Here are some of the things that were notables from the speech.
We are proud to announce the creation of a major research center at the University of Rochester that will spur economic growth in the region for decades. Along with Speaker Silver and our partners in the Assembly, we will commit $50 million dollars toward the construction of a 150,000-square-foot state-of-the-art building, which will be the home of the University's Clinical and Translational Science Institute. While this facility will create 40 to 50 new research jobs immediately, we expect the real benefit to be in the long term. We expect that the world-class research that is done at CTSI will lead to significant commercial applications, and that within five years, CTSI activities will create hundreds-if not thousands-of new jobs in Rochester. Let me thank Speaker Silver and Assembly members David Gantt, Susan John, Joe Morelle and David Koon for helping to make this project a reality.
This is huge for the Rochester area. I know from experience that colleges and universities can boost the local economy. I'll use my own school, SUNY Fredonia, as an example. Without SUNY Fredonia, a lot of people would be without jobs. But with SUNY Fredonia in the community, it not only provides jobs, but it also provides incentive for a business to move into the area.
Plus, for Rochester, the possibility of creating thousands of new jobs comes at a great time. You have some companies (like Kodak, for example) that have uncertain futures. So to provide this boost will be very positive.
Another point to mention:
What we've done in Watertown is a good example of this strategy. Working with our partners in Congress and at the local level, Lieutenant Governor Paterson and I waged a successful campaign to bring a new maneuver enhancement brigade-1,500 new troops-to Fort Drum. We won the new brigade because we were the only State to go to the Army with a comprehensive economic development package articulating the specific steps we would take to accommodate the additional soldiers. The centerpiece of that package was $10 million dollars in funding to ease the affordable housing crunch in Watertown.
What a huge move by the state to step up to the plate, provide a plan for economic development and then be provided 1,500 new troops. That, in essence, is creating 1,500 new jobs, although those jobs are obviously military only.
Point Number 3:
Upstate Agribusiness Fund
I have often talked about how New York's future depends on strategic industries. Now, let me discuss one in particular that is not always discussed in the same breath as biotech, nanotech, photonics and aerospace-but it should be.
Our Upstate Revitalization Fund will infuse significant capital into our agricultural sector, which forms the bedrock of so many local economies throughout Upstate.
Last year-inspired in part by the strong voices for farmers in Albany, including the chairs of the Agriculture Committees, Assemblyman Bill Magee and Senator Catherine Young, as well as other strong advocates for our farmers, such as Senator David Valesky and Assemblyman Darrel Aubertine-we fundamentally changed the way New York approaches agricultural policy.
For years, agriculture was seen as a dying industry. That has changed. Today, agriculture not only matters to us-we are looking to it to become one of the main forces behind Upstate's economic revitalization.
This year, our budget will infuse new capital into our agricultural sector with a $50 million Upstate Agribusiness Fund. Investments will support access to markets; new and expanded food processing centers; and development of alternative fuels like the innovative efforts at the Fulton ethanol plant.
To implement this new Agribusiness Fund, we will hire New York's first Director of Agriculture Development. With these efforts, we believe the "Pride of New York" logo can become the most recognized symbol of food quality in the world.
And this is only the beginning.
In 2008, we will break ground on the Pride of New York Wholesale Farmers' Market in New York City to connect Upstate growers with Downstate consumers. And we will continue to support research at Morrisville College, the Geneva Experiment Station and Cornell University-efforts to which Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton has contributed so much.
Agriculture is not just an important part of our economy-it's a way of life in our communities. By supporting our farmers, by giving them the tools they need to access new markets, we will preserve this way of life in New York, and leave stronger farms-and a stronger state-to our children and grandchildren.
This was something that resonated with me throughout the whole speech. I'm from a county with a lot of farms. We have a lot of growers here, but they depend on, at times, large corporations to buy their crops. The Pride of New York would change all that.
