RELEASES: Hochul regional presentations on budget2023 in Central NY on February 6, Finger Lakes February 13, Mid-Hudson February 21, Southern Tier February 22. Releases, transcripts, Youtube videos. NYSNYS News
February 6, 2023
Albany, NY
Governor Hochul Announces Details of Plan to Grow Jobs and Boost Economy in Central New York as Part of FY 24 Executive Budget
Includes More Than $80 Million to Drive Economic Development, Boost Housing Supply, Support Higher Education
Also Includes $45 Million in Administrative and Operational Support for Micron Investment and Other Semiconductor Industry Growth Through New Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management and Integration
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced details of key proposals from her Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget to grow jobs and boost the economy in Central New York. In line with the 2023 State of the State, the budget includes a major investment to increase housing supply and expand economic opportunity and innovation in the region. That includes $36 million for Onondaga Community College, $11 million for local workforce and economic development initiatives, $10 million for the New 15th Ward public housing project and $26 million for the State Fair and local parks. Governor Hochul also announced $45 million for GO SEMI: Governor's Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management and Integration, which will provide administrative and operational support to Micron during its historic $100 billion investment for a new megafab in Central New York and lead a broader effort to develop New York's semiconductor industry.
"These investments are building on our momentum to make Syracuse and Central New York more prosperous, more affordable, and more livable," Governor Hochul said. "With new, deeper commitments to housing, education, and economic development, our budget will build on Micron's investment to create opportunity for even more New Yorkers, and I look forward to working with local leaders to make this vision for Central New York a reality."
Audio Photos
Several of the budget proposals Governor Hochul announced today are in line with the Economic Innovation Plan announced in the 2023 State of the State to grow jobs and businesses by expanding economic opportunity and innovation across New York State through targeted investments, business support and other programming aimed at high-growth industries. The Governor's budget also includes several initiatives to invest in higher education and improve local attractions across the state. For Central New York, the plan includes:
$10 million for the New 15th Ward public housing project in Syracuse, which will support construction of the first three phases of the multi-year-12 phase project.
$5 million to help the Syracuse Economic Development Corporation create a revolving loan fund to help small- to mid-size city businesses fill critical gaps in the need for qualified contractors for housing construction and rehabilitation as well as for lead hazard reduction in homes.
$5 million for the Flexible Finance Program to support economic development in the City of Syracuse.
$1 million to expand the successful Syracuse Build Pathways to Apprenticeship program to support building trades apprenticeships in Syracuse and expand Vehicles to Work program.
$1 million to create the Syracuse Surge High-Tech Careers Bridge Program, which will help connect Syracuse residents with semiconductor careers, eSOL programs and skills training for advanced manufacturing careers.
$36 million for Onondaga Community College, including:
$15 million to expand the School of Health.
$5 million to support construction of a 5,000 square foot, ISO class 5 and 6 clean room for training students in the semiconductor and microelectronics industries.
$3 million for an open warehouse space for use in applied engineering, technical and workforce education.
$2.5 million for an energy retrofit of Coyne Hall.
$10.25 million for various improvements across the campus.
$14 million to support State fairground maintenance and needed infrastructure upgrades.
$7 million to construct two brand new comfort stations at campgrounds and make circulations improvements at Selkirk Shores State Park.
$5 million for improvements at Green Lakes State Park.
These investments are building on our momentum to make Syracuse and Central New York more prosperous, more affordable, and more livable
Governor Kathy Hochul
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "New York has made many strategic investments to attract the semiconductor industry and these investments, coupled with the State's Green CHIPS program and the federal CHIPS and Science Act will allow for unparalleled growth, especially in Central New York, as we build up the semiconductor industry ecosystem. I applaud Governor Hochul's commitment to growing this vital industry in New York State."
Micron's Executive Vice President of Global Operations Manish Bhatia said, "We are proud of the groundwork being laid by the Micron team, together with local community and government partners, to advance this project. The semiconductor industry is creating opportunities that are beginning to transform this region. We're confident that Micron made a great choice to lay down roots right here in Central New York."
State Senator John W. Mannion said, "Building on the progress of the Green Chips legislation, I look forward to continuing to collaborate with the governor to make the right investments in the human and physical infrastructure the 50th Senate District needs to maximize the $100B Micron semiconductor manufacturing project. We need major state resources to bring training programs to scale while supporting the workforce pipeline from our K-12 schools, community colleges, and four-year universities. I am committed to working with the governor and my colleagues in the legislature to include vital state funding in the enacted budget for advanced manufacturing in Central New York and the tens of thousands of jobs it will bring to the state."
State Senator Rachel May said, "As Micron gets ready to build a nation-leading semiconductor factory in Central New York and hire thousands of employees, it's critical that we prepare the area with affordable and quality housing while also providing the company with the necessary tools to guarantee it's a good neighbor to residents in the region. Thank you to Governor Hochul for including funding in this year's budget to address these issues, ensuring Micron's development is successful."
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said, "With Governor Hochul's strong partnership, Syracuse is entering a period of growth not seen in nearly a century. We appreciate funding in Governor Hochul's Executive Budget announced today for housing, small business development and job readiness. With investments in these areas, we can expand our efforts to ensure growth in Syracuse and Central New York is sustainable and creates opportunities for all."
GO SEMI and New York's Growing Semiconductor Industry
Governor Hochul also announced $45 million for GO SEMI, announced as part of the 2023 State of the State address, on the heels of Micron's historic announcement that it will invest $100 billion to build the world's largest memory manufacturing facility in Clay, located in Onondaga County, New York. The investment is estimated to bring up to 50,000 jobs to the Central New York region and was made possible by the federal CHIPS and Science Act and New York's Green CHIPS legislation, which the Governor signed in 2022. The new office will be led by Empire State Development and staffed by experts from the Department of State, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Department of Labor, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, NY CREATES, the New York Power Authority, the Office of Homes and Community Renewal and the State University of New York.
GO SEMI will lead and centralize efforts to implement the Micron project; develop and advance policies to attract the semiconductor industry and its supply chain; coordinate workforce development and community investments between local, state, federal, and private partners; lead efforts to create, attract and retain the highly skilled workforce needed; and support cohesive development focused on smart growth principles.
Shortly after the Micron announcement, Governor Hochul announced that Edwards Vacuum, a British-based world leader in vacuum and abatement equipment in the semiconductor industry, would build a new $319 million, U.S. dry pump manufacturing facility at Western New York Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) located in Genesee County, creating up to 600 jobs. The agreements with Micron and Edwards Vacuum will help to solidify New York's standing as a hub for advanced manufacturing and a home for 21st century jobs.
+++
February 6, 2023
Albany, NY
Video, Audio, Photos & Rush Transcript: Governor Hochul Announces Details of Plan to Grow Jobs and Boost Economy in Central New York as Part of FY 2024 Executive Budget
TOP
Video, Audio, Photos & Rush Transcript: Governor Hochul Announces Details of Plan to Grow Jobs and Boost Economy in Central New York as Part of FY 2024 Executive Budget
Share
Governor Hochul: "It is not an overstatement to say that New York is the capital of the semiconductor industry, and the Syracuse community is the epicenter of that world and that is really significant. So, never for resting on our laurels, we'll go bigger, we'll go bolder and we'll get better."
Hochul: "It is a statewide shared sense of pride that we're going to be manufacturing something here that the rest of the world thinks about and dreams about and tries to compete with And you'll never match the quality of our workforce, the intellects, the innovation,"
Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul announced details of key proposals from her Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget to grow jobs and boost the economy in Central New York. In line with the 2023 State of the State, the budget includes a major investment to increase housing supply and expand economic opportunity and innovation in the region. The investment includes $36 million for Onondaga Community College, $11 million for local workforce and economic development initiatives, $10 million for the New 15th Ward public housing project and $26 million for the state fair and local parks. Governor Hochul also announced $45 million for GO SEMI: Governor's Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management and Integration, which will provide administrative and operational support to Micron during its historic $100 billion investment for a new megafab in Central New York and lead a broader effort to develop New York's semiconductor industry.
VIDEO of the event is available on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.
AUDIO of the event is available here.
PHOTOS of the event are available on the Governor's Flickr page.
A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:
Good morning. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. It was like a homecoming coming back here once again. And it really felt good. It really felt great actually, to be able to come back to a community that I know so well and love so much. And especially the people, the people in this region of Central New York are really quite extraordinary. The leaders, the elected people are always important, but also just the community engagement and the business engagement, I think is second to none. And I really wanted you to know, I don't take that for granted. And so, I thank you for welcoming me back. I want to acknowledge some of the leaders you're going to be hearing from in our program.
Dr. Warren Hilton, the President of Onondaga Community College has joined us. Ben Walsh, our Mayor who I've spent a lot of time working with, and he never stops giving me more things to do and more ideas. Manish Bhatia, the Executive Vice President of Global Operations at Micron. Micron - it's a word that's synonymous with hope and opportunity and I'll always be so grateful to everyone who is part of the team to let Micron see what we've always known. That this is an incredible place to live, to work, to do business. So, we're so excited about what the future unfolds for all of us in this area. So, I want to thank - also, I know we have Helen Hudson has joined us. Helen, our City Council President, Common Council President. Chris Ryan, the Minority Leader in Onondaga County. Thank you, Chris for being here. Rob Simpson, Rob. thank you for all you've done. We've never stopped working together. We were at a football game trying to recruit more businesses and you know, we're never off. We're never off even in the most casual encounters like, "You sure you're not a supply chain to Micron, you want to come to Central New York?" So, we have our pitch. We have our pitch.
But also, to all the Onondaga County Legislators who've join us and elected leaders at the City of Syracuse, Common Council members, and also our friends in labor who will be building, building our future. So, I thank you all for being here today. And you know, no secret, I went to school here and I come back to this building in particular. I was talking to Ed Riley about this. The day I graduated from Syracuse University, my parents brought me to the most beautiful place in Syracuse, the Syracuse Hotel. Hotel Syracuse. And they took me to lunch. Now, you have to understand when you come from a very big Irish Catholic family with a lot of, lot of resources, when your parents take you to a place that has a white tablecloth, it's really, really, feels important. So, I knew it was a great day of celebration and I remember. Silly memory, but there was a little glass votive on the table and I was commenting how pretty it was. My mother asked the waiter if we could buy that as a gift for me. So, I still have the glass votive from here from many, many years ago.
So, this is a special place. And, also just to add - to see the rebirth of this, from the beginning, you know, the peeling back of the murals and realizing there was a story that had been covered up and now we had a chance to reveal it to the rest of the world. I love this place. I see Meg here talking about what we've done at Salt City Marketplace, all the entrepreneurs who just, their lives have been transformed, you know, being able to be successful in the businesses they've always dreamed of. And so that's what I see happening here. And so much is going on with our Regional Economic Development Councils. And, you know, my public life really started here, and I was here many, many times. I'm glad to be back. And what I see here, just we think about the economic numbers. I mean, you can talk about anecdotes and stories and how good it feels, but also there's some numbers that just even, you know, statewide, we look at, you know, some of our economic numbers and unemployment, where we are in Syracuse, I swear it was double digits when I was here. I mean, I was just, you know, heading upwards and upwards. It seemed like, you know, Buffalo is 12, 14, 15 percent. Now unemployment is at 3.8 percent. I mean, unbelievable. Unbelievable. And what we're - 3 percent for Syracuse, statewide is 3.8. Syracuse is even better. Total jobs, we've had, statewide, over 586,000 jobs created, and I'm talking about just since I became Governor. I'm not saying I did every single one of them, but you know, if they all, if we lost 500,000 jobs, I'm sure I'd get blamed. So why can't I take the credit for this? Right?
But the Syracuse region is, you know, had an increase in jobs. I mean, over 15,000 people just in one year. And that's just pre-omicron energy. So, that's the trend we're on right now and I think that's a very positive one. And again, having been here when the trend was, "Oh my God, unemployment is high, people are leaving, there's no jobs." I mean, I lived through that. And it never leaves you, it always gives you this sense of anxiety about what could happen, but also appreciation when things are heading in a right way. And I'm so grateful for that.
And of course, we'll never forget, you know, October 4th - Micron, I was joined by Senator Schumer and Sanjay and just talking about, you know, every, it's like, it's like Cher. You can just say Sanjay, everybody around here knows who you're talking about. And the great CEO of Micron who believed in us and that investment of a hundred billion over 20 years, you know, the largest chip facility in the world, 50,000 jobs to this region. It's really important to us. It's really transformative and so that allows us to really write the next chapter of the upstate manufacturing story. And a lot of people didn't even think we were ever going to have a story, just kind of dead and buried and now it's going to rise up and it has set off a chain reaction.
When I am in New York City, Long Island, Hudson Valley, people are saying we all want a part of this because it's not just one name, it's just not one region. It is a statewide shared sense of pride that we're going to be manufacturing something here that the rest of the world thinks about and dreams about and tries to compete with us. And you'll never match the quality of our workforce, the intellects, the innovation, whether they come out of our community college or come out of our local colleges. I mean, there's nothing like this. People are going to want to come from all over the state, all over the country to work here. So, we have done, you know, even Edwards Vacuum I was calling into England, you know, making phone calls, "Hey, thinking of coming here?" And so, they're the British-based leader in vacuum and abatement equipment in the semiconductor industry. And like probably never heard of them before, but now they're going to be part of the New York family because they want to build a pump right here in Genesee, right down the road in Genesee County, creating 600 jobs, I mean 600 jobs for a place like Genesee County is a big deal, is a very big deal.
So, at these kinds of investments, New York is now home to 76 semiconductor companies. I would call that a critical mass, and who employ over 34,000 New Yorkers right now. So that's Global Foundries, Wolf Street, onsemi and also IBM. And so, you also think about the assets we have. We have the Albany Nanotech Complex, which was an important driver of why New York was so successful, and it's some of the most sophisticated semiconductor research in the world. So, it is not an overstatement to say that New York is the capital of the semiconductor industry, and the Syracuse community is the epicenter of that world and that is really significant.
So, never for resting on our laurels, we'll go bigger, we'll go bolder and we'll get better. And so, we're going to, as we build this new ecosystem, I want to let people know that this is not just an, "Oh, we've got them and now we move on." This is a commitment, this is opportunity for us to open the door to other companies, be part of the supply chain. Whether you want to be right in the neighborhood, close by, or anywhere in Upstate New York, anywhere in New York State, doesn't matter at all.
But now the question is - this is what Sanjay and Manish talked about - are we going to be able to have the workers to fill the jobs? And the answer is yes, and we're going to train them, here and all across the state.
And so, we have to identify the skills that are needed, and that's why during my State of the State address, I announced the first ever Governor's Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management, and Integration. Now, coincidentally, all that stuff adds up to GO SEMI. So, I have such a clever team. So, $45 million, that's skin in the game. That's on top of the other incentive that says we need to have a place that businesses will know is the place you go to get all your questions answered, get pointed to the right direction, how we can help manage what the needs of Micron and others are. Who are the suppliers you need? How close do you want them to be? What can we do to incentivize them to come here?
So, we'll be bringing companies here, but also coordinating community investments, making sure that between the federal, state, and local, it's not so confusing for people to know the kind of a package that can be on the table to lure them to come to our state versus another. So that's important. And as I mentioned, we have to train up New Yorkers to fill these jobs. So, we'll continue to position this area as a leader, the leader in semiconductor manufacturing, but also send the message that this is a pro-business environment for people to work, bring their businesses, expand their visits, all happening right here.
