutions in the world,” said NYCEDC President and CEO James Patchett. “ESD and the Long Island City Partnership’s work affirms that the commercial life sciences sector is poised for growth, and that Long Island City is a great home for it. Through our LifeSciNYC intiative, NYCEDC looks forward to supporting this growth, and further solidifying New York City as a global leader in life sciences.” “Long Island City's potential is limitless. It is well on its way to becoming the city's next great neighborhood when it comes to innovation and economic growth,” Queens Borough President Melinda Katz said. “And the Long Island City Life Sciences Feasibility Study shows, all the ingredients are there for LIC to become the heartbeat of the city's growing research and development sector. In terms of economic development and scientific advancement, this is the kind of investment that will help LIC realize its unlimited potential.” "This study, funded in part by Empire State Development through the NYC Regional Economic Development Council, uncovered a specific and essential role for LIC in the development of a self-sustaining Life Sciences Cluster in the New York Region.  Simply put — LIC’s strengths as a community and opportunities for space align with life sciences company needs and the NYC markets specific demands,” said Elizabeth Lusskin, President of the Long Island City Partnership. “Having been part of the growth of the city's commercial life sciences sector from its seminal stages, I am thrilled to see the activity and enthusiasm happening right now.  New York's density and transportation system makes it possible for a cluster to develop away from the traditional East Side medical corridor, and current national trends support the development of larger subclusters outside of expensive city centers. LIC has so many of the right characteristics and assets for the life sciences cluster of today and, importantly, of tomorrow. Now is exactly when we should be ‘all systems go’ in Long Island City,” said Yasmeen Ahmed Pattie, Principal, East Egg Project Management. "Crosswalk Ventures believes that Long Island City offers the critical elements of physical space, proximity to major academic medical centers, and work/life community that are essential to recruiting experienced management teams, and building successful life science companies,” said Tom Cirrito, PhD, Chief Investment Officer, Crosswalk Ventures. “We recognize the level of enthusiasm that has been growing around the opportunity to catalyze a life science ecosystem in Long Island City, and it is apparent that the efforts of major stakeholders are converging to make this life science cluster a reality. We are excited to be an integral component of this new chapter in the New York life science industry.” “Long Island City has a key set of ingredients that we look for in a biotech hub: good building stock and zoning, replicability potential, multiple great transportation lines and easy connections to New York’s world-class research institutions,” said Nicole McKnight, PhD, Managing Director, BioLabs New York/BioLabs@NYULangone. “But there are some unique features that make LIC so desirable including an unrivalled live-work community, an artistic vibe, wonderful city and river views, and even brewery crawls. In a way it reminds us of Kendall Square in the 90s, but with a New York flavor that will be loved by our life science entrepreneurs.” “In the 21st Century, the life sciences field will play multiple roles in society, from helping to expand our understanding of nature, to improving life expectancies, to serving as a major engine of economic growth. Up until a few years ago, New York City was one of the leading hubs of life science research, but lagged in the retention of commercial life sciences businesses.  This is now changing rapidly.  With that change, it is critical that the City identify neighborhoods in which this industry can reach critical mass.  With its mixed-use character, excellent transit connectivity, growing, high-skilled workforce and access to Manhattan’s world-class academic medical facilities, Long Island City is ideally-positioned to fill this role,” said Seth Pinsky, Executive Vice President, Fund Manager Metro Emerging Markets & Public Affairs Director, RXR Chair, LICP Life Sciences Committee. “The LIC Life Science Feasibility Study is a comprehensive review highlighting the critical role that LIC will play in the growth of the life science in NYC. The study reveals many of the attributes that brought us to conclude that an important life science node will soon form in LIC.  With the continued support of the State and City, the life science industry is poised for growth and future success in LIC,” said Rob Albro, Managing Director, King Street Properties. 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 NEW YORK,” 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.     Contact: Adam Kilduff | adam.kilduff@esd.ny.gov | (212) 803-3744 ESD Press Office | pressoffice@esd.ny.gov | (800) 260-7313

Albany Distilling Capital Project