SUBJECT:

PURPOSE:

Albany, New York

Wednesday
December 7, 2005
10:30 a.m.
Roosevelt Hearing Room C- 2nd Floor
Legislative Office Building

In compliance with the rules of the New York State Assembly, the Committees on Economic Development and Small Business will be conducting an oversight hearing on the State's administration of economic development and technology programs. It is the goal of these Committees to better assess and understand the success, failure and effectiveness of these programs in creating and retaining jobs, as well as addressing the needs of businesses, particularly small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Empire State Development Corporation along with the Department of Economic Development administers the Economic Development Fund, the Jobs Now Program, the Urban and Community Development Program, the Minority and Women Business Development Lending Program, the Empire Zones Program, the Entrepreneurial Assistance Program, the Community Development Financial Institutions Program, the Excelsior Linked Deposit Program, and the International Trade Program. The New York State Office of Science, Technology, and Academic Research administers the Centers for Advanced Technology (CATS) Program, the Technology Development Organization (TDO) Program, the Industrial Technology Extension Service (ITES) Program, the High Technology Matching Grants Program, the Faculty Development Program, the James D. Watson Investigator Program, the Science and Technology Law Center Program, the Incentive Program, and other State funded programs to provide grants to New York State colleges and universities for various research and commercialization purposes. Collectively, these programs represent the major component of the State's economic development policy. The Committees seek testimony in order to determine whether the administration and operation of these programs maximize New York State's potential for economic growth.

Please see the reverse side for a list of subjects to which witnesses may direct their testimony, and for a description of the bills which will be discussed at the hearing.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible. In the absence of a request, witnesses will be scheduled in the order in which reply forms are postmarked.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:

1. Have these programs created or retained jobs in New York State? If so, how many? If not, have they otherwise contributed to increased economic activity in the State?

2. Are these programs adequately funded? If not, describe how funding should be reduced or increased.

3. Are the programs currently supported by the State's General Fund the appropriate programs to ensure economic success? If not, describe how a program or programs can be improved or eliminated and other programs created to replace ineffective ones.

4. Have these programs been effectively administered and operated by the Empire State Development Corporation, the Department of Economic Development and the Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research? If not, describe how they could be better administered and operated.

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on Oversight of Economic Development Programs and Technology Programs are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to:

Benita Leigh-Lewis
Committee Assistant
Assembly Committees on Economic Development / Small Business
Room 520 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
Email: Leighlb@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4928
Fax: (518) 455-5182

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