And that is, again, a generational shift from what it had been when I was younger, probably two generations ago now, and it's amazing. It's amazing that it happened in our lifetime. So, we're going to continue with this, but also, you know, I work with the Mayor all the time - a great champion for this area, very innovative and has a lot of ideas. We talked about how we can train people for these jobs. And part of it, I view that as economic development. Randy and I spoke about this a lot. You can talk about jobs over here. You can talk about training over here, but if you don't blend them together, you're missing something. You know, for us to think that our job training facilities are meeting the needs of employers without engaging them is just foolishness. I've said this since my days in Congress over a decade ago. You have to marry the community colleges, the training facilities, the apprenticeship programs with the employers to say, "What do you want taught?" Let's not waste everybody's time. We want them to have a pipeline to these jobs. Let's just teach them in a very intentional way.
And that's why, you know, having seen many of our job training centers, I know how to do this, and so, we're going to make sure that what's happening here in Syracuse. We're going to be adding an additional million dollars to a program called Syracuse Build Pathways to Apprenticeship Program. This is for Syracuse. The Mayor told me this is a good program. He said it was a good program, got the Mayor's seal of approval. The Council said, "Okay, good program." I said, "Okay, that's all." So, this will be serving 115 building trade apprenticeships from I-81 to Micron Construction and so much more. And also, the Syracuse Surge High Tech Careers Bridge program will go do outreach and have more mentoring and exposure for semiconductor careers.
And so, you know, money to help with that, you know, to help with that as well. And we also know, you know, we have to help invest in our mom-and-pop shops too. You know, this is really important. These are the - no business starts out big. They all start small and sometimes they need little help moving along. So, we're going to have a 5 million revolving loan fund to help businesses, you know, do the renovations they need, the expansion, whatever they need, housing, you know, the construction they need, rehabilitation, whatever they're looking for, and so, a flexible finance program for the City of Syracuse, so you can help how this money's spent.
Also, you know, we have to have housing. This is what we talked about, right? Where are all these people going to live? We want to make sure that the center city, the city itself, is the main attraction I would say, because we saw what happened when people left our cities. Mayor wasn't born yet, but it happened a long time ago. When you're this old, you can say whatever you want, but I remember it was white flight out of the cities. You know, highways are built intentionally to connect people from the suburbs to jobs, whereas there was a time before when they all lived in the cities. And so, we are trying to fix the last vestiges of racism that happened in our transportation and our building of infrastructure.
But now we have an opportunity to invest in housing in the city, but also, we will need more housing overall. That's just a statement of fact. And you have to offer a variety to people. You know, you get empty nesters, want to be in the city. I'm an empty nester living in a city right now, and, you know, young people starting out.
But also, there's a certain age group - you're going to want to be out near the baseball field and have more space. So, we have to meet people where they are. And if we fail in that, we'll fail to provide what I promised Micron was not just a workforce, but they have to live somewhere. They're not all staying at the Syracuse Hotel here. They have a place to live. So, we have to make sure that we do this in a smart way, but not just smart - it has to be aggressive. It has to be, "Let's get started yesterday" because we have a lot of catch up to do, a lot of catch up. So, we have to incentivize developers to build more wide range of housing, affordable workplace housing is what we're going to be talking a lot about. But also, just making sure that people know that, you know, we are keeping our communities safe and there's, you know, opportunities for us, like never before.
We talked about this last year, the abandoned Developmental Center. You know, last year I announced $29 million to help demolish it to make way for new housing. Housing - at the time, we didn't even know how critically important it was going to be, but now it really is. And also, a tech hub, and I know that that is moving along, right Mayor? I'm going to ask you. We're moving along, right? I'm going to give you this money, I've got to make sure it's being spent.
But on top of that, we have to talk about my New York Housing Compact, and people get all anxious. I get it. I was in local government a long time. But I also knew that local governments have tremendous power to open the door and be welcoming and build and give young people a chance to raise their own family in the community they grew up with - affordable, around the grandparents, babysitters. So, there's a lot involved in this. I'm a grandma now, I can say that, but we have to build over 800,000 new houses in the next decade to meet the demand. That is a good thing. Remember the old days? You couldn't give a house away in Buffalo or Syracuse because nobody was - they were leaving. And now the prices are going out because that's again, a statement of how desirable our cities in New York are and our communities are in New York, so that's nice. But if it's a barrier to be able to own a home or even afford an apartment, then it doesn't work.
So, let's just go into the future with our eyes wide open of what this challenge means. We can't protect the status quo and be like this when people want to come here. This is a new dynamic. It's a new dynamic. We have to be open, open-minded, so we're going to build those 800,000 homes. Last year, we announced $25 billion - another billion, lot of billions when we talk about Micron and $25 billion to create 100,000 affordable housing units again, where our workers will be living.
And also grow the housing stock, and I want to grow the housing stock upstate. Now, this is not a radical number - get ready for this - one percent. Okay. I think we can blow past that number. Okay? I know we can blow past that number, but one percent for communities upstate over the next three years to be able to increase the housing stock, so people have options and a place to live, and that's what's so important to me.
I know, out of my local government days, when you build housing, there's other associated costs. You might need a new school. You might need to put in new sewers, new roads. We are putting together $250 million, so I would get in line first. I'd grab that money while you can. There you go Mayor. And also, not every community has a large, sophisticated planning department, so how are they going to manage this? You know, our smaller communities, we're going to put aside $20 million for planning assistance. Again, I know what it's like at that level. And if everybody just opens up their minds to the possibilities and doesn't get trapped in the past, there is no stopping us. I believe this to my core, and that's why I'm excited about it.
I like challenges, and I know we can get it done with community support. I like the leader support, business support, everybody rowing together with the same objectives to give people an affordable place to live because people want to be here. That's what's so amazing about this. Also, let's look at places like the new 15th Ward public housing, $10 million, how about 10 million public housing, this is going to be gorgeous. This'll be gorgeous. Now again, a once thriving neighborhood divided by a highway, and now it's time to reconnect - bring people back home, bring back the beauty and the grandeur of a neighborhood that was so radically changed, and now we're going to start fixing the wrongs of the past. And I love that. I love doing that. And again, these are large investments, but to me it is so worthwhile. The funding will go in three phases to a multi-year project, but it's time to reconnect a vibrant community once again.
I look forward to touring there. We're heading here afterward. Right, Mayor? So, I'll be monitoring the progress. I'm going to ask you every couple of months how we're doing. "We're moving along on this?" But I'm really excited about this. But as we draw people to our state, to our communities, our cities, we have to assure people that they're going to be safe, and we will. We will. You know, crime is down dramatically. There was a national surge. I just want to point out a national surge in crime in the aftermath, the final years of the pandemic that is still very real. But New York State, check it out. New York State is the safest large state in the country. That's based on - and we're comparing ourselves to all the states - the large ones. And maybe Vermont has a couple few, I don't know.
But we're talking about violent crimes, property crimes, quality of life crimes and we developed an approach. We started talking to the mayors last year, and from my local government experience, I know how important the mayors are. I offered to the Mayor of Rochester; "Do you need extra help?" Mayor of Syracuse, and we pulled together - talking about even bringing together our federal resources. Are the U.S. attorneys providing assistance? What else can the state police do? What else can I do with crime labs and analysis and coordination that never happened before? Because for too long law enforcement lived in silos. ATF, FBI over here, sheriffs over here, local police departments over here, state police over here. And I said, I came in a year ago. I said, "Nope. Same team. Same team. We have the same objective. Let's pull together. Let's pull our resources together. Let's do intelligence sharing." Because we have to do this to make sure everybody not just feels safe but is safe.
So, we still have some challenges ahead on public safety, but I'm putting more money into the gun violence issue. I'm watching the numbers closely here. More money. $337 million, an increase over $110 million from last year to reduce gun violence. That is significant. Last year, we made an $18 million investment in the Gun Involved Violence Elimination program. It's a fancy way of saying the communities that need it the most. We had $1.3 for Onondaga this year. I'm going to double that. I'm going to raise it up to $3.6 million because we're not out of the woods yet, but we're making real progress.
And I mentioned our crime analysis centers. I toured one about a week and a half ago in Albany, but the Syracuse Police Department is not only home to the Central New York Crime Analysis Center, but it's one of our first four original centers and we're going to continue supporting these centers. I wanted them to know that if they needed more equipment, make sure their technology's up to speed, that we're going to invest in this as well.
Also, one thing that made sense to me, it wasn't being done. The illegal guns aren't being made in New York State. Right? Where are they coming from? They have to all be coming from another state where they're manufactured legally. They're not being made here in New York. So, you logically say, "Well, how do we stop them from coming across the border?" A lot of them come from gun shows and events in Pennsylvania, come straight up Route 81, and all of a sudden, they're in the streets of Syracuse. So, not only at the time that I had talked to my state police and say, "I know you got a lot of work to do, but I need you to be interdicting guns at the border, tracking people." But then I realize I've got a lot of states that aren't talking to each other.
A year ago, I announced a nine-state consortium of like-minded states from the Northeast who are now talking about when they see a trafficker, they know they're coming up 81, 95, wherever they're coming from, and we can track them, share data, arrest them, and stop the guns from coming in the State of New York.
So, we have tens of thousands of guns, illegal guns off the streets now. I wish that was the end of it, but they keep making more. So, we are not giving up our efforts in this space. But we talk about crime, gun violence, shootings, but how do we give people who grow up in a community and think that they don't have a better alternative? That life does look pretty hopeless to them. How do we give them an alternative? That's why we have to be very intentional in targeting money toward youth programs, youth employment programs, summer youth programs that are great, but guess what? Their lives aren't changed just because schools start. They still need healthy activities throughout the year. And I'm going to make those investments as we talked about.
So, directing young people away from violence into productive activities with adult supervision, letting them know despite what's happening in their homes, there's adults out there who care about them and will help them. And will help train them and get them in a better place and realize they do have a great future.
Also, we're doubling our investments in Alternatives to Incarceration because there's a lot of people who, whether it's substance abuse, mental health challenges, or other reasons why traditional incarceration is not the right path for them. We need to help turn them around and be thoughtful about this. But we have to make sure that it's a true system of justice. Our criminal justice is a true system of justice. Full stop. And that's what we're going to do.
Also, we have a lot of court-appointed attorneys. My God, they work hard and we're going to give them the first raise, a significant raise in 20 years. And there's been a lot of talk about the bail laws. Now, I'm going to just get everybody's mindset on this one. When we talked about that spike in crime all across the nation, everywhere, and everybody's blaming New York State bail laws for crime going up everywhere. You know, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., so that had nothing to do with it.
Let's just deal in realities here. But let's talk about the fact that right now, after having some changes last year to the bail laws, we want to make sure that people accused of low-level offenses, who don't have money, don't end up sitting in jail when someone else accused of the same offense who happens to have money or their parents can bail them out, gets to go home. That is the description of injustice. That is what the bail laws changed. And we're not talking about changing that, but when you get to serious crimes, violent crimes, crimes involving guns or harm to other people, you have to give the judges the discretion to be able to take a look at that.
So right now, the law says there's factors a judge should consider when deciding whether someone should receive bail, and these are bail eligible cases. By nature, they're already serious cases. Otherwise, they wouldn't be before a judge for bail. But our law also says that the judge has to consider the least restrictive means to ensure they come back to court. Do you see the inconsistency of what I just said? Consider all these factors, but you have to use the least restrictive means to get them back to - I just want to fix that. I just want to say that in these more serious offenses that are bail eligible in the first place and many crimes are not, let the judges have the discretion to weight past offenses, order protection violated, hate crimes, you know, gun involved. I mean, there's so many things you want a judge to think about instead of just saying, "Oh, are they likely to flee to another country or not?" You know, the flight of risk. You got to - we have to do that. So, to me it's common sense. I need all of you to help me let everybody know what's behind this. My values are strong, but also, I'm going to be protecting society at the same time. They're not inconsistent values, and that's what I believe in the State of New York.
We've also - I mentioned the State Police earlier - so I'm increasing their ability to go into communities. You know, the Mayor gives a call, "I need extra help, we're having a tough time, we have a spike here. Can you get out literally on the streets with us?" And I want to be able to offer that as well, so we're increasing almost $13 million to help that space as well.
So, when we talk about violent crime, I mentioned people sometimes have mental health challenges as well, the driver of some of our issues here, and homelessness. We have ignored the mental health crisis for far too long. Way too long. I'm here to declare that the era of ignoring people with mental health needs is over. It is over. People deserve a system that works. I'm going to fully fund a complete transformation of how we deal with these individuals and offer a continuum of care that actually works, $1 billion, $1 billion to transform our health care system. We need psychiatric beds available. We'll have funding for state beds and state facilities, but also, we increased the reimbursements for hospitals to have more hospital beds - the Medicaid reimbursements - so hospitals will open up more beds. A lot of them came offline as we needed more beds during COVID, but they're not back online, so I don't even have enough psychiatric beds with trained people to take care of individuals.
So, we also have to have meaningful wraparound services, and that's not just a slogan. This means when someone's had to be admitted because of a severe mental illness or an incident, before they leave, I want to know that someone is going to be monitoring their progress, making sure that they show up with the therapist, that they go into supportive housing, that they get what they need, instead of just letting them drop off the cliff again and cycle back into the system, whether it's homelessness or incarceration. That's what we have to do. Now, that is not an easy task, but you have to call it out, put the money behind it, and just get moving on it. That's what we're going to be doing here as well.
And lastly, I mentioned the pandemic a few times - a year ago, we probably wouldn't have been doing this in person very easily - but think about the kids. They didn't snap back to normal the day they could show back up at school and the pandemic was getting easier to manage. They're still suffering. Our kids are still suffering the effects of two solid years of either isolation or disruption, and teachers having to do the most extraordinary, extraordinary work trying to teach them remotely - they have their own kids they're trying to take care of at home and then back in the classroom. So many children who were not suffering effects before are now dealing with their own mental health challenges.
We give them a good education, but if we don't start thinking about them now and investing in them now, giving them preventative care now, having people embedded in our schools now to identify this, then we are setting these kids up for failure and a lifetime of needing help, so why don't we just be smart and help them while they're young. We can help bring them back from the edge and help save these kids' lives. Let's get that done as well. Let's invest in it.
So, we're continuing to invest in our schools. I will continue investing in our schools because we have no option. I have employers waiting to have highly educated young people. We're going to make those investments. We have the largest increase in school aid in the history of New York State. We also fully funded foundation aid, which was a subject of legal disputes for as long as we can remember, and that money was $2.7 billion, we're fully funding it for the first time this year.
What does that mean for here in Central New York? $1.7 billion in school aid for Central New York. That's an increase of almost $170 million, a 10 percent increase from last year to this year. And I know that that's an investment that is smart. It's what we have to be doing. And also, to make sure that our schools are providing the mental health and support system that our kids so desperately need.
So, we're going to continue focusing on that. I'm excited about that. I'm going to be visiting more schools and telling our teachers how much we support them, but we think about schools, we also have Native American schools in Onondaga, and they've been neglected for far too long. So, we're putting $11.2 million to help the Native American schools in Onondaga, renovation and maintenance.
Now, how about higher education? Now we're all of a sudden getting Onondaga Community College's attention. $36 million for Onondaga Community College. We're going to be helping with $15 million for the school of health expansion, increase our candidates to go into the jobs because we've lost a lot of individuals during the pandemic. We need more healthcare workers and elder caregiving roles. I appreciate that.
$5 million for the Micron collaboration classroom, supportive construction for 5,000 square feet for training students in semiconductor and microelectronics industries. I think that's a smart investment. Also, $3 million for a workforce career lab to open up a warehouse space to help with engineering and technical skills and workforce education. So, I think that's going to be well spent. Don't you? Okay. Alright.
