Empire State Development Reports

Commencement’s over; now what? Summer’s the time when recent college graduates are looking for must-haves – including well-paying jobs, dynamic downtowns, and ample nature to explore. More than just a stepping stone, they are searching for the best place to live, start and ground their careers.    Ranked highly among multiple outlets indexing ideal cities for new grads, Albany and the Capital Region are checking many of the boxes, blending professional opportunity that features all the perks of urban living with unparalleled outdoor beauty and recreation that are practically right next door.   Albany has become a chart-topping city for young professionals seeking relocation, featured in the Top 10 of Zillow’s Best U.S. Cities for Recent Grads  — based on rent-to-income ratio, average salary, job openings and number of people in their 20s. Ranked by homebuyer.com as the 11th best city for young adults and professionals and by WalletHub among the top 20 most educated cities in the country, Albany also is among the 25 Best Places to Live for Quality of Life, according to a recent U.S. News ranking.

Inaugural Shipment Includes Wines from World-Renowned Finger Lakes Region Partnership Represents Special Relationship Between New York and Puerto Rico and Growing Demand for New York State Wines Traducción al español Governor Kathy Hochul today announced an inaugural partnership that enables New York State wines to be sold in Puerto Rico for the very first time. The New York State Office of Trade and Tourism, distributor Serrallés Imports, and the legendary Steuben County-based Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery are making a selection of wines produced in the Finger Lakes region available in Puerto Rico for local purchase. This collaboration marks the first-ever introduction of New York wines into the growing Puerto Rico wine market and uncorks a new era of wine connoisseurship and cultural exchange. The new partnership was toasted today at a wine-tasting launch at the New York State Office of Trade and Tourism in San Juan, attended by the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets Commissioner Richard Ball.  "Puerto Rico has shared so much of its culture, vibrancy, and creativity with New York, and our history and future are intrinsically intertwined," Governor Hochul said. "Now Puerto Rico will be able to enjoy what wine lovers across the world have long known - the best wines are made in New York. Cheers to this fantastic collaboration!"  Stemming from a shared vision of New York State Office of Trade and Tourism and Serrallés Imports, one of Puerto Rico's largest distributors, the State recognized the immense potential for promoting and celebrating New York wines. Partnering with Serrallés and Dr. Konstantin Frank, New York's most awarded winery, the New York State Office of Trade and Tourism was able to work through export requirements to bring Dr. Frank's wines into the market, and leverage Serrallés Imports extensive distribution network and wine and spirits industry expertise to ensure that New York-made wines are available to consumers and connoisseurs across Puerto Rico. The winery will be providing its Riesling varieties and Rosé for export. The State hopes to expand the selection of wines and wineries participating in this initiative in the future.   Empire State Development President CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "New York State wines are of the highest caliber in the world and I'm proud to join Governor Hochul in celebrating the export of Finger Lakes vintages to Puerto Rico for the first time. Thanks to the hard work of ESD's Office of Trade and Tourism, this partnership supports local production and will continue to enrich the vibrant, longstanding cultural exchange between New York and Puerto Rico, benefitting both our communities and economy." Read the full press release here.

Schumer Personally Called Menlo Micro CEO Last Year to Urge Them to Invest in Upstate NY; Now Company Has Heeded His Call and Chosen a Facility in Lansing, NY, With Albany NanoTech Complex Serving as Home of Company's Global R&D Hub to Boost New Domestic Manufacturing Menlo Micro Cites Schumer's Chips & Science Act, Governor's Excelsior Jobs Tax Credits as the Lightning Rod to Bringing Semiconductor Jobs Back to U.S., New First-Of-Its-Kind Microchip Switch Manufacturing Facility To Region Menlo Micro's Ideal Fab Builds on State and Federal Efforts to Grow Chip Manufacturing Ecosystem in New York State, Follows Historic Partnerships to Bring Micron, Edwards Vacuum to New York Traducción al español Governor Kathy Hochul and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer today announced that following their long advocacy to make New York a global microelectronics manufacturing hub and Schumer's personal call to Menlo Micro CEO Russ Garcia last year, the company has heeded their calls and will invest over $50 million to build their first domestic microelectronics fabrication facility in Tompkins County, creating over 100 new good-paying jobs. "With this agreement to bring Menlo Microsystems to Tompkins County, we are once again declaring New York State as Chips Country," Governor Hochul said. "Menlo Micro's groundbreaking chip technology powers the tools and electronics that New Yorkers rely on every day, and thanks to a remarkable partnership between local, state, and federal officials, their New York production facility will create more than 100 high-tech jobs and unlock millions of dollars in investment to support the entire region. I am excited to welcome Menlo to New York's chip-making ecosystem as we continue our work to attract the innovative, 21st century businesses that will provide good-paying jobs, grow our advanced manufacturing sector, and move our economy forward." Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, "With my CHIPS & Science Act as the lighting rod, Menlo Micro will invest $50+ million to build their first domestic manufacturing facility for their cutting-edge technology right here in Tompkins County! Last year, I personally called Menlo Micro's CEO to tell him that Upstate New York is the next frontier for microelectronic and semiconductor manufacturing, and I'm thrilled they are now bringing 100 new good-paying jobs to Tompkins County. I applaud Menlo Micro for this major investment that will help drive Tompkins County and America's economic future in tech manufacturing, and thank Governor Hochul for her partnership to help transform Upstate NY into a global center for innovation, high tech and advanced manufacturing jobs. The greater Ithaca area is unquestionably leading the charge in research and development and building the future of technology, and Menlo Micro will help further supercharge the region's leadership, while helping secure America's critical microelectronics supply chains that power everything from 5G communications to the power grid to aerospace engineering with their switch technology made right here in Tompkins County. From Micron's historic investment in Central NY, to Wolfspeed's new fab in the Mohawk Valley, Edwards Vacuum soon beginning production in Western NY, GlobalFoundries planned expansion in the Capital Region, Onsemi investing in the Hudson Valley, and now Menlo Micro supercharging our microelectronics supply chain in the Southern Tier, we are bringing manufacturing back to America, back to Upstate New York!" CEO of Menlo Micro Russ Garcia said, "Today's announcement represents the first step toward significantly increasing the domestic production capacity of our Ideal Switch to help secure critical infrastructure and further strengthen America's technology stronghold. We want to thank Senate Majority Leader Schumer for his leadership on the CHIPS and Science Act, which is directly supportive of and aligned with our plan to onshore our manufacturing capabilities. We look forward to continuing to work with Sen. Schumer, Gov. Hochul, Sen. Gillibrand, Rep. Molinaro and the entire New York delegation as we begin ushering in the next generation of electrification, delivering unprecedented cost and energy savings to essential U.S. industries. We believe this fab modernization project is in 100 percent alignment with the presidential directive on bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to the United States." Schumer and Hochul said that the retrofitting of Menlo Micro's new Ideal fab has already begun in the Village of Lansing. Menlo Micro has pioneered next generation switch technology. These hyper-efficient switches have broad base application, including aerospace, energy, communications, critical infrastructure and more. These switches are also a vital component of the microelectronics industry, supporting the growth of the domestic semiconductor industry that is being driven by Schumer's CHIPS and Science Act. To support the construction of Menlo Micro's new fab, Empire State Development will provide $6.5 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credits in exchange for 122 new jobs at their Ithaca facility. As with all Excelsior Jobs projects, Menlo Micro will receive the credits after demonstrating that they have met their job and investment commitments. Read the full press release here.

