The Long Island Assembly minority conference representing Nassau and Suffolk counties today was united in calling for creation of an Empire Zone in Nassau County, one of 11 counties in the state still not part of the Empire Zones program. Several business leaders and members of local chambers of commerce joined the Assembly members at RMB Drafting Service in East Meadow to show support for their efforts.

"The Empire Zone Program gives businesses incentives to locate, expand or increase employment opportunities within a qualified zone," said Assemblyman David G. McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick). "Nassau County is currently among a few counties in New York that doesn’t enjoy the economic benefits of an Empire Zone. It is time the Empire State Development agency designated one or more areas in Nassau County."

Empire Zones, administered through the Empire State Development Corporation, provide business-friendly combinations of tax reductions, energy savings and other incentives to encourage businesses to locate or expand in New York and create jobs.

"Nassau County is surrounded by 13 Empire Zones. It’s crucial we act on legislation now to ensure Nassau County residents and businesses have full access to the benefits available to them," said Assemblywoman Maureen O’Connell (R,C,I-East Williston). "This program has helped many communities throughout the state prosper by attracting businesses looking for certain incentives. Empire Zones aid local economies and have brought thousands of jobs to some areas, but Nassau County has been at a consistent disadvantage."

The 18-year-old program has helped create more than 71,000 jobs through the 72 designated Empire Zones in New York. More than 9,000 certified businesses, employing about 300,000 people, are benefiting from Empire Zone business and tax incentives.

Counties without Empire Zones are at a disadvantage because they aren’t able to offer prospective businesses the applicable job creation incentives and economic development initiatives.

"An Empire Zone would give Nassau County an additional edge to compete in the global economy," said Assemblyman Bob Barra (R,C-14th District). "Business owners want to locate their companies where they can receive the best and most incentives. Empire Zones give companies the incentives they are looking for, but our county isn’t able to take advantage of the program and benefits."

Empire Zones are proven assets to other Long Island communities. By the end of 2003, there were 79 zone-certified businesses on Long Island employing 1,975 workers with capital investments totaling nearly $25 million. Nearly 300 certified businesses have invested $469 million in the region since the first zone was established on Long Island in 1987.

Long Island is also losing potential investors. There were 982 Empire Zone businesses in the New York City area at the end of 2003 employing 41,786 workers with capital investments totaling $348 million. Since the first Empire Zone was created in the New York City region in 1987, 9,933 certified businesses have invested nearly $4.4 billion there.

Assemblyman Andrew Raia (R,C,I,WF-East Northport) commented, "It’s not fair that all counties in New York don’t have the same advantage. For our state to keep its competitive edge, every county should have at least one Empire Zone. I have pledged to work with my Nassau County colleagues to bring an Empire Zone to their community."

"The success of the Empire Zones program speaks volumes. That’s why I’m here with my Long Island Assembly minority colleagues and will remain steadfast in our commitment to bring an Empire Zone to Nassau County. It would foster economic growth for years to come," Assemblyman James Conte (R,C-Huntington Station) said.

"One way to relieve the tax burden in Nassau County is to promote business and economic development. An Empire Zone in Nassau County is sorely needed for the communities I represent. Empire Zones create jobs for working families and provide services for them to utilize," Assemblyman Thomas Alfano (R,I,C,WF-21st District) said.

Ed Reinfurt, vice president of The Business Council of New York State, noted, "Empire Zones are a proven asset in New York’s ongoing effort to attract new jobs and new plants, and we salute the Assembly minority for championing this program. We know New York must cut taxes and the costs of doing business, but we must also preserve the one program that does the most to offset New York’s competitive disadvantages."

Michael Watt, executive director of the Long Island Partnership, said, "Despite its many virtues as a region, Long Island also has its challenges – most notable the high cost of doing business. It does not make sense, then, to undercut or eliminate the Empire Development Zones – a valuable tool for local economic development forces to have at their disposal to mitigate expensive items such as energy and taxes. If anything, New York state should be doing more, not less, to bolster these programs and it should be doing everything it can to create a zone for Nassau County."

Mitchell Pally, vice president of government affairs for the Long Island Association, said his group "strongly believes that it is essential for Nassau County to be included within the Empire Zones program. At the moment, Nassau County is at a competitive disadvantage with its neighboring counties, including Suffolk, because of its inability to provide the benefits to companies that want to move to Nassau County. The association urges the state Legislature and governor to ensure that this measure is included in the new state budget."