To have a market in New York City where rural farmers in upstate can sell their crops is a huge move, not only for farmers and agriculture, but for the upstate-downstate divide. This is a great way to bridge that divide by giving downstate a piece of upstate. Economically, it will have huge benefits for many families here in upstate who depend on agriculture as an income and a way of life.
Point number 4:
Universal Broadband
We must also address another critically important issue for New Yorkers in rural areas-the lack of access to broadband.
It is unacceptable that only 25 percent of New Yorkers who live in rural areas have access to affordable, high-speed broadband Internet. And the lack of broadband access is an equally serious problem in our inner cities. In a digital age, businesses, families and individuals who lack broadband access find their economic and educational opportunities limited.
Our proposed Fund will respond to this need by tripling State investment in our universal broadband effort to $15 million. This investment will move us closer to the day when we can close the digital divide in New York and offer everyone in our rural areas, and inner cities, access to high speed, affordable broadband Internet.
Tripling the funds for the universal broadband effort was music to my ears. I see this as a crucial part to any development here in rural upstate. If companies want to have businesses here, there tends to be places where there is one (if any) high-speed Internet providers. That's not good for business.
A lot of businesses depend on the Internet nowadays. Whether it's for keeping databases and ordering parts, or selling things online for profit, businesses use the Internet to their advantage A LOT. In order for businesses to thrive in upstate, they need universal broadband. Or what I like to call (in good fun), "Socialized Internets."
Point five is transportation:
Transportation
And just as affordable, high-speed Internet has now become a critical component of infrastructure in the Innovation Economy, we must continue to invest in our traditional infrastructure-our roads, bridges and highways. That is why our Fund will include $100 million to support critical maintenance of the Upstate network of State and local bridges.
I think it was a wake-up call to many states and municipalities that we should start making sure our bridges and infrastructure are up to code. $100 million should take care of all that. I know here in upstate, we have plenty of bridges that could use repairs or a complete overhaul.
Point Six - Parks:
Parks
Finally, our proposed $1 billion Fund will include a significant investment in New York's State Parks-a major asset when it comes to attracting business.
However, for New York, this tool is not what it should be because, over the years, our parks have fallen into disrepair. That is why our proposed Fund will include $80 million dollars-out of $100 million dollars in statewide funding-to restore Upstate's parks.
As the centerpiece of our restoration, we will return Niagara Falls State Park, the oldest state park in the nation, to its former glory-a goal that has long been championed by Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte. And as part of our $5.5 million dollar restoration for the park, we propose to rebuild and fully reopen the Goat Island Bridge; so thousands more visitors can experience the unspoiled natural wonder of the American side of Niagara Falls.
Those are the major elements of our proposed $1 billion Fund.
While I realize that this is a large amount of money in tough fiscal times, I also know that it's at these very moments when investment matters most; when the urgency is so great that we simply cannot afford to wait.
These are not piecemeal programs or halfway investments. Rather, these are the programs and investments that came out of the hundreds of conversations we had with regional stakeholders over the past year. Simply put, this is the funding, and these are the programs, you told us that you need to create good jobs in your communities.
And just as we developed this Fund together, now, let us work together to pass it.
I look forward to working with Economic Development Committee chairs Robin Schimminger and James Alesi in that spirit.
I know some of upstate's crown jewels are the state parks. In Orleans County, we have Lakeside Beach State Park which is right down the road from Point Breeze/Oak Orchard River, one of the most popular fishing spots in the country. There's state parks all over the place which are scenic, a great tourist attraction, and certainly a great place for a family getaway. Investment into these parks, especially Niagara Falls, is huge. Not only will that investment lead to more money coming in, but more people as well.
Overall, Spitzer's speech touched on a lot of key points and the plan he outlined was a very good one. In fact, it is a great one. If this whole thing is implemented, we should see results. Spitzer also mentioned reducing energy costs and reducing taxes - two big things for businesses and residents in upstate. And, his focus on higher education will help spur this growth.
So what do you guys think? Was it good? Was it bad? Do you think there's something else Spitzer needs to hit on?
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