Also, the fairgrounds need some work again. We are always investing, but we have to maintain this year, we have to maintain, and we have to invest. We're investing over $14 million for the fair about 14 percent of the buildings are over 100 years old in the State Fairgrounds and 26 percent are over 75. So, they've received minimal upgrades. We've had some nice flashy exhibits and everything, but all of a sudden, the infrastructure starts deteriorating, the building starts deteriorating. So, I'm proud to say that this is a rebuilding year to make sure that we don't neglect our responsibilities to keep investing in the fair. So, we're going to be making sure we do that.
Also, making sure that we have our Green Lake State Park, which I love. I think it's a gorgeous park. It's our most popular lake beach. And the money's going to go toward boardwalks and beach access there. Selkirk Shore, $7 million for new comfort stations. You never can have enough of those when you're a mom with little kids, and all sorts of improvements there as well. So, we are really excited. There's so much going on here.
We talk about achieving the New York Dream, the New York Dream. We got Syracuse, which is literally geographically the heart of New York. That is the heartbeat of our state. And what happens here can be an incubator for what we do elsewhere because we're the right size community, the right size region, to be able to make profound transformative changes that others can say. How do they do that? Let's do it in my community as well. That's what I want to stimulate here. That's why I believe in the leadership of this community, again, the business, the electeds, the academics. The community foundations and not-for-profits, the way you pull together, the way you put such a great spotlight on this area. Attracting a Micron, attracting other businesses. I want you to continue that, but I want you to know I will be at your side. I will be there to support you. I will help lift you up, so I'm very excited.
Thank you all for coming. Look forward to seeing you at many, many more events, as we unfold ribbon cuttings and groundbreakings. We're just getting started. Thank you, everyone. Thank you. Thank you.
And with that let me bring up our great Mayor, Ben Walsh, who has just been an extraordinary, extraordinary partner. I want to thank him for his efforts. You know, young family, he believes in this area and his family's steeped in public service, so I'm great to call him, not just our Mayor, but also my friend, Mayor Walsh.
****
For Immediate Release: 2/13/2023
GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL
GOVERNOR HOCHUL HIGHLIGHTS FINGER LAKES INVESTMENTS AS PART OF FY 2024 EXECUTIVE BUDGET
Budget Includes Nearly $20 Million to Support Higher Education Projects in Strategic Workforce Sectors
Includes $96 Million to Construct and Revitalize Necessary Transportation Infrastructure and $15 Million to Upgrade Green Spaces
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced details of key proposals from her Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget to grow jobs and boost the economy in the Finger Lakes region of New York. In line with the 2023 State of the State, the budget includes a major investment to increase housing supply and expand economic opportunity and innovation in the region.
"My administration is not just talking about making the Finger Lakes region more affordable, more livable, and safer - we are providing the resources to make it happen," Governor Hochul said. "These significant investments in housing, the growing semiconductor manufacturing industry, education, and infrastructure will create more opportunities for New Yorkers and ensure that the region remains prosperous for generations to come."
Several of the budget proposals Governor Hochul announced today are in line with the Economic Innovation Plan announced in the 2023 State of the State to grow jobs and businesses by expanding economic opportunity and innovation across New York State through targeted investments, business support and other programming aimed at high-growth industries. The Governor's budget also includes several initiatives to invest in higher education and improve local attractions across the state. For the Finger Lakes Region, the plan includes:
$2.6 billion in School Aid for the Finger Lakes Region
$222.5 million increase in Foundation Aid
$96 million for transportation funding, including to replace the I-490 bridges and renew the pavement on Route 104
$20 million to further modernize Cornell AgriTech's Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture
$45 million for GO SEMI: Governor's Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management and Integration, which will support the expansion of the semiconductor manufacturing industry throughout Upstate New York, which is already underway with projects like Edwards Vacuum building a $319 million facility in Genesee County's Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park and Corning Inc. expanding their advanced optics production in Fairport
$17 million to expand technical training, including the nation-leading precision optics program, which provides much-needed technicians for the semiconductor industry
$15 million to upgrade parks across the region to add and improve much-needed green space
$10 million to expand the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House to include a new visitor center to accommodate significantly more visitors to one of Rochester's main attractions
$4.5 million to build a Running Track Bridge as part of the ROC the Riverway initiative
$1.4 million for Finger Lakes Community College Health Care Training Facility projects
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "Governor Hochul's forward-thinking budget proposal includes smart economic development strategies that will ensure communities statewide have the resources needed to support businesses and residents alike. These focused, transformative investments in education, workforce development, infrastructure, and affordable housing demonstrate her ongoing commitment to lifting up our local economies. These impressive Finger Lakes projects will work to fuel economic growth, creating jobs and catalyzing new investments helping to move this beautiful region forward."
State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, "Investment from New York State is critical for our region's growth and development. I am grateful for Governor Hochul's continued commitment to our Finger Lakes Region, especially to Monroe Community College and the Susan B. Anthony House & Museum in my senate district. I will fully support the inclusion of this funding over the next few weeks in the final budget negotiation in Albany."
Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson said, "Governor Hochul's focus on livability, affordability and safety in her budget proposal is a good framework for our state. Funding investments in the Rochester community; expanding and improving access to medical and mental health care, childcare and housing, foundation aid for our children's education and local investment such as the Susan B. Anthony House will go a long way to help our families."
Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans said, "Governor Hochul's proposed Executive Budget for FY 2024 reflects shared values, shared priorities and a shared belief that investing in Rochester is a great investment for all of New York State. This budget builds on transformative, State investments already underway in Rochester and will accelerate our progress on a host of critical issues, including gun-violence prevention, lead-free housing, job creation, and the improved delivery of mental health services. I want to thank Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to the Finger Lakes region and helping us advance our goals to create a safe, equitable and prosperous Rochester."
+++
For Immediate Release: 2/13/2023
GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL
VIDEO, AUDIO, PHOTOS & RUSH TRANSCRIPT: GOVERNOR HOCHUL HIGHLIGHTS FINGER LAKES INVESTMENTS AS PART OF FY 2024 EXECUTIVE BUDGET
Budget Includes Nearly $20 Million to Support Higher Education Projects in Strategic Workforce Sectors
Includes $96 Million to Construct and Revitalize Necessary Transportation Infrastructure and $15 Million to Upgrade Green Spaces
Governor Hochul: "We've come a long way and I'm really proud to be able to be Governor during the continuation of Rochester's rebirth and transformation. And you know, the potential is extraordinary."
Hochul: "I'm so proud to be Governor of this state and to know that I have leaders like all of you in this room who care deeply about your piece of the world. And because of what you do every single day, you're making that part of the world even better, not just for the people who live here now, but for generations to come."
Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul announced details of key proposals from her Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget to grow jobs and boost the economy in the Finger Lakes region of New York. In line with the 2023 State of the State, the budget includes a major investment to increase housing supply and expand economic opportunity and innovation in the region.
VIDEO of the event is available on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.
AUDIO of the event is available here.
PHOTOS of the event are available on the Governor's Flickr page.
A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:
Wow, that's like as exciting as the Buffalo Bills winning next year's Super Bowl. As a confess, I just couldn't turn it on. I watched every down this year. I lived and rose and fell as all of us did. So sorry, I was with the Governor of Kansas and the Governor of Pennsylvania as they left our National Governor's meeting in Washington early because they had to go somewhere. But I will say that the rest of the Governors - this is a true story - y'all said that they wished Buffalo had been there because Buffalo captured the hearts and minds of a nation. And so, I thought that was really powerful. So, let's give the Buffalo Bills a round of applause for an outstanding season.
You'll be hearing from our extraordinary leaders from this region, and they've all become such good friends of mine. The Mayor has such weighty responsibilities, but Malik Evans has stepped up with a sense of optimism and a confidence to be able to lead this community forward. So, let's give another round applause to our Mayor, Malik Evans. Senator Cooney has been fighting for his district, to bring money back and I'll be talking about how successful he was in a few moments. But I know he believes in all the treasure of his district. And I know in particular, he loves the Susan B. Anthony House. And so, I want to thank him for being such a champion for his district. Let's give another round of applause to Senator Cooney.
Assemblymember Harry Bronson and I have been friends since I was a member of Congress representing a part of his district over a decade ago. And again, he just so loves the people he represents, and he wears it all the time. And we know all of his major priorities are fighting for his district. I want to thank Assemblymember Harry Bronson for all he does for us as well. And you have a dynamite County Executive named Adam Bello. Thank you, Adam Bello, for all you do. You're a tremendous partner for us. It's always great to see former Lieutenant Governor, former Mayor, former Chief of Police, former everything, but now the leader of the preeminent Rochester Chamber, which represents all the businesses and that is the one and only, Bob Duffy. So, let's recognize Bob Duffy is here.
Great to be back here again. I was here twice last month, but now I have a chance to talk about not just our State of the State housing plans, but also so many initiatives that impact this area. We talk also about - we're here for GM's game changing announcement to show that they're not making announcement to leave which had always been what the case was when I was growing up. Well, another headline about a big business leaving the area, but instead of it reinvesting in this area. So, electric vehicle production happening right here in Rochester. Very exciting. And we are also here in Rochester to announce the $10 million DRI award to help clean up Main and Clinton because that place is going to be spectacular. That area is going to be really achieving its full potential. So, we are continuing to build on all the projects we've started downtown. We've come a long way and I'm really proud to be able to be Governor during the continuation of Rochester's rebirth and transformation. And you know, the potential is extraordinary.
And we're here to recognize - this seems to be the big birthday week. I'm aware of that. It's Black History Month and we celebrate the 205th anniversary of Frederick Douglass, who of course made Rochester his home and somewhere we're very proud of. You know, he lent his voice to so many causes, and I'll never forget that he was one of the most powerful voices in support of women's suffrage. Back when the women gathered at Seneca Falls, they let a couple of men in. They let Frederick Douglass in, and he was very eloquent in his defense of women's right to vote at the time. So, happy birthday, Frederick Douglass. And also, Susan B. Anthony's birthday is tomorrow? Wednesday. I knew Deborah, you would know that.
But also, you think about just, you know, how this region has become just a place we talk about the fight for justice and all that was brought home to realize we lost another great one. When you think about Rochester's great voices and the loss of Reverend Franklin Florence was hard for everyone. What a life. In our own time, we think about these people of the past. You know, Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, but to have lived among one of the greats who will be talked about for generations to come, lost to his family, but what he did for civil rights in this area and making sure marginalized voices were heard. And some people say, you know, he's one of the most notable individuals in this fight since Frederick Douglass and I second that. So, our condolences to his family and let him know and his family know that his work continues through all of us.
And I would also say that part of that is lifting up communities, and economic development is that catalyst. When you invest in communities, you invest in facilities and places and businesses that'll create jobs. You're also giving people that dignity to control their own destiny. That they don't have to be a captive to their own circumstances, or the neighborhood they're born in, or the school they went to, they can have a chance to rise up. So, we're continuing to focus on making sure that communities have the resources they need, and that is an important part of bringing this community back. Again, the investments in the Sibley Building. I mean, how many years did we go by that building and it just sort of mocked us a reminder of what it had been? And now to see that place just full of life and energy. It's extraordinary. It's extraordinary. The Strong Museum of Play, which I came to with my children when they were younger, but then it just developed into this world-class facility that we're all so proud of. And ROC the Riverway - I mean, to have the river here and have it not been taken advantage of the way we are and to unleash the potential. I mean, just the flood waters of great things that are happening in that area. And of course, Innovation Square, where we find ourselves today. You know, perfect example of the new Rochester being built at a place that the old Rochester once occupied the legacy businesses like Xerox and Codex.
So, here we are, finding ways to make this region more affordable, safer, more livable. This is also an opportunity for us to have more young students live down here. I mean, it's the young people that we attract here. And when I was growing up in Western New York, we always were realizing that our greatest export were our young people. They were heading to places like Texas and North Carolina and everywhere else they could live their dream. And now that doesn't have to be the case. People are coming here, young people are coming here and realizing there's an extraordinary quality of life and infusing this city in this region with their talent and their energy.
So, I want to thank the Gallina family, Lauren and Evan and Robin, their entire team for executing this extraordinary vision. And also, Natalie and Karl Stabnau for this beautiful, renovated theater for hosting us here today.
You know, you also think about numbers. Sometimes I think about places, I think about people. But also, numbers can also tell a story. And, you know, I judge myself as Governor since I became Governor in August of 2021. What's happened since then? And I look at numbers like the unemployment rate in the State of New York. At the time, it was 7.1 percent statewide. It is now 3.8 percent. I mean, those numbers are historic. Rochester at 3.2 percent. I mean, growing up in Buffalo, there was always a one in front of that would've been 13.2 percent. So, it's still shocking to me as an upstater to see numbers that tell a very, very different story than we grew up with. And so, those are great stories to talk about. The number of jobs created since I've been Governor, 586,000 jobs have been created in the State of New York, a dramatic increase even here in Rochester, over a 3 percent increase just in that short - we're talking since August of 2021. So, the numbers are trending absolutely in the right direction, absolutely in the right direction.
So, I'm excited about that as well. And we're deeply committed to this region. You know, this is an area that we're counting on to be an economic engine for the rest of the state, to power through a lot of our decisions, not just in, you know, building on the legacy of our former businesses, but also embracing the new technologies. So, this is what we're talking about is again, a more affordable, safer, livable region. And we have it all here. We have it all in this region. And what I want to talk about is an area that's an area I feel that one place we could be held, is a lack of housing for people. And I'm talking about everything from affordable housing to workforce housing, to market rate housing to luxury housing. We don't have enough. And again, what a difference from a generation or two ago when there was plenty of housing, plenty of very affordable housing because people weren't living here. They would, people would leave. There was plenty of housing on the market and a lot of abandoned houses. And now the value of those properties is just extraordinary.
But the problem is when you have a limited housing supply, high demand, what happens is for people in search of a home, either you can't find one or the price is out of your reach. And that could be a barrier to either the young people growing up here, educate here, want to stay here. If they can't find a place that they can afford, they won't stay. And if we're trying to attract new businesses to come here and bring your corporate headquarters or bring CEOs and bring people on all levels of work. Again, housing is the challenge. I wouldn't have said this 10, 15 years ago, it was not a problem for us. But I feel as having studied this state and know it better than anybody that this is the area that we have to do much better. So, we have to keep up our housing supply and I have a bold plan, 800,000 new homes over the next decade, I believe, will fill that need to again, drive down the price, but also increase the supply. Part of it is affordable housing, a $25 billion investment in affordable housing to tear down the old, blighted neighborhoods that are just a reminder of failed policies of the past and building beautiful new housing for people.
I've seen a lot of this in Rochester. I've been to many, many ribbon cuttings here. The buildings are gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous whether they have supportive housing. I've been to places we've built for veterans and places where people with substance abuse problems, mental health challenges, or people just looking for a place to start before they can earn enough money to get their own place. You know, buy a home someday, which is still the American Dream. You know, the housing stock needs to grow in upstate. We think it's a very modest goal to ask that housing grow one percent every three years. Many communities can do that easily. For some communities, that's one apartment building. And so, let's not be frightened by the thought that we have this, "Oh my God, what does this mean?" It means that we believe in our future so much, and we know that people want to be here, that we're going to offer them a range of affordable and market rate and all kinds of housing, because then they can live here. It's that simple. But also, I know communities are going to say, "Well, we have additional costs involved."
Well, how do I know so much? Fourteen years on a town board, planning board, zoning board, traffic safety board, environmental board. I know all the ways that you can stop a project, believe me, but we led on a lot in my town, you know, we stood up against people who didn't support even group homes for individuals with disabilities because it was such nimbyism, you know, such hatred in people's hearts. And we had to stand up against that and bring in affordable housing and break down the barriers, and everybody always said, even senior housing, "Well, we're not sure." Seriously? We had overcome that one. But once you do it, he'll say, "Oh really? They're wonderful neighbors. It's great. It's fabulous."