Improvements to Outer Harbor site will provide a better visitor experience See renderings of Wilkeson Pointe improvements here The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) Board of Directors today met and authorized several contracts that will advance the Wilkeson Pointe Improvements Project on Buffalo’s Outer Harbor. Working within an approximate 7-acre site, the area between the Wilkeson Pointe water edge and the nearby Fuhrmann Boulevard entrance will be renovated to provide a better visitor arrival and experience.  See renderings here.  Announced by Governor Hochul in 2022 as one of several significant Buffalo waterfront projects being accelerated for completion, the Wilkeson Pointe renovations will begin in September 2023. The site is scheduled to open to the public in Spring 2025.   “Since it was created in 2013, Wilkeson Pointe has become a favorite place to enjoy beautiful harbor views and sunsets while walking or biking the paths, going for a paddle or savoring a cool drink at the beer garden,” said ECHDC Chairman Robert Gioia. “Governor Hochul’s push to advance funding for this project means that residents and newcomers alike will soon benefit from improved access and experiences while visiting this waterfront destination.” Plans includes further visitor safety measures, such as moving parking away from the water and at a distance from the site’s pedestrian trail. A new food service building will  also include restrooms and storage for the operations management team, and a new outdoor seating area either on the patio or within a beach setting.  The new design calls for the site’s existing trails to be relocated and elevated near the water’s edge.  All new utilities will be brought to the new building and site through the adjacent site from Fuhrmann Boulevard.  The landscaping within the site will be improved with the planting of natural species, creating meadows, grasslands and pollinator fields. The ECHDC Board authorized ECHDC to enter into the following contracts: Javen Construction Company, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $3,875,000 including contingency for general construction.  Javen Construction’s scope of service will include new steel framing, steel framing preparation and painting, metal stud framing and wallboard, building enclosures, interior finishings, and select site work adjacent to the building.  Mark Cerrone, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $5,886,500 including contingency for sitework construction.  Mark Cerrone’s scope of service will include clearing the existing paved surfaces, establishing the site parameters, excavating for site utilities, installation of landscape and fence materials, new surface walkways and drives, and site enclosures.  Frey Electric Construction Corporation, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $1,897,000 including contingency for electrical construction.  Frey Electric’s scope of service will include routing the new electric service from Fuhrmann Boulevard to the Wilkeson Pointe site, distribution of electric service within the Wilkeson Pointe site, exterior lighting and miscellaneous electric connections for equipment installed by other contractors. M.K.S. Plumbing Corporation in an amount not to exceed $407,000 including contingency for mechanical construction.  M.K.S. Plumbing’s scope of service will include routing the new mechanical and plumbing service from Furhmann Boulevard to the Wilkeson Pointe new building, distribution of gas and water lines within the Wilkeson Pointe site, installation of mechanical systems within the enclosed building, and installation of all plumbing fixtures.  Funding for all these contracts is from the New York Power Authority, through relicensing agreements tied to the operation of the Niagara Power Project.  NYPA transferred the land for the park to ECHDC in May 2012 as part of the Buffalo and Erie County relicensing settlement agreement for the Niagara Power Project. About Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) is governed by a nine-member board consisting of seven voting directors and two non-voting, ex-officio directors. The seven voting directors are recommended by the New York State Governor and are appointed by the New York State Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State Development as sole shareholder of ECHDC. The two non-voting, ex-officio director positions are held by the Erie County Executive and the City of Buffalo Mayor. As a subsidiary of Empire State Development, the state’s chief economic development agency, the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation supports and promotes the creation of infrastructure and public activities at Canalside, the Ohio Street corridor and the Outer Harbor that is attracting critical mass, private investment and enhance the enjoyment of the waterfront for residents and tourists in Western New York. Its vision is to revitalize Western New York’s waterfront and restore economic growth to Buffalo based on the region’s legacy of pride, urban significance, and natural beauty. Contact: Pamm Lent | [email protected] | (716) 846-8309 | (800) 260-7313 Laura Magee | [email protected] | (716) 846-8239 | (800) 260-7313