What’s next for Empire Zone program?
What’s next for economic development programs in New York state is anyone’s guess, but the clock is ticking with one year before the state’s current and beleaguered Empire Zone program expires.
Replacing it effectively requires action starting now, say economic development officials. They say New York cannot afford to go without another program to attract and retain businesses, especially in a global economy where neighboring states have ongoing and effective programs.
The officials have an array of specific suggestions for a new economic development program to be ready to go by the time the current EZ program expires June 30, 2010. The ideas include having Gov. David Patterson promptly appoint a diverse commission of public, private, industry, labor and even environmental interests to develop an effective program with verifiable job creation the desired goal.
Other suggestions include returning economic development program decisions to local control, as opposed to centralized decision making from inside Albany, beefing up safeguards for taxpayers and retaining many tax breaks.
Meanwhile, New York’s Empire Zone officials grapple with final decisions on expulsion for potentially hundreds of businesses in the program by the June 30, 2009, date on which they originally promised to finalize status of existing EZ companies.
The effects in the Hudson Valley could be far reaching. In Kingston, for example 42 companies received notice of possible expulsion from the EZ program, while 10 were notified they were expelled absent a successful appeal. About 200 businesses are currently EZ certified in Kingston. In Dutchess County, 23 business received notices of expulsion and 48 businesses received notice of possible expulsion. More than 200 remain certified. Eight companies were expelled from the EZ at Newburgh-Stewart in Orange County and 26 received notice of possible expulsion.
The action started statewide weeks ago when almost 700 companies that were certified in the state’s current EZ received single-page letters dated May 18 from Randal D. Coburn, director of the Empire Zones program, informing them that due to reforms enacted as part of New York state’s 2009-2010 budget process, all existing EZ-certified businesses had to verify their performances to stay in the program. The letter said initial reviews indicated their company would not qualify and promised a followup letter by June 19 with “details on our findings and (to) explain the process for appealing.”
As of June 20, that process was not complete, said Katie Krawczyk, upstate director of public affairs for Empire State Development. “Letters are being sent to firms and will start being received in the coming days,” she said in an e-mail response to questions from a reporter.
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