So, just people have this, you know, keeping the status quo is always better for a lot of people, and it's just not, that's not how you grow. That's how you stagnate. And we cannot live in a state that stagnates, and that is my fear if we don't lean into these bold objectives. So, we're going to give money to localities for planning to help cover the cost of sewers if they need more roads, more schools. But again, I'm asking everyone to just see the possibilities of what this project will look like, and that's how we achieve our full potential. We also want to make sure that our neighborhood in rural preservation programs, you know, have the resources they need. So, we're adding more money here, right here in the Finger Lakes to provide housing assistance, community renewal, and local rent subsidies for people as they try to get on their feet. But to build housing is great, but you also have to make sure that the neighborhoods are safe. I was just talking to the mayor about this again, and he can talk about some numbers that are trending in a very good direction, very good direction, but it is still very much top of mind for a lot of our residents, particularly in our urban areas.
And I'm committed as the Governor to bring all the resources to bear that we possibly can. I've had Zoom calls with localities and bringing together U.S. attorney, district attorney, police officers, police chiefs, sheriffs, everybody, mayors, electeds, anybody that'll talk to me about it. And I say, "What do you need? Tell me what you need." For the first time we have police officers from the State Police force on the ground here in Rochester trying to help them and creating community stabilization groups that have helped go out there and just reach out to people and be a supportive hand to our local police departments because they have so much they're dealing with. And so, I'm committed to doing this, we strengthened our gun laws. There are way too many guns still on our streets today that never should even have been crossing the borders to be in New York State. We banned ghost guns because believe it or not, you could order a kit online and be able to have a gun manufactured at your kitchen table, you know, a lethal weapon, until we banned them here in the State of New York.
So, we're starting to see results. We're going to continue to have a dramatic amount of money put toward gun violence disruption, and help communities stabilize and give alternatives to young people so they have better options, alternatives for, you know, after school activities. You know, a lot of different ways that we can help people just find a different path forward and not feel like their identity has to be associated with a gang on the streets that if they don't have a strong family structure at home, that family alternative cannot be a gang. It has to be other adults, whether it's through the schools or social services or through the churches, you know, very powerful in our communities. So, I'm going to continue to increase the funding we put toward these programs. We're also helping our district attorneys have the resources they need, helping our court appointed attorneys. They've been making almost poverty wages right now, so it's hard to attract people to do that important work so we're going to pay them more.
And also asking judges to consider more when deciding if someone commits a crime, a serious crime, a violent crime, repeat offenders, whether or not they should be looking at more factors as I believe they should in deciding whether that person goes back home or is held until they have their court date, or they have a higher bail. So, those are all factors that I want to fix in our laws right now. I believe it can be done, and I appreciate the support of our local officials who really are joined with us in making sure we do everything we can to make our communities safer. Because you want to build housing, that's great. You want to stabilize downtowns; you get the crime under control. And so those are all intertwined together as far as unleashing the full potential, which is so important.
Another major area we're focused on is mental health, and this is one that has no partisan label to it. It's been everybody across the state - urban, rural, suburban. When we announced a billion dollars of investment in dealing with the mental health crisis, which has always been there under the surface, but what we saw during the pandemic was quite extraordinary and no one could have foreseen this even in the first year or two. But now the lingering effects of what the pandemic did to our young people in particular, they're just kind of unanchored during that time - two years.
And a lot of them, teenage years are tough anyhow, but not to have a support system and have that connection with an adult or have resources available to them through even a school nurse paying attention to them, they didn't have that for a long time, and now they're a little bit adrift. And we're losing more young people to teenage suicide and other challenges before going to treatment, self-medicating with substance abuse, so fixing the mental health problem has to happen. So, I declared in my State of the State that the era of ignoring the mental health challenges in the state is over. We're going to fund it. We're going to work on youth challenges, we're going to focus on the adults who need help, and also bringing more money to make sure there's more psychiatric beds and services online and dealing with the opioid addiction.
You've heard me tell it before - I don't know a single family that hasn't been affected by the opioid crisis and now lace was fentanyl. It is so deadly. That's how he lost my nephew. We thought he was on a different path and all of a sudden, the fentanyl was too much. And so, this is personal for a lot of us and we have to do so much more, but giving people better options, alternatives, just giving them hope, can also make a big difference in their lives, and that's something I'm committed to.
We're announcing more money for Finger Lakes, in particular, $45 million for this region to support the addiction treatment and recovery programs that you have going right here. I visited many of them, and I want to make sure that we have this, in addition to $12 million in federal grants to support what's going on right here. But not just keeping the status quo, but really ramping it up and doing much more in the outreach space.
And foundation aid for our schools - the amount of money that we're investing in our schools is extraordinary this year. 10 percent increase overall, this year it's $34.5 billion, the largest ever. But I want to make sure that we're devoting some of that extra money to mental health services in schools because there's too many schools out there that there's nothing available. Nothing. And the teachers, they're not trained. They shouldn't be expected to be the parents, the teacher, the disciplinarian, the nutritionist, the mental health therapist, all the different things we ask our teachers to do. This is something that they should not have to worry about, that we should have support right in the schools. So, we're increasing money for schools here in the Finger Lakes. There's an increase of 11.4 percent from last year alone - that is extraordinary. $267 million for this region, which I think will be well spent. This is an area where we need to make sure that our city schools, our suburban, our rural schools, all have the resources they need. So, for the first time in history, we're going to have fully funded foundation aid and making sure that we invest in it.
So, here's why this all ties together. We have great opportunities in economic development. This is the place businesses want to be. How do I know that? Because they're coming. I can see them. I talk to them on the phone. They tell me they want to be here because they see, for example, the challenges out west with resources and water. You come to Upstate New York, you have a factory that needs to be powered by energy and by water, we have plentiful water and electricity. We have it here in New York State.
That is something we took for granted. Now, those are priceless commodities for businesses looking to expand. So, making sure that we seize the opportunity. And the semiconductor industry, when you hear about Micron, that is not just Syracuse, that's led to an opportunity we have right in the Batavia STAMP facility, a new company I've talked to on the phone, they're coming from all the way, it's a German company, they're in England. They're going to create 600 jobs in Batavia because of being a part of the supply chain for Micron. That's just one example of how all over the State of New York, our education foundation, getting smart people, getting them educated, making them ready for these jobs because the jobs are coming. The jobs are coming. And whether it's building, we need a lot more people in the trades, we're going to be building for 20 years with Micron. And those are good paying jobs with great dignity. I want to get more young people interested in those careers as well because the sky's the limit. If we can build it, they will come and that's what we're understanding from them as well.
So, let's continue our Upstate manufacturing success stories, creating all those great jobs, and we're going to continue focusing on investing in those facilities every single way we can. And I'm going to keep working with Bob Duffy, and you know that I'll call anybody anytime. I call into other states. I'm always recruiting. And if you've got someone you want me to, the live one on the wire, Bob, let me know and I'll just, I'll reel them in for you. Okay? It's what I do. So, we're going to continue building the pipeline and again, the semiconductor space, how do we make ourselves more competitive? We're establishing, and the first time ever, the Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management, and Integration. Coincidentally, all that sounds like, if you abbreviate it, goes to GO SEMI, so that's our semiconductor office.
I literally spoke with the Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo in Washington two days ago. She said they are so excited about how New York State is creating this office because when companies think about where they want to go and they can come to a one stop and have support finding out about the federal, state incentives, where they're going to get the workforce development done, how they can partner with a local community college that teach young people the skills that they're going to be looking for. That's how it all ties together. That's how you corner the market. That's how you become the preeminent place in the nation, if not the world, for semiconductor manufacturing. And it's happening in Upstate New York. So, that's why we're doing it here.
So, I need our community colleges to step up and that's why we're allocating $17 million from Monroe Community College for a new Advanced Technology Center. That money's going to help us expand tactical training and also lean hard into their nation-leading optics program, which is really important to this industry, to our region as well. And they'll also be creating technicians for the semiconductor industry. So, when we landed Micron - and believe me, they were heading out the door to go to Texas. I said, "You're really going to Texas?" So, we had a nice dinner in Syracuse. Unfortunately, it was January, and it was bitter cold last year. I said, "Well, it's not always like this." But I said, "You know what?" And I really leaned hard because I know this area so well. I said, "You need to get down to the Finger Lakes and go see what we have up in the St. Lawrence Seaway area and the beautiful downtown. I said, "We've got great museums in Rochester." So, I mean, I really was like doing this sales job on it, but I also said, "But also, I will make sure that our community colleges are your partners."
And that's why we're investing in Monroe Community College to make sure that they have what they need. So, I can go back to Micron and say, "Remember I promised you 9,000 skilled workers and 50,000 parts of the supply chain?" I said, "I'm working on that as we speak with our budget this year." So that's the direct connection between the funding we're putting on the table and making sure that they can upgrade their labs and their nurse training facilities as well, and so many other places because we have a lot of work to do. Cornell Tech Food Innovation, you know, I was with all these other governors and every one of them - I think most of them - they have this image of New York state as skyscrapers, subway, you know, Statue of Liberty, it's all New York City. I said, "Oh, you have to expand your horizons." We are really an innovator when it comes to food processing, food growth, you know, agriculture is one of our bread-and-butter industries. You know, we're number one, two, or three in so many areas. And we have Cornell University, the Cornell Food Tech Innovation Hub - it's extraordinary, what they're doing.
So, we're leading edge in this space. I want to continue investing in this to help create these opportunities to keep us positioned in leadership positions. So, that's going to modernize their facility in Geneva, and that's going to help us have cutting edge technologies to increase our yield and make sure that we don't fall prey to the food insecurity, which is a problem in so many other parts of the world. I want to make sure that we are independent, not relying on food sources from other countries.
Infrastructure sounds kind of boring to a lot of people unless you're in the field, but I always view infrastructure as a way to connect. You know, it connects communities, it connects people to their jobs, it connects people and places. So, I think that this is another great opportunity, not just for the great jobs that we're creating, but we're announcing over $96 million in DOT capital projects right here. We're going to replace bridges over the Erie Canal, and as someone who gone on the Erie Canal, I can point exactly where the bridges are that need a little extra help. But the Erie Canal - again, what a great resource this is - the Erie Canal is so beautiful. This is what I also talked about to Micron. I said, "You need to take a boat along the Erie Canal. You need to get down to all the beautiful communities that are connected by the canal." So, we're going to be paving bridges over at Erie Canal.
We're going to be paving Route 104, which I know is a mess because I've been on a lot of times. Just so you know, I really hate potholes. I got this thing about potholes. Maybe it's because as Lieutenant Governor, I did so much time in the car. Bob knows about this. We traveled, I think we lost track, but maybe 14 or 15 times around the world mile-wise. It's a lot. So, I have a personal experience with every single pothole. So, I'm really proud to announce that in the Finger Lakes alone just since I've been Governor, we've filled over 101,000 potholes. You're gone. Goodbye. So, I keep track of things like that, but we're going to continue investing, you know, 418 miles already paved.
And so, I know how important it is. You know, you also get a different image of a community when you are on potholes and the curbs look kind of run down. You kind of feel like it's, you know, "Oh, this community doesn't have a lot of pride in itself." Look, you know how crummy the infrastructure is here, so we can fix that.
I also want to support Monroe County's Multimodal Hub planning for $2.5 million to help them do what they need to do because the freight industry is growing rapidly up here, and we need to be able to be ready for that. So, we're working on that as well.
And I'll tell you - and I keep referencing back to these governors I met - I had this one governor from Utah, he says, "I went to this most beautiful place. There was like a bridge up there, and then there's this river and all these gorges and cliffs." And he goes, "I can't remember the name." I said, "You're talking about Letchworth State Park." I said, "That is, you know, some people call it the Grand Canyon of the East. I actually called the Grand Canyon, the Letchworth of the West. So, he knew about this, and I grew up there. I have to tell you; I spent my childhood jumping off the cliff before the signs went up that says you shouldn't do that. This was a long time ago. I swam in the river, and just, it is beautiful. Yeah, our natural resources here are so gorgeous. We're going to continue investing $10 million for Letchworth State Park to keep making sure that it stays as spectacular as is. $4.5 million for the Running Track Bridge, we want to get that done. And also $3 million for the Genesee Valley Greenway, because these are our treasures. You know, they're there for families to enjoy, but also, again, it's just part of that overall quality of life, quality of life that's so important to all of us. So, here's, the riverway, we're going to keep enhancing that as well. And also, you know, so many other assets here as well.
So, and one more thing I want to mention, honoring the legacy of an extraordinary Rochester native who has a birthday coming up. And what's he meant to the advancement the woman's rights is extraordinary. We are announcing $10 million for the Susan B. Anthony Museum. I have been there so many times. It is a jewel. The story is fabulous. It's inspiring, and the problem is because she didn't grow up in a really big house, there's not a lot of space for people. So, when you want to invite, you know, the tour buses to come and make sure that this is part of the trail. You know, people come from other countries, and they go to New York, they go into Niagara College, they need to be stopping by the Susan B. Anthony House, and we'll be able to welcome a significantly higher number of visitors.
You know, Deborah and I have talked about this since my days in Congress, and I know this can be incredible, and I want to congratulate Deborah for your extraordinary work. I know you're going to be celebrating your gala Wednesday. I can't be there, but I'm there in spirit, but I also want a special thanks to Harry Bronson and Jeremy Cooney for their championing this money to make sure that this was in our budget as well as the entire delegation. So, let's give, Deborah Hughes another round of applause for all your work.
So, you know, I love Rochester. I love my cities, but I also have a special place in my heart for the small towns. I actually spent some time in one of our tiny little communities. I used to work at a place called Patchin, New York. If you can find that on a map, God bless you. You have Buffalo, then you have Hamburg, then you have Boston, and then part of Boston is this little intersection called Patchin, and that's where I had my first job making pizzas for five years. So, there was nothing there but a gas station and a pizzeria, but it was charming. Well, at least we thought it was charming. So, it's the small towns that are also the heartbeat of our communities, the small cities, the small villages. And so, I want to make sure that we continue to invest in our downtown revitalization, but also some of our communities are a little bit smaller and you know, where they could possibly spend $10 million when your community is that little, is hard.
So, we started a new program just this year in listening to these mayors of these smaller regions, smaller communities, and we decided to put forth a project for allocating, not just the $10 million, but also a program where they could apply for $4.5 million. So, we are continuing, in my budget, $100 million for the DRIs, the downtown revitalization, which can go to all size communities. But also, our New York Forward program. And there's a little community called the Village of Perry. They're going to be receiving $10 million as part of our downtown revitalization. I want to recognize Mayor Rick Hauser. Mayor, stand up if you're here. Mayor Rick Hauser. Thank you. Congratulations, Mayor. The downtown is so darn cute. It truly, truly is. The thriving arts scene. I've been there. It's on the Historic Register. And it's going to be a top hospitality hub in the Genesee region. You have some really forward-thinking business owners. I've met a lot of the restaurant owners, and I think it's extraordinary.
People shouldn't worry about the proximity to the Sea Serpent, and the Silver Lake Sea Serpent, because, you know, I tell that story all over the place. I say, "People need to go up there and see if it's real." You know, everyone goes overlooking for the Loch Ness monster. There's a Sea Serpent in Silver Lake. I just want you to know that. So, check it out, check it out. Prove me wrong. Prove that there's not one in there. But it's a charming community. And I know I'll be back to Perry to announce the specific projects, but you are an award winner and congratulations to all my friends from Perry.
