New York State is making progress and taking positive steps to improve the business climate in Central New York and throughout the state. We’ve also made an important move toward stability and prosperity by utilizing New York’s many diverse resources and strengths – an approach I’ve long championed in the Assembly.

We can’t build a strong economy if we don’t have jobs to sustain the hardworking people who want to work and raise families in Central New York. To that end, I’m working to create job and business opportunities to make our plans for the region a reality. Just recently, Restore NY funding was awarded to two Syracuse projects, including $2.9 million for the Near West Side Initiative and $4.5 million for the City Center Core Revitalization – a project that will create an estimated 250 jobs. It’s a truly comprehensive project that will greatly enhance the city core.

And last year I secured a grant of $45,000 for the “Creative Core Regional Portal,” an important centerpiece in branding Central New York as the state’s most inventive region. With it, we launched a Web site in August 2007 – www.creativecoreny.com – that pulls together information to attract bright, young people to our area. But more needs to be done to ensure our highly educated workforce stays here in Central New York.

Governor Spitzer’s new $1 billion Upstate Revitalization plan calls for solid economic initiatives that we know are desperately needed. The governor’s plan not only has my support, but the support of Central New York’s business leaders including, Darlene Kerr, President of the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce; Robert Simpson, President-elect of the Metropolitan Development Association and Randy Wolken, President of MACNY. The plan includes a $350 million Regional Blueprint Fund to help create development-ready sites and industrial parks, a $50 million Upstate Agribusiness Fund to support access to markets and $80 million for Upstate Park Restoration to help our economy.

I’m also encouraged by the governor’s proposed $115 million for city-to-city projects and $100 million for upstate housing – initiatives that will bolster our economy.

Last year, we took important steps toward making New York’s economy stronger and more competitive. I worked to slash corporate taxes, saving businesses $150 million (Ch. 55 of 2007). I also helped pass workers’ compensation reform, which reduced the cost to businesses by 20 percent (Ch. 6 of 2007) – helping existing firms prosper and eliminating an obstacle that could deter new ones from setting up shop here. These measures brought us closer to our goals of revitalizing our economy and attracting new businesses.

The future of economic development in Central New York is indeed a bright one. We’re doing much more than just correcting the economic mistakes of the past – we’re planning for the competition of tomorrow. I’ll continue to fight for Central New York’s future – making sure we invest in small businesses and high-tech industry, as well as making sure promising young entrepreneurs with limitless potential have a place in our region.