We know you have plans for enhancing the bicycle routes and sprucing up the downtown businesses. And again, diverse housing options because people want to live there, right? Got to be there. And refurbishing our historic buildings to make sure that they stay. And also, there is something, the Chalk Art Festival - you still have the Chalk Art Festival? I went there one year, they asked me to draw something on the sidewalk. I was so embarrassed. I didn't know how to draw at all. It was so bad. I just did like a giant smiley face. It's like kind of lame I guess. But that was alright. But you're going to have a local planning community and I know that it's going to make a big difference. So again, I'm very excited about that as well.
I'm going to take a drink of water here. I'm announcing so much money, I'm losing my voice. Another community that I know well from traveling on the Erie Canal when I'd go from Buffalo on our boat, and you go, wow, it feels like five hours or so, and you're getting tired at the end of the day. And where are you going to stop? You're going to stop in Medina. $4.5 million for the Village of Medina. It's an extraordinary community. Mayor Mike Sidari here, Mayor here - stand up, Mayor. Congratulations, Mayor.
This community, you know, the sandstone buildings, you know, I brag about this all over. Is that like the largest continuous, still existing sandstone buildings? If not, I say it is anyhow. But it's Sandstone Hall of Fame. The Opera House, Bent's Opera house, which we spent a lot of years trying to bring it back. It's beautiful. You know, and I never go without stopping at Della's Chocolates. She always packs up some of my favorite candies. And the bookstore, and the train museum. And I just - and I've been to, is it Tom's Diner, too? Tom's? No. Rudy. Rudy. Rudy, sorry. Tom's. Tom's in Lockport. I can't mix up my diners. Rudy's. I got my favorite spot at Rudy's. So, Rudy's. So, Medina wants to create recreational space, expand their tourism assets, build housing and invest in small businesses and also really, the land is continuous to the canal. What potential there, you know, to attract more people to come, stay overnight. And so, congratulations to Medina. Love going to Medina all the time. We always hit your Christmas parade, which happens on the coldest day of the year, I'm always convinced. But it's beautiful. So, congratulations to everybody from Medina. Let's give them another round of applause.
And the next award goes to Geneseo. $4.5 million for Geneseo. Mayor Chris Ivers. Mayor, stand up. Mayor, Congratulations. As the mother of a Geneseo graduate, I've spent a lot of time, again, going to the restaurants, and stopping by the dorms, and seeing the downtown, and seeing the great potential again. These communities have something in common. They've got the most spectacular architecture - and well-preserved. You think about the rest of the nation, because we are one of the original 13 colonies, our buildings are a lot older. And you know, for those that remain and that were refurbished over time, we have to continue protecting them so 100 years from now, they can still see that beautiful architecture.
So, we want to make sure that, not just as a center of government and education, that Geneseo can also be a place of entertainment and building on its strengths as a tourist mecca as well. And so, it's important to turn the vacant buildings into downtown anchors and enhance the walkability, improve public amenities. And so, all these communities, I'm so proud of them. I know them very, very well, and I look forward to coming back and announcing their very specific projects once those are decided.
So, because Perry, Medina, and Geneseo had citizens and elected officials who believed that the future could even be better, you are the award recipient. So again, congratulations to those three wonderful communities.
And so, I'm done. I love coming here. You know how I care about this part of the state. And I did grow up at a time when people did think that Upstate New York was overlooked. And it probably was. And I hope you do feel that there's an energy here. Something that we didn't have growing up for a long time is that there's a confidence, a little more of a swagger than there was. And people are really just so proud of their communities, and it's that pride that inspires me as well.
I'm so proud to be Governor of this state and to know that I have leaders like all of you in this room who care deeply about your piece of the world. And because of what you do every single day, you're making that part of the world even better, not just for the people who live here now, but for generations to come. And for that, I thank all of you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, everyone.
****
For Immediate Release: 2/21/2023
GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL
GOVERNOR HOCHUL HIGHLIGHTS MID-HUDSON REGIONAL INVESTMENTS AS PART OF FY 2024 EXECUTIVE BUDGET
Budget Includes $250 Million to Fund Housing Infrastructure; $20 Million for Planning Assistance
Includes $240 Million in Department of Transportation Capital Projects and $27 Million for Local Road Repairs
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced details of key proposals from her Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget to grow jobs and boost the economy in the Mid-Hudson Region of New York. In line with the 2023 State of the State, the budget includes a major investment to increase housing supply and expand economic opportunity and innovation in the region.
"These significant investments in housing, education, and infrastructure in the Mid-Hudson region are critical to lifting up the local community and economy," Governor Hochul said. "This funding is building on efforts already underway to ensure the region is safe, affordable, and resilient to the challenges of the future -- creating a more prosperous Mid-Hudson region for generations to come."
Several of the budget proposals Governor Hochul announced today are in line with the Economic Innovation Plan announced in the 2023 State of the State to grow jobs and businesses by expanding economic opportunity and innovation across New York State through targeted investments, business support and other programming aimed at high-growth industries. The Governor's budget includes several initiatives to invest in higher education and improve local attractions across the state. For the Mid-Hudson Region, the plan includes:
- $3.6 billion in School Aid for the Mid-Hudson Valley Region
- $451.5 million increase in Foundation Aid
- $337 million plan to reduce gun violence
- $250 million housing infrastructure fund and $20 million for planning assistance
- $240 million in DOT capital projects, including:
- $51 million for bridge repair/replacement
- $45 million for Wurts Street Bridge in Kingston
- $30 million for new Route 17 ramps
- $60 million for Bear Mountain State Park
- $57 million addiction services funding
- $45 million for GO SEMI: Governor's Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management and Integration, which will support the expansion of the semiconductor manufacturing industry throughout Upstate New York.
- $27 million for local road repairs
- $14.8 million for Bellayre Mountain
- $1.3 million for Veteran Peer-to-Peer Services
- $1.5 million for Neighborhood and Rural Preservation housing funding
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "The Mid-Hudson Region, home to iconic natural beauty and a hub of top-tier education and innovation, has drawn increasing numbers of visitors and new residents in recent years. Governor Hochul's Executive Budget recognizes the need for strategic investment in added housing, infrastructure and economic opportunities that will support and ensure the region's long-term growth."
+++
For Immediate Release: 2/21/2023
GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL
VIDEO, AUDIO, PHOTOS & RUSH TRANSCRIPT: GOVERNOR HOCHUL HIGHLIGHTS MID-HUDSON REGIONAL INVESTMENTS AS PART OF FY 2024 EXECUTIVE BUDGET
Budget Includes $250 Million to Fund Housing Infrastructure; $20 Million for Planning Assistance
Includes $240 Million in Department of Transportation Capital Projects and $27 Million for Local Road Repairs
Governor Hochul: "When I first became governor in August of 2021, unemployment was about 7.1 percent, not as bad as when I grew up in Buffalo, about 17, 18 percent, but that still was pretty high. Today, it's 3.8 percent, so we've had a significant drop, but it gets better. In the Mid-Hudson Region, it's 2.5 percent."
Hochul: "The areas that we specifically call out is the Mid-Hudson Region, because this is an area that has amazing growth potential. But while keeping it growing, but also keeping that innate charm, you cannot sacrifice the charm for the growth. And that's what we're going to make sure we do, but also let's just make it more affordable, make it safer, more livable. And that's what the future holds for all of us."
Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul announced details of key proposals from her Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget to grow jobs and boost the economy in the Mid-Hudson region of New York. In line with the 2023 State of the State, the budget includes a major investment to increase housing supply and expand economic opportunity and innovation in the region.
VIDEO of the event is available on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.
AUDIO of the event is available here.
PHOTOS of the event are available on the Governor's Flickr page.
A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:
President Krislov, I want to thank you for welcoming us. Although walking into a law school, I had a little bit of PTSD, I felt like it was a long time ago, all those all nighters and cramming for the exams and wishing I had paid attention a little bit earlier in the semester. So I'm all okay now, but it's great to be back at PACE University and thank you for all you do here as well - all of the specializations you have at the law school show that you're really at the forefront of combating societal challenges, whether it's the land use challenges we have, which we will talk a great deal about, but also people who are victims of sexual assault and domestic violence - I thank you for that. I thank you for training the next generation of young people who have heart and a sense of purpose when they leave here. So, thank you.
I'm also delighted to be here with so many leaders of our community. I want to first of all give credit to someone who's not an elected official but has tremendous influence in our administration. That is Hope Knight, our President and CEO of Empire State Development. If you need money, go to Hope. She's done an amazing job.
I've spent a lot of time in this county, enormous amount of time, and I want to thank George Latimer for his years of service, his years of friendship to me, and what a great leader he is. And a lot of people are called leaders, but when you are the kind of individual that inspires others to make the kind of changes we're talking about here today, that is right up there in the definition of a quality individual, of a true public servant, and that's our county executive. You also have a new county executive, Jen Metzger, is in our presence here, the County Executive of Ulster County, Jen.
And a whole lot of mayors. I was in local government for 14 years. I was in a town of about 65,000. We had two mayors in our midst, and you always had to give our respect to the mayors. But Tom Roach, the Mayor of White Plains right here. Now, I want to thank you for what you have done and your story of what you've done, how you've embraced opportunities for people who grew up here and lived here and also want to be here. To be a mayor of a community that people want to be in is quite extraordinary because it doesn't happen everywhere. And I thank you for what you've done to make sure that the homes are built that people can live in, so let's give another round of applause to our hometown mayor, Mayor Roach.
Mayor Spano, who's the Mayor of Hollywood on the Hudson here. All the work we're doing with studios and production is just extraordinary, how you can take a community with the right leadership again and draw a whole new industry that years ago people never would've envisioned here. So, thank you for creating the jobs and thank you for creating the housing for those people to work and live in. So, thank you. A round of applause for our mayor, Mike Spano.
Noam Bramson, the Mayor of New Rochelle. Again, New Rochelle has its own edgy way about them. They're building so much housing, it's creative the way they can expedite projects to get through. Again, in 14 years in local government, I was on a planning board, traffic safety board, zoning board, economic development, all the boards that knew how to say no to projects, but also, I knew how to get them to yes. And so, thank you for being that kind of community leader that gets people to yes, so thank you for all you do, Mayor Bramson.
And we have Joe DeStefano. I've been to Middletown so many times, okay? Thank you for all you do Joe, your leadership as well. And Steve Noble, the Mayor of Kingston is here. Where's Steve? I spent a lot of time in Kingston last winter, every single weekend, it was an ice storm. So, thank you. We're almost through the winter. Thank you. The power's on. Yay!
And Torrance Harvey, the Mayor of Newburgh, a great community as well, and I want to thank him for joining us. And Dr. Kristine Young for being the co-chair of the Regional Economic Development Council - I've been to many of those meetings as well, and to all the members who have joined us here today. And anybody I've missed, I'm really sorry.
As mentioned, PACE'S Land Use Law Center is the reason we're here today - that you're training individuals in the art of the possible, to look at land and reimagine uses and to just do something that's quite extraordinary that leaves a legacy. So, I thank you for helping us have sustainable communities since this was founded in 1993. That is significant. And promoting innovative land use strategies that we look to for guidance in state government and local communities. So, this is fantastic, so thanks again.
I've been here so often, please don't tell the other areas, but I love this area, I really do. And when you come from Western New York, we don't spend a lot of time in the Hudson Valley region, so it's been a joy of mine for the last 10 years to be able to explore the charm that we have here and the identity, the personality of all the communities. They're also unique, but boy, they have something special to offer. When you look at the jobs that are coming here, like I said, Lionsgate Film studios, that's amazing, that's amazing. And also, iPark in Ulster County, I mean, just taking land that people had given up on. County Executive, we were just there, jobs were disappearing, going elsewhere, and now we live through a time when the exact opposite is true, that people want to be here. So that can be, iPark as a whole new cutting-edge technology campus. So many projects. But we also have to make sure that we have the workers for these jobs - and that's the missing link right now.
And unemployment since I became governor - when I first became governor in August of 2021, unemployment was about 7.1 percent, not as bad as when I grew up in Buffalo, about 17, 18 percent, but that still was pretty high. Today it's 3.8 percent, so we've had a significant drop, but it gets better. In the Mid-Hudson Region, it's 2.5 percent. Those are numbers we've created just in that year and a half. 586,000 new jobs created, over 27,000 right here in the Mid-Hudson area as well.
So, again, I grew up in a time when all you heard was losing the jobs, losing the people, losing the businesses. You used to open up the paper every day. I was like, "Who's leaving today?" The phrase was, "Last one here, turn out the lights." Everybody I knew worked at the Bethlehem Steel Plan and still it was gone. So, let's not take for granted the place we are right now. But what does that mean? How does that challenge us to seize the possibilities to make legacy changing decisions about this region?
So, the main thing is we have to have infrastructure to support local growth. We have to have places for people to live. We have to be very thoughtful about this. And think about the fact that during the pandemic, no one could foresee what the pandemic would do, no one, 33,000 people have now moved to this region since the pandemic started because they have discovered the quality of life here, working remotely or finding a business here, finding a whole new life that they didn't want to be in the rat race anymore. They wanted to find something quite different.
So, how do we use that as well? And the problem is where are they living? We have less than 1 percent vacancy in our housing stock, 1 percent in this region. So, that doesn't add up. People want to live here, can't blame them. It's fabulous. But you have 1 percent vacancy. So, a young person is going to take a new tech job at iPark, or go up to IBM, or do something - you know, wants to work in film production.
They have no place to live. And if we don't recognize that as a crisis situation, then we're missing something very significant here. That is what I define as a crisis, and I want to thank the local leaders who gathered last month, gathered again with me just a few minutes ago, and to be the leaders, the elected leaders, the community leaders, the housing leaders, the business leaders, the labor leaders.
I mean, I've never seen such a powerful coalition of people committed to one purpose, and that is to be agents of change. I know change can be scary. It can be scary. The status quo is always easier, but the status quo means you're not moving ahead. Status quo means stagnation. So, I look in this room and the people we've been convening in our round tables as the change agents that we need, and I want to keep the momentum moving forward.
Momentum is important. We have the momentum now, so how do we keep it moving forward? Now, as I was in local government, I say, "Show me the money." How about $150 million for a brand-new Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund? Now, Mayors, I'm not just handing this out to all of you and County Executives. Okay? So, the purpose of this would be to help alleviate the housing shortage, ensure an equitable housing supply, and upgrade the infrastructure throughout the region. So that's dedicated to this part of the state only for those purposes. So, that is our brand-new announcement I wanted to make sure you all knew about that today.
Now, who can apply for this? Municipalities can apply, public benefit corporations, private companies, nonprofits. They can apply for anything from $2 million to a $10 million grant. So, the possibilities are there and we're opening up applications this spring, and this can really be game-changing for the counties of the Mid-Hudson Region to come up with a plan, a vision with your community, and to apply for this funding.
And I don't want this money sitting around. I want to see it out there. Living and breathing in these communities, helping us foster change. So, I've been talking about how to make the entire state, but also this region more affordable, safer, more livable. These are all goals we share. And as I mentioned a couple times, and I'm going to talk about this for a long time, you know, but our state is facing a housing crisis.
So, I introduced, and you heard about this, our housing compact, which will deliver 800,000 new homes over the next decade. That's a lot of homes. That's a lot of new, New Yorkers or existing New Yorkers. And you know why this is so personal to me? Because I'm a grandma and I know there are a lot of people getting up in age like I am who have the joy of a baby in the family or grandchildren.
And what a tragedy it is that your own child, an adult child, wants to raise their kids in the same community they grew up in - great education, great public institutions, great private colleges, universities, charming downtowns, outstanding lifestyle. And they have to say, "Sorry, mom and dad, I have to move somewhere else and raise your grandchild because we can't afford to live here."
That is heartbreaking to me at a personal level, and I want to change that, but also to the employers who are ready to come here, who are excited about the energy created in this post-pandemic world, how New York has just risen up. They want to come here. Other cities are in decline, and I won't name them on the West Coast, but it's heartbreaking, the ones that we all look to. But those individuals who work in technology and worked in those businesses and entrepreneurs, they want to be here. And we have to say no to them because we wouldn't build housing?
We've also decided that we had to focus on a couple of areas. Last year I put $25 billion on the table to build more affordable housing, low-income housing, affordable housing. We have to get that done. That is on the table, but also, we're focused on transit-oriented development. A lot of parts of our state don't have public transit, so they don't even know what I'm talking about. But this region thrives because of its connectivity from our trains, our public transit systems, and the MTA and our trains, Metro North, et cetera. And they connect us to great jobs and opportunity and a chance to have a little bit of quiet as you're commuting to your job. So, if we don't make investments in that, we're missing the ship and I'm going to make a lot of investments.
But in order to keep our communities strong, we're going to have to ask our communities to recognize that there has been tremendous value created in your community. Your property values are high because you can offer residents easy access to transportation. So, transit-oriented development - the whole premise behind this is saying, does the community really benefit when you have the end of the day, an empty parking lot with tumbleweed blowing through it? Would that be better used as a place people could live and you can include parking. On my vision, I've seen this in many parts of the state, including right here in Westchester County. First floor, retail, little shops, get a cup of coffee, get the newspaper, get your hair done, pick up some takeout for dinner. Next floor up could be your couple of ramps of parking - two, three levels, so you can double, triple, quadruple your housing. I'm sorry -- parking. The housing, market rate, luxury, affordable, all in one building. You create a community right there in something that was just a wasteland. And guess what? You don't even need to own a car because you've got your transportation right out the door. That to me is smart. That's what they do in Europe. They've always done that in Europe. You build up around the transportation systems. Like I said, we're going to keep investing in transportation. We're spending a lot of money to keep investing in our transportation and the communities benefit who are adjacent to it. But now it's time to say we're open to more people living there as well.
So, let's just be smart about this. Let's encourage people to undertake the rezoning necessary. And then if you want models, look at White Plains, look at Yonkers, look at New Rochelle. Just look at them. Have they been harmed by having housing near the station and all over downtown? No. That's where people want to be. So, that's the story to be told, not succumb to fear of change. But say, why not? Why not have every community benefit like this, especially those near train stations? So, I thank Mayors, Roach, Spano, and Bramson for their leadership, but also that we can talk about their success. And again, thanks to our County Executive. This is - the people in that front row are the champions of what we're talking about doing for the rest of the state.
But also, you need money to build roads. I get it. Local government, I know this. And if someone told me there's a pot of $250 million statewide to help me achieve those goals, I would've said, "That's amazing." And $20 million to help with the planning because I know not every community has a large planning department that's really sophisticated. Our smaller communities don't have that. So again, I said as, we're sitting at the table, "Let's help them out. Let's make it easier for them." So, our $20 million Planning Assistance Fund is going to be able to provide the services you need to get this done. So, we're also proposing a neighborhood and rural housing program, $1.5 million right here in this community, and that's going to help provide housing assistance and rental subsidies for people.
And then we will build housing, but you also have to have safe neighborhoods. Right? That's all we've been talking about. Safety, public safety. It's so important. That's the cornerstone. You have to have that personal sense of security. And we've been working tirelessly on this. Tirelessly since day one, we're to get guns off the streets, strengthening our gun laws, real hands-on approach to working with local law enforcement, our district attorneys. We are starting to see significant changes, and I'm proud of that, but we're not anywhere near done. So, that's why this year's budget includes $337 million to continue our efforts to reduce gun violence and support the local communities that are out on the front lines. And that's an increase of over $110 million last year. So, we're going to keep putting money out there. Keep putting money out there to make sure that the localities have the resources they need to keep our communities safe. We're doubling our investment to alternatives to incarceration because we can turn people's lives around by putting them on a different path right off the bat. We're going to have a thoughtful conversation about our bail laws. I want one simple change this year. It makes all the sense in the world to provide clarity for our judges because right now they have inconsistency in the law of what they're supposed to consider for serious offenders.
But also, one other dynamic is the crisis of mental health. For many individuals, this is a driver that takes them to the streets, or homelessness, or to crime or just an unfulfilled life because they're dealing with something that most of us do not have to deal with. So, part of making our communities safe is also making sure that individuals don't have to succumb to the illness of mental health. And so, we've been divesting from that for far too long. No one even leans into it. No one talked about it. I remember the '70s, our policy as a state was just to open up the doors of the institution and say, "You're on your own. Good luck. Have a good life." No more treatment, no supportive services. You're on your own. That was an epic failure. You started to see a rise in homelessness right after that. So, no one has taken this on except New York - right here and now. That's why I'm putting $1 billion toward mental health services.
Thank you. As I have said, the era of ignoring mental health needs is now officially over. We're changing our attitudes and we're going to have a whole continuum of care. Not just people who are on the streets, but people that are in schools, our kids making sure that our education includes mental health services for all of our kids because they have been hit so hard by the ravages of the pandemic and they're still feeling the effects. I also want to have more patient inpatient beds, 1,000 more beds. We have such a shortage of health care workers, beds, and also meaningful wraparound services, as I've talked about. So, we're going to have $57 million for this regional loan, $57 million for the Mid-Hudson Region to invest. Plus, also $8 million in federal grants to help addiction treatment recovery services for those who really need our help.
And you think about mental health, who it affects - it has really hurt our veterans. Our veterans. I spent time over in Afghanistan when I was on the Armed Services Committee and I had a chance to talk to a round table of all New Yorkers who are serving. They're afraid. They're afraid that they would be very different when they left there, especially those who've had two or three different tours, you know, Iraq, Afghanistan, back again. It was really, really hard on people. And you can't see and experience much of what they did without having an effect. Every one of them. Some adjust different ways.
We need to be there for them, and that's why we're directing $1.3 million for the Joseph Dwyer Veteran Peer to Peer Services program because that's named in honor of a veteran who took his life. And for someone who is willing to put on a uniform and lose his life on the battlefield to come home and think his life was so full of despair that he took his own life. We have to stop that. And we should be recommitted to making sure we do that.
So, let's talk about our kids. Nothing makes me happier than walking into a classroom full of little kids. We know how important education is. We heard about what President Krislov talked about. Education, whether it's higher level or K-12, it's so important. It can change people's lives. And it's our responsibility to prepare the next generation of New Yorkers and making sure that our kids get back on track - the ones who fell off.
So, we've invested. If money's going to make the difference, we are all in. $34.5 billion - the largest increase in school aid in our state's history. And that's, for the Mid-Hudson Region, $3.6 billion more. That's an increase of $520 million for this region - almost a 17 percent increase from last year, which is an historic year. So, the money's there and also increasing foundation aid by $2.7 billion. And that's almost a half a billion dollars increase here as well, a 22 percent increase over last year.
So, I said, "I want no excuses. I want to make sure you have the resources, the money." And any school district that's feeling pretty good - cut your taxes. Use the opportunity, if you've invested, you spent all the money, you're going to be able to, why don't you find a way to also give some relief for your taxpayers as well? So we're putting enough money out there, world class, high quality education, but also encouraging school districts that have met their needs to be able to cut the taxes for our residents, especially in our high tax areas. When you look at a property tax bill, it's mostly school taxes, right? Right. Okay. I know I used to do this for my living. They're always mad at me as a town board - what we do is only 7 percent of your bill. But we want to make sure our schools have what they need, number one. And so school districts will have that option to reduce their taxes as well.
Also, let's continue investing in our community colleges - Ulster Community College, Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan, Westchester, all receiving additional money this year because that's where it starts. We have to get more young people into the schools, get those couple years under their belt, transfer to four-year institutions or to get the apprenticeship programs or the skills they need to be able to work in our thousands of jobs we need to build this city. We talk about building, building our state back. We need people that are trained in those skills as well. So, we're going to continue making those investments.
And also, one thing I'm real excited about, no one would've thought a few years ago that New York State would be the capital of the semiconductor industry. I declared it such, so therefore it is. It's fun to be Governor. But these are great jobs. Great jobs. It's a whole new ecosystem that we're going to be developing and we know how to manufacture. It's in our DNA. We've been building since the beginning of time. We know how to do this. And there's a whole new chapter of manufacturing. You heard about the Micron investment, and people say, "Well, that's Central New York." That is not just Central New York. That is a hundred billion dollars in our state over the next 20 years. And it will be the largest memory chip manufacturing facility in the world. So, let's go big or go home. This is New York. 50,000 jobs. But also, it's the supply chain that excites me. Global Foundries in the Capital Region, and also right here in the Mid-Hudson, IBM investing $20 billion in semiconductor and quantum computing. We were here with the President to announce that. That's going to bring more money and opportunity throughout the Mid-Hudson area. Global Foundries has a chip fab site in Dutchess County, preserving a thousand jobs, adding 100 new jobs. SEEQC in Elmsford, one of the five companies in the world that are successfully building - to have built the quantum computer.
Now, someone someday is going to explain all that to me, but in the meantime, as long as you're creating jobs and paying your taxes, I'm good. But it is the fastest quantum computer in the world. I think that's pretty neat as well.
So, this is the new New York, and it's happening right in this region. So, in order to capitalize on this, we have to build a pipeline, train people, get them into the system, especially starting in schools, lower level. And so we're having the first ever office - the Governor's Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management, and Integration. Actually, just want to call it GO SEMI. It's a little bit shorter, but that's what it's called.
So that's another opportunity to establish this program where we're going to be leaning hard on it. And I was in Washington speaking to the Secretary of Commerce who's making the big decisions on where money is going from the CHIPS bill, the federal CHIPS bill. And when she said - I said, "Well, you know, we just created an office, $45 million." Her jaw almost dropped. She says, "Okay, now, you guys get it. You guys get it." So, I think that - I know that that positions us very well. We're trying to get the nation's first and only national training center for semiconductors, and Senator Schumer and I are working very aggressively on that.
So, we're excited about this. This is going to be transformative. Again, infrastructure too. We know a lot about bridges across the Hudson. I'm going to bring a boat here next summer. Just so you know that. I'm a boater. I'm used to boating up on Lake Erie. It's kind of rough. The waves kind of crash over. So, I haven't had a calm experience in life on a boat. So, I'm looking forward to enjoying the communities along the Hudson River. But the bridges we have need to be maintained. We have to continue investing in them and making sure that we can take care of our roads as well. So, $240 million for a variety of capital projects in this region. Repairing bridges, $51 million for that, the stone bridges on the Palisades, bridges over Route 52 on Interstate 84 in Newburgh. So, lots of money coming there. Rehab work on the Wurts Bridge in Kingston. There you go, Mayor. You got your bridge getting fixed there. And also, interchange ramps, $30 million for Route 17. We committed to taking care of Route 17. So, that's all happening.
And also, I hate potholes. Just want to let everybody know that. Just hate them. Comes from traveling around the world about 15 times, mile wise. That's not an exaggeration. When I was lieutenant governor, I drove everywhere. I had a personal encounter with every pothole in the state, and so I said, "I'm coming after you." So, this region alone, $27 million. Last year I started this initiative. We filled 248,000 potholes in this region alone. So, I just wanted you to know that. So, they're gone. Gone for good.
But also, our parks and historic sites are second to none. They're so beautiful here. $60 million we're announcing for Bear Mountain State Park to upgrade the parade center, the visitor center, a number of other amenities. Not a lot of snow, but how about almost $15 million for Belleayre improvements as well? Making sure that that retains its charm and its accessibility. And also, the John Jay Historic Home, $4 million for this beautiful home. As we think about the birth of our nation and history, we have to preserve these treasures and make sure we can add this to our list of places people will be attracted and come to.
So, we've been talking a lot, but there's one more program that I want to talk about because one of my favorites. It's the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. I was able to announce countless communities as being the winners. And you go into an opportunity to select the winner of $10 million. I also realized there's smaller communities out there, smaller communities who said to me, "We can't quite find enough uses for $10 million. Do you have a - can you have a smaller program?" So, last year we launched the New York Forward program, and what that does is give smaller communities a chance to apply for $4.5 million. So, these are so exciting to the communities that win, and it shows our commitment to investing in downtowns.
I know when I was in local government, if someone had said, "You can have 4.5 million or even 10 million," I would've fallen off the chair because that never happened. And what it does is it allows a community that has a vision for itself - they have plans they want to execute, you know, creating connections to waterfronts and building streetscapes and connectability, and fixing up the downtowns, the facades. But it takes a decade to get it done because you only have enough money each time. You know, next year's budget, you'll add some more. This is a chance to do it, one shot all at once. And that's how we can quickly transform our communities. And I've seen it all over. You need to go visit some of the communities that have been transformed by this number of the leaders are in this room.
So, this is a great announcement here that we have. The City of Port Jervis is going to receive the $10 million grant. There you go, Mayor Kelly Decker. Mayor Kelly Decker is here. Stand up, Mayor. Stand up. Thank you for laying out such an incredible vision with your application. Anybody from Port Jervis here? I think there's - okay.
Thank you. Thank you. Congratulations. Congratulations. That's great. We're going to have - keep your historic charm with the modern upgrades, and you're going to have housing and new and existing buildings, safer streets for pedestrians and bicyclists and drivers. Energy efficiency is a top priority as well.
So, that's really important and really making a great destination for locals, visitors, tourists. So, I believe in this community, and I look forward to coming back and making some other announcements about, you know, how we roll this out over the next year. So, very excited. Congratulations to Port Jervis as well.
Let's announce our New York Forward award. The Village of Sleepy Hollow will receive 4.5 million. Sleepy Hollow Mayor Ken Wray, stand up. Sleepy Hollow Mayor Ken Wray, congratulations. It is a charming community with a strong arts and culture background to it, and it's an incredible comeback story. And there was a time when urban renewal was kind of rough, like it was on many communities and, you know, destroyed the charm of the downtown commercial corridor. The local GM plant left, and things were a little bit tough after that. I know that. But a major reinvestment now. People have recognized that this is a community that is worth protecting, preserving, and really positioning for a better future. So, you know, with its regional health centers and Regeneron in the area, this area is really important to us. So, congratulations, Mayor, as well.
All right, let's wrap it up with one more, congratulations the Town of Cornwall and the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson will receive $4.5 million. Mayor James Gagliano, Supervisor Josh Wojehoski, congratulations to both of you. It's such a beautiful area. The attractions, you really punch above your weight. A smaller community, but access to the Storm King State Park and the Storm King Art Center and the Black Rock Forest, I mean, you have so much going for you. So, you see a lot of visitors coming through, but you want to make sure that they have the amenities and all the little shops that you can have.
So, investing in tourism and entertainment right in your little charming downtown. So look forward to, you know, connecting the two downtowns. I mean, I think that's an important part of the plan is to create a vibrant connection for these communities that are only two miles apart. So, congratulations once again. We're going to be announcing how that'll be spent over the next year as well.
But to all the electeds in this room who've stepped up and applied for this to your - whoever you designated and the outreach you've done to your communities - because I know these are not just mayors sitting in a room by yourselves, it doesn't happen that way. You bring in your community leaders, the resident visionaries, who really do believe that your community's going to have a better outcome. So, now, we've got a lot of work. This budget's important to me. Your voices behind this budget are important. I need you to be the champions, the advocates for this budget, because I really do believe this serves our entire state.
But really, as you heard today, the areas that we specifically call out is the Mid-Hudson Region, because this is an area that has amazing growth potential. But while keeping it growing, but also keeping that innate charm, you cannot sacrifice the charm for the growth. And that's what we're going to make sure we do, but also let's just make it more affordable, make it safer, more livable. And that's what the future holds for all of us. So, congratulations everybody who was an award winner.
And with that, I'll bring up our county executive - Tom Roach is here. Tom Roach, our Mayor of White Plains is going to tell you what's on his mind. Mayor
****
For Immediate Release: 2/22/2023
GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL
GOVERNOR HOCHUL HIGHLIGHTS SOUTHERN TIER INVESTMENTS AS PART OF FY 2024 EXECUTIVE BUDGET
Budget Includes Over $151 Million for Department of Transportation Capital Projects in the Southern Tier; Over $23 Million for Local Road and Pothole Repairs
Includes $50 Million for Binghamton University to Continue Establishing Hub for Battery Technology Innovation
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced details of key proposals from her Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget to grow jobs and boost the economy in the Southern Tier of New York. In line with the 2023 State of the State, the budget includes a major investment to increase housing supply and expand economic opportunity and innovation in the region.
"Through these transformative investments in housing, innovation, education, and infrastructure, we are building a better, brighter future for everyone who lives in the Southern Tier," Governor Hochul said. "With this funding, cities and towns across the region can revitalize their neighborhoods, create more opportunity for New Yorkers, and make their communities safer, more affordable, and more livable to ensure everyone has the opportunity to pursue the New York Dream."
Several of the budget proposals Governor Hochul announced today are in line with the Economic Innovation Plan announced in the 2023 State of the State to grow jobs and businesses by expanding economic opportunity and innovation across New York State through targeted investments, business support and other programming aimed at high-growth industries. The Governor's budget includes several initiatives to invest in higher education and improve local attractions across the state. For the Southern Tier, the plan includes:
$1.4 billion in School Aid for the Southern Tier
$95.8 million Foundation Aid increase for the Southern Tier
Over $151 million in DOT capital projects, including:
- $45 million for pavement renewal on Route 17
- $10.3 million to replace and repair bridges throughout the region
$50 million for Binghamton University to continue establishing a hub for battery technology innovation
Over $23 million for local paving and pothole repairs
$24 million in capital investments at regional colleges, including:
- $13 million for Binghamton University
- $10 million for Cornell University
- $963,000 for Broome Community College
- $250,000 for Tompkins Community College
- $177,000 Corning Community College
$16 million for addiction services funding
$10 million to improve the Fire Academy in Montour Falls
$6 million for the Binghamton Flood Control Project
$1.2 million for Neighborhood and Rural Preservation housing funding
$400,000 for the Harriet Tubman Center for Freedom and Equity of Binghamton University
$600,000 for Taughannock Falls State Park
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "Governor Hochul's forward-thinking budget proposal includes smart economic development strategies that will ensure communities statewide have the resources needed to support businesses and residents alike. These focused, transformative investments in education, workforce development, infrastructure, and affordable housing demonstrate her ongoing commitment to lifting up our local economies. These targeted Southern Tier projects will also work to fuel economic growth, helping this beautiful region to continue to soar."
+++
For Immediate Release: 2/22/2023
GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL
Budget Includes Over $151 Million for Department of Transportation Capital Projects in the Southern Tier; Over $23 Million for Local Road and Pothole Repairs
Includes $50 Million for Binghamton University to Continue Establishing Hub for Battery Technology Innovation
Governor Hochul: "It's also about how we keep making transformative investments and how we should work hard to make sure that the Southern Tier is all it can possibly be. And part of that comes down to making our community safer, more affordable, more livable, and places that not just people want to come to, but the young people who grow up here are educated in our great schools - you have a chance to go to great community college and public institutions, private institutions - that they can also stay here, that that era of our greatest export being our young people is officially over, that people want to come here."
Hochul: "These communities mean the world to me, and I'm going to make sure, as the Governor, that no one ever thinks that New York State is simply one big city with skyscrapers. There's a lot more to us, and I am going to make sure they know that. "
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced details of key proposals from her Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget to grow jobs and boost the economy in the Southern Tier of New York. In line with the 2023 State of the State, the budget includes a major investment to increase housing supply and expand economic opportunity and innovation in the region.
VIDEO of the event is available on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.
AUDIO of the event is available here.
PHOTOS of the event are available on the Governor's Flickr page.
A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:
Thank you very much. It's wonderful to be back here once again. Interesting venue. There's a great story behind this. We'll get into that in a couple moments. But in a few minutes, you'll be hearing from someone who's been a longtime friend of mine, a champion of this region who's been a fighter for our farmers and making sure that our small towns have all the resources they need. And that is my great friend, our Assemblymember, Donna Lupardo. Let's give her another round of applause.
And newer on the scene is our new Senator, Lea Webb. I want to thank her - where are you, Lea? I can't see. The lights are very bright here. County Executive Jason Garnar, who's all ready for whatever storms come our way. He told me he's got it under control. He does pandemics, he does storms, he does floods. And what a great leader he is - a great, great friend of ours as well. Our Mayor, you're going to hear from our Mayor in a few moments. Mayor Meaney, we talked about our collective grandparents coming from Ireland. He's from Limerick, so he probably knows a lot of funny stories. And I'm from County Kerry. But great to see you Mayor, once again. Thank you for your leadership here in this area. Martha Sauerbrey, great friend of ours from Tioga County, the Chair of the Legislature. We sat down and worked on many issues together. Thank you. And also, we have the leader of Binghamton University, the one and only Harvey Stenger is here in the audience. Harvey. Kevin Drumm is here, the SUNY Broome President and Co-Chair of the Regional Economic Development Council. And Judy McKinney Cherry is here as well. Again, I can't see anybody. Are there really people out there? I'm sure you all look great. I just don't know what you're doing.
So, we're at the Firehouse Stage today. This 1899 building has an incredible history. I love the older buildings that populate this beautiful part of our state. And it used to be the municipal fire building. It used to be the mayor's office, used to be a courtroom and also held horses and wagons. So, if something smells a little off, that's from a long time ago. But it's really special to be back here. You know, this area has a rich history in manufacturing. Hard work, a strong work ethic has defined this area for generations and once housed Endicott-Johnson, which is a huge point of pride. And, you know, you think about how this community grew and you know, at one time, the company had 20,000 employees, 20,000 employees worked here.
So, this area was hot, and Endicott-Johnson led the way on manufacturing and brought others here, supply chain. You know, as someone like George Johnson, who was the founder, he understood how important it was to take care of his employees. You know, he gave them health care at a time when that was a pretty radical idea, and he built housing, and parks, and libraries, and had a pension fund, you know, fair labor practices and also fire prevention policies to keep his workers safe. So that's just an example of how our civic and our business leaders working with communities have really helped this region lead the way in setting standards and raising standards to protect a community and its workers. So, that's part of a legacy that I think those of you don't know that should embrace that. That's part of the story of this region.
But as you know, we have breathtaking scenery here. It's always delightful to come back. You come down, you go to the Spiedie Fest, the Luma Projection Arts Festival, Rod Sterling, from everything - we've got a great story here. And of course, the food and wine. And I was here just not that long ago to announce that statewide, but part of this region benefited from it, we were announcing major, major investments - $230 million in our Upstate airports because that is often the gateway when you're trying to attract a business to come here. There needs to be a connection to an airport. So, we have a fabulous airport here, and we're going to continue making those investments as well.
But we talk about, kind of the glory days, and people would say, "Are we in the glory days, or is that in the past?" Well, I see the glory days occurring right now. I really do. I feel so confident in this region. We've turned the corner on the pandemic. When I became Governor, literally 18 months ago, unemployment statewide was over 7 percent, which coming from Buffalo, actually sounded good. But that's because I grew up in a time when 20,000 jobs were lost overnight when Bethlehem Steel left my home area. And my grandpa had worked there, and my dad had worked there. And I know what it's like when sort of the bread-and-butter leaves town and unemployment used to be in the double digits. It was extraordinary. But 7 percent was high, and now statewide, it's 3.8 percent. So, we are trending in the right direction. And we've created over 586,000 jobs in that year and a half. So that's amazing. 13,000, almost 14,000 right here in the Southern Tier. So that is a trend that we should talk about, because I grew up at a time when you would've said, "We lost 13,000. We lost half a million workers and jobs." And so, the story told there is very, very positive.
But it's also about how we keep making transformative investments and how we should work hard to make sure that the Southern Tier is all it can possibly be. And part of that comes down to making our community safer, more affordable, more livable, and places that not just people want to come to, but the young people who grow up here, are educated in our great schools - you have a chance to go to great community college and public institutions, private institutions - that they can also stay here. That that era of our greatest export being our young people is officially over, that people want to come here. And I do believe that the pandemic has had an effect where people are reexamining their lives, and they're being drawn to smaller communities and that sense of, you know, a united story and a story that is built in a great history and a legacy, but also a promising future. So, I think I'm confident that this region is going to be continued beneficiaries as, you know, say we want to work remotely, you can have a job in New York City, but live right here in Johnson City and have incredible, incredible quality of life.
Well, one of the challenges we have is where are all these people going to live? I mean, you create 13,000 jobs, you got to have places for the workers to live. And this is a challenge that we've embraced. It's always easier to just walk away from the big challenges and say, "Let somebody else do that." But that's not why I ran for office. It's not why I'm where I am right now. We have to lean into this and I'm conscious of the fact that, you know, bold leadership is required right now because some communities have embraced adding more housing and others have not, and people want to live here.
I was reading the applications for a lot of information. I saw Montour Falls had put in some comments from the local community talking about, "We're losing our young professionals because they cannot find apartments or condos to live in." And that is a statement of fact. So, I have a plan to build over 800,000 units over the next decade.
It's bold. It also builds on $25 billion last year to increase our affordable housing stock. So again, young people right out of school that don't have a lot of money. Barely have that first job under their belt. They might be making minimum wage. If that they can get on that rung, because sometimes in our society you're judged, your success is judged by, you know, the house you're living in.
My parents used to live in a trailer park that would be viewed as not very successful. But then my dad was able to work at the steel plant by day, got an education at night. They could finally afford that little two-bedroom apartment where a couple more babies were born, including me, and then they got a little Cape Cod house, and then they got a little bigger house. They got a little bigger house.
And I want that available to everybody. So, our communities can continue growing and thrive. We have to be able to have that variety of housing to offer our citizens and those who want to be our new neighbors. So, I have a goal to increase, and it's modest, to grow the housing stock for our communities by 1 percent over the next three years.
Now that's - for some communities, 80 percent of the communities - that's going to be just five houses or less. It is modest, especially the smaller communities. But if people kind of change their mindset around this and say, "Who are we building for?" We're building for your kids. So, someday when you're as old as I am, you can have a grandbaby.
And I've got one that's almost a year old and has changed my life. But how sad is it for those who have a baby that wants to be raised near the grandparents? Parents want that, but they can't afford that little starter house, they can't find an apartment. So that to me is a personal tragedy. So, we also have to be forward thinking and say, "You know what? We're building for our families. We're building for the employers who want to have people living here, a workforce that they can rely on." And I believe we can do that. It's not a one size fits all approach. We're telling communities, asking communities to say, do whatever you want. If you've got an abandoned factory, you've got an old strip plaza, you've got an old mall, you've got warehouses, you've got empty lots.
I mean, view those as places where people can gather and live and have an extraordinary life. And you know, I think about our rents. The rents are going up. Rents are going up. They used to be so inexpensive to be able to live in our communities. Rents are going up and our utilities are going up. And so, we have to start putting money behind this.
And that's why we're announcing that our budget includes money for the Neighborhood Rural Preservation Program. People don't see something when you don't leave the big cities, you don't see the existence of rural poverty. It is real. It is real. I represented the most rural district, one of the most rural districts in Congress in a decade ago.
So, I had a lot of firsthand experience with the challenges in health care and housing and individuals who just need help. So, we're expanding our rural rental assistance programs to help these individuals - help with over 676 units here. But it's not just enough. It's not just enough. We've got to build some housing, we've got to provide rental assistance, but all of our communities have to be safe.
And some communities are doing just fine. In our urban areas, we're seeing increases in gun violence, the flow of illegal guns coming into this state from other states. And right here we are not that far from the Pennsylvania border, and they have different laws than we do, and I want to make sure that we're protecting our citizens from gun violence.
So, we're starting to see some results. The numbers of violent crimes are trending down statewide, but I'm also putting a lot of money behind this as well to support our local law enforcement. They need more resources. They need to know we have their backs. And I'm putting $337 million to be part of a plan to reduce gun violence.
And also, you know, make sure that we have a real system of justice for people. Our court-appointed attorneys need a raise. We're going to be raising their salaries, we're going to be also supporting our district attorneys. So, they can do their work. And finding different ways that we can change the laws. And one of those - the bail laws.
You've heard a lot of talk about this, and I want to change the system so people with low-level non-violent crimes. A judge can look at the offense and say, "You know, we'll take a different standard." But when we're talking about violent crimes and serious offenders and repeat offenders, we have to give the judges more discretion, and that's what I'm working toward in my budget as well.
So yeah, these aren't easy challenges. I didn't come here to do easy. I don't know what easy is, but I need everybody's support as we work toward those objectives as well. So, we have to make sure we have the resources to protect our community. We also want to make sure that we have people who are out there, our first responders have support as well, the first responders.
And so, I'm proud to announce $10 million to help improve the Fire Academy in Montour Falls. Now this is a place that people come, they deserve better, they deserve a state-of-the-art climate-controlled facility. And this will also expand the training season.
What that means is more people coming here, spending more money supporting our local businesses. And so, I think that's an important investment that we're going to making this year as well. And also, you think about overall health. You know, there's physical health, there's mental health, and for a long time, no one talked about mental health.
No one talked about it. The stigma was there. It was just something you sort of swept under the rug if it affected you or your family members. And now we're saying, no more. No more. We have to be able to support our citizens. And give them the whole continuum of care. Make sure we have enough psychiatric beds, make sure they have the therapies that could be helpful to get them on a positive path.
And so, I'm committed to fixing our state's mental health system, and we're going to be putting a billion dollars behind this, a billion dollars. The first time anyone has taken this on.
So, the era of ignoring the needs of people with mental health challenges is officially over. And that's why I'm so excited about what we're going to be doing here. And again, this is an important part of rural and small town health as well, that there be services provided. It's often hard to attract professionals to our smaller communities.
I know that. And that's why we have to lean into programs to get more doctors and nurses and therapists and professionals available all over, but also in our schools. In our schools. Look at what's happened to our kids. You read the articles about teenage suicide among girls, it is just record-shattering. I mean, that's horrible. Horrible.
And kids have been hit so hard - the influences of social media, the isolation from being out of their norm during the couple of years of the pandemic - it really had a long-term psychological effect. And I'd rather deal with these kids today while they're still in school instead of relegating them to a lifetime of needing treatment.
So, part of our money is going to be going toward mental health services, but also, making sure that no one is left behind, that everybody who needs help, everyone who's seeking help, can receive that help. So, we're adding another $16 million for Southern Tier addiction services - recovery, treatment, prevention.
You talk about mental health, but there's also substance abuse challenges. And this hit my own family. We had a nephew that was injured on the job as a high school student working at a deli and he developed that lifelong addiction to painkillers that turns into needs for opioids and fentanyl and eventually his life was cut short. So, I know the pain that a lot of families go through, especially in our smaller rural areas. I know it's real and the services are just not what they should be. And I want to change that dynamic. That's personally important to me, that every family should know, I can take care of my child if I see these signs, or a spouse, or a loved one. So, that's why we're making this major commitment.
Also, you think about our veterans. There's so many veterans that come out of our smaller communities. I was on the Armed Services Committee in Congress, I had a chance to go to Afghanistan and convene a round table with our veterans and I asked them what their greatest fears were. It was not the Taliban that was just off in the hills. It was coming back home and wondering what would happen to them. Would they have a job? Would they have a house? Were they going to be okay? Because a lot of them had tours of duty two, three, four times - it has an effect on you. We owe a debt of gratitude, but also, we owe them help and we can't ignore that phenomenon either with our veterans.
So, we are continuing to invest for this region alone, $885,000 for our veteran peer-to-peer services and also helping them with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and other services. So, if you know anyone that is in need of help, tell them it's okay to come out. We embrace them. They were willing to serve us, put their lives on the line for us, and we have to make sure that their remaining lives are healthy as well.
So, I also want to talk about something else - education. I love being in groups of little kids. It always makes me feel real. They kind of keep you honest about things. I was giving a speech once, and I thought these little kids in the front row were just enthralled. They kept watching me and watching. I said, "Well, they're really paying attention. They're paying attention." I said, "Are there any questions out there?" And one little kid raised his hand, he goes, "Why do you have two different shoes on?" I'm like, "Oh, I didn't know I had a navy one and a blue one. It was dark in the car." So, I love the honesty of children. I've never told that story before, but it's real, it's a real one. But let's focus on the kids. And that's why we have unlocked an enormous amount of money, so the schools have what they need, parents know that they're going to get the highest quality, best education money can buy is what it is.
And there's nobody else who can touch our commitment to education because if you make these investments now, you get these kids on a path that leads them away from all the temptations of the street or trouble in the neighborhood or decisions related to substance abuse or going into different activities that you do not want your kids into.
If we can make those, help them make those, decisions now and give them a good education, what a great jumping point for the rest of life. So, we're allocating $34.5 billion, the largest increase ever, and that includes $1.4 billion for the Southern Tier, and that is an increase in Foundation Aid as well, almost $95 million in Foundation Aid. That's almost a 12 percent increase over last year, which is also historic. So, we are putting our money where our belief is, in supporting our teachers and our schools and the parents.
And we're also giving so much money to schools that if schools are providing all the services they need to, which is great, I have a suggestion: you can cut your local, your taxes. That's up to your school district, but I would think there's opportunity because our property tax - I spent 14 years as a local government official, so I've done a lot of municipal budgets, and two thirds of our local property tax was the school tax.
And so that's real. They have their needs, but we're working really hard to get more money out to our schools. Get it out to the schools, spend what you need. But also, let's remember our taxpayers out there, the businesses and the community members who are really dealing with a lot of affordability issues this year. The price of everything's going up, and how nice it could be if they could definitely not see an increase or even stay flat, but even a decrease. So, I'm going to put that out there to all the school boards who might be paying attention. But you have more money than you ever dreamed of, so let's make sure we do smart things with it.
But speaking of education, let's talk about colleges. This is the ladder. This is the ladder of opportunity. I said it changed my father's life when he was able to get a college degree at night. Otherwise, who knows? I would've, my family would've, been in very different circumstance, and I'm aware of that. And because of that story, I want that opportunity for everyone. It's so important to me. And so, we're going to keep investing in our higher education.
There's some announcements of what we're going to be providing for our local colleges - money for Binghamton, Cornell, Broome Community College, Tompkins, Corning Community College, because there is such a variety of options for people, whether you go get a certificate program at a community college and go right into a job that's waiting for you, you go to community college for a few years and build on that to go to a four-year institution or higher education, beyond that, graduate programs, we have it all here. This region really punches above its weight in terms of your population and size to have world class institutions just within this region. It attracts bright, bright professors and students. And so, let's just seize that as part of our narrative, our story, of what makes this area so attractive. That's how I attract businesses too, that's how I talk to them. I say, "You're never going to find a more educated workforce than we have here in New York. We have smart people, strong work ethic, based in the legacy of manufacturing and people rolling up their sleeves and working hard."
So, I speak to businesses from out of state all the time and we're starting to win that. We are making a difference and it's all about filling the jobs of tomorrow and being nimble because the world is changing so quickly. You know, to think that you now have to have places. You know, learning semiconductor manufacturing. That's a nice problem to have because I know Texas, one, had that problem, but we won Micron here. Micron -- $100 billion investment, $100 billion. And it's extraordinary. I was with President Biden when we made that announcement. The next week, we went over, and he announced $20 billion for IBM. I think IBM thought that was a lot of money and all of a sudden, we've got $100 billion here, so these are numbers that are mind boggling.
But 50,000 jobs coming to Upstate New York and people living all over the place. I need people educated in every corner of this state because I promised the CEO of Micron when he was literally looking at going to Texas instead of New York. I said, "You cannot touch the caliber of our workers." I said, "You'll never get anybody better." And they believe me. And I said, "We need engineers. We need people in manufacturing." I need so many programs being taught in our schools now, K through 12, all the way up to advanced degrees. I need to have the help of our community. So, we're investing money. These are good problems to have now. And I've declared that New York State is now the semiconductor capital of the world. No one's challenged me so far. So, let's just stick with that.
But also, to set us apart. I mean, there's money coming out of the federal government. I thank Senator Schumer for his work to help get the CHIPS bill done out of Washington, which created incentives to bring the jobs back from Southeast Asia, from China, where they never should have been, you know, is invented here, and always manufacture somewhere else. We're changing that trajectory and that's why I'm starting a $45 million commitment to create an office. The Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management and Integration, which fortunately when you shorten it sounds - says SEMI. So, what a coincidence. So, that's something that when I was in Washington last weekend, I spoke to the Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, and they're making decisions on where they're going to position the nation's National Semiconductor Training Institute, and I'm making a strong pitch for New York. I think that's going to continue to add to our gravitas. And I said, "I'm putting $45 million behind this." She says, "Okay, that sounds really, really good." So, that's the kind of investments we're making, and coordinating again with our local partners to make sure that the skills that these employers are looking for are being taught.
And new technologies are nothing new to this region when you have Binghamton University in your midst, and I was very proud to announce a $50 million investment to invest in the hub for technology innovation, battery technology innovation. Who would've thought years ago? So, Binghamton - Binghamton is doing an extraordinary. You know, not only having Nobel Prize winners there, who are the godfathers, the grandfathers, whatever we're calling it. The lithium-ion battery, I brag about that all the time. It's a good cocktail conversation. Do you know where the Nobel Prize winners are from? But that's a big deal. You know, this person is not in California, they're not in Silicon Valley, they're not in Texas, they're here. And the whole ecosystem that has developed around that. In one sense, it's mind boggling. And I want to thank again, Harvey Stenger, for his faith in what this institution could do and never gave up and just kept pushing and pushing and pushing. So, that is money well spent in my opinion. $50 million is well spent, again, to position us. You know, this is a birthplace of innovation - IBM, flight simulation, virtual reality - it's all happening right here.
And so, I'm excited about this. I think it's a chance to, you know, be proud. Brings new life into our communities, but also other things are going on at Binghamton University as well. I've been there so many times and I'm really proud of it. Really proud of the work that's being done there. I'm also proud of something that's little - not something you normally associate with Binghamton University, but you will now forevermore. Last year, I signed an executive order to create the 400 years of African American History Commission, and I wanted to highlight the contributions of individuals across the state. Well, you have incredible stories right here with the Underground Railroad and that's why if something that's going to find its home at Binghamton University is the Harriet Tubman Center for Freedom and Equity at Binghamton University. $400 million -- $400,000, oh, sorry. Sorry. It's not $400 million, it's $400,000. This will be used to erect a statue of Harriet Tubman, have a Downtown Freedom Trail. I've walked to downtown many, many times. I have the historic sites identified for tourists and developing a public education program accompanied. So, I think that's going to be incredible.
Again, part of the story of the area. Tell the story, bring tourists to this area as well as a matter of local civic pride. So, this is the brainchild of Dr. Anne Bailey, who's the Director of Binghamton University's Harriet Tubman Center and a member of our African American History Commission. So, I'm really proud that we're going to be able to make this happen, and I'll be back to see that statue. So, let's get that done.
One thing we always have to deal with in this Southern Tier also, because we have so many roads, are the fact that our roads deteriorate, our bridges deteriorate. They get a little rundown. Now, if you're not in local governments, you don't get real excited about money for roads and bridges. But again, I can't ever take off my local government hat, and I find this very exciting because infrastructure is about connecting people. You have to have good roads and bridges for communities to be connected. You also do it for the businesses that want to be able to manufacture here and transport their goods as well as bringing goods in. So, it's really important. So, I won't list them all because they go on and on and on, but we're announcing $151 million collectively for a variety of DOT projects. Not the least, which is $45 million to take care of pavement renewal on Route 17. Route 17 is a critical lifeline for this region. So, we're going to get that done as well. And replacing bridges and the Binghamton flood control project. There you go, Jason Garnar and everybody else. Let's take care of that. Let's make sure you're ready for the floods.
But also, I really hate potholes. I don't know if you know this, but I was Lieutenant Governor for eight years. All I did was drive around the state and go to all of our pits where I know exactly where I am. I've been here before. A lot of potholes out there, lot of potholes. So, I decided as Governor, I'm coming at them. I'm coming at them. So, we are going to be announcing another $27 million for local paving and potholes.
But just so you know, not that anybody's really keeping score, but in the Southern Tier, we've paved over 597 miles already. And I filled, in the Southern Tier alone, 300,000 potholes. So, there you go. There you go. I won the war. I won the war. Another reason that I take the roads to come here are your magnificent parks. The Southern Tier has the most beautiful parks. I brag about them all the time. You know, we've had a record number of people visiting our parks. It actually started during the pandemic when people were looking for that outdoor space to be safe and congregate with their families. So, we had almost 80 million visits to our parks last year alone. Attendance rose by more than a million from the year before, but I believe - and one of my favorite parks, which is not right here, but down the road a little bit is Taughannock Falls State Park. We're investing 600,000 there. I've been on - that's gorgeous. Oh, Ithaca is gorgeous, they say. I actually have the t-shirt for that too.
I've been on these trails. I've hiked the Black Diamond Trail. It is so beautiful. It's all just part of that Southern Tier charm. And we have many, many, many parks here as well. But one of my other reasons for coming here often is the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, which I'm going to continue because we have transformed over 60, maybe 70 communities now, whereas I think about when I was a local government, if someone had said to me, "If your community can work together and come up with a shared for how you would possibly spend $10 million..." If someone said that to me when I was local, I would've fallen off the chair because you don't get that. You have ideas here or there, what we want to do, make connections to waterfronts. You want to fix up streetscapes, you want to fix up facades, you want to build more apartments above retail space. But it always happens over a long time because you don't have that concentration of money all at once. That's why this program is transformative.
You get $10 million all at once. You can make a difference, and not just the physical appearance of your community, but really it changes the psychology of a community. You know, places that once had worn-down curbs and kind of rundown storefronts. You know, I know a little bit about this. I keep talking about my experience growing up in, you know, the industrial Buffalo area.
Right during the peak of the recession decades ago, my mother decided she's going to start a flower shop. Now, every space in my downtown had going out of business signs. It's like, "Mom, it's not really, really a good time." She goes, "No, I want to, I didn't like the flowers at the florist stitch for my son's wedding, and I'm going to have in my own flower shop." I was like, "Okay." I was one week out of law school, so she thought her daughter, the lawyer, knew how to do everything, including start a business. Like I didn't want to tell her I didn't know. I didn't learn a whole lot. I had to call another real lawyer to tell me how to do it. But we did it, and mom started a flower shop, but across the street is this little rundown business and going out of business sale or they would have the Genesee beer signs, you know, handwritten and the scribbling.
And it was just, there was no continuity of facades. I mean, it was an old, old community, but you never knew it because they'd plastered over - I mean, who were those planners and architects and everybody in the seventies? I just want to meet one someday and say, "What were you thinking?" Because it looks like brutalist Russian architecture. I mean, they plastered over old brick buildings from the 1800s, so they did that to my town. So, anyhow, I diverge once again. Sorry about that, but I know how it can change a community when you fix it up and people are proud, proud to push the stroller, proud to go out on a date, go get an ice cream cone, proud to walk down, seniors who talk about the days in the past.
So, that's what I want to do for a community. So, I want to bring that sense of life and pride back. And $100 million is what I'm going to continue allocating to 10 communities every year, but also, we realize that there's a lot of small communities. Some communities are just like the size of an intersection. They still deserve to get help, and we decided we could scale in response to the request. We could also have a program called New York Forward that I launched last year where a community could win $4.5 million as well to, again, change their own trajectory of their future.
So, I'm proud to announce that the Village of Johnson City has just won $10 million. Mayor, there you go. There you go. This community laid out a very clear vision of what you want to see for the future, how to spur job growth and tourism and improve the quality of life, economic boost to local businesses and really just, you know, continue the economy, your position in such a great place to take advantage of the new investments that are coming to this area. And, you know, continuing to transition from, you know, a low-tech manufacturing community to high-tech manufacturing. There's so many possibilities here. And you have the space, and you have the desire and the citizenry. You have really informed and engaged citizens, citizens who live in this community who really care a lot.
So, I want to, I'll be back again to announce exactly what we're doing with the $10 million. I'll look at your ideas, and I'm sure they'll be, most will be funded. You might have probably asked for $20 million worth of ideas, but we're going to help you out with the $10 million, so congratulations, Mayor Meaney. Thank you.
So, let's talk about a couple of communities in the area that have won our New York Forward grant, the $4.5 million grant, and our next winner is the Village of Waverly. So, when people think about small town Americana, places like Waverly come to mind, and it's embraced that small town way of life. But they have their boutique shops and restaurants and small businesses hosting community events year-round, you know, tinsel and lights and all these fun activities.
So, I want to congratulate our Mayor here, Pat Ayres. Where's our Mayor? Tell me how to say that. Okay, because people mangle my name all the time. I just say it sounds like local, right? I come out of local government. Mayor Ayres, congratulations. And, you have a wonderful community, and I know you have a lot of citizens who worked hard on this, and I want to congratulate them as well. So, let's give another round of applause to the Village of Waverly.
All right, one more to go. The Village of Montour Falls will also receive a $4.5 million grant. This is a place that has natural beauty. I mean, how many places have a waterfall right there? Extraordinary. The culture, the recreational assets. I remember visiting by there. I stopped by, what was the cabinetmaker's name? Chicone Cabinetmakers, right? Right around the corner from the falls. It was amazing. You know, family business there, working really hard and, you know, it just reminds me of why these communities are so special. And you have the waterfalls right there. And this can be a corridor to, you know, the restaurants and breweries and boutiques. And so, a lot going on here. And I want to congratulate Mayor James Ryan. Mayor, in the house here? You don't show up, you here Mayor? Okay.
So, congratulations to our three recipients. You are all part of the New York story. You're all part of helping the residents that you're proud to represent. Our elected officials, it's your honor to represent, I feel it, to be a privilege and help them all achieve the New York dream. It's important to me.
It's not just a slogan. It's how we live life every single day. Are we bettering the lives of our residents? Do people who put their faith in us? Are we going to leave this place better than we found it? Because that's how we're judged at the end of, hopefully, a long life. And I take that very seriously.
But thank you for the privilege of representing all of you. These communities mean the world to me, and I'm going to make sure, as the Governor, that no one ever thinks that New York State is simply one big city with skyscrapers. There's a lot more to us, and I am going to make sure they know that. So, thank you everybody.
Congratulations. And with that, let me bring up our Assemblymember, Donna Lupardo.