New York

$137 Million in Federal Stimulus Funds Will Go to Help New York Modernize the Unemployment System

May 14, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson and U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced that New York State will receive $137 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to modernize the State’s unemployment system.

The funding represents the culmination of months-long effort by Governor Paterson, as he led a coalition of governors who called on the federal government to include increased unemployment insurance funding in the ARRA legislation.    » read more »

Task Force Will Bring Together State Leaders in Industry and Higher Education to Generate Ideas on the Future of New York State’s Economy

May 14, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today issued an executive order creating a task force that will bring together State leaders in industry and higher education to generate ideas to diversify the New York State economy through industry-higher education partnerships.

The Task Force on Diversifying the New York State Economy through Industry-Higher Education Partnerships, established by Executive Order No. 19, will study best practices and generate recommendations on fostering business incubation, growth and emerging technology commercialization.    » read more »

Agricultural and Farmland Protection Program to Maintain Nearly 9,000 Acres of Active Farmland

May 13, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that the State Agricultural and Farmland Protection Program will provide $23.1 million for the preservation of 8,940 acres of active farmland. The program, administered by the State Department of Agriculture and Markets, assists local municipalities in the purchase of development rights so that land use is restricted for farming purposes. The grants will help to protect 27 farms in 16 counties throughout New York.    » read more »

May 13, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson issued the following statement after the announcement that President Barack Obama has nominated the Adjutant General of New York, Major General Joseph J. Taluto, to be promoted to lieutenant general and assigned as Director of the Army National Guard. Governor Paterson nominated Major General Taluto to be considered for this position.

“Major General Joseph Taluto has been a dedicated officer in the New York National Guard for more than 40 years and his selection not only reflects his great ability and tremendous leadership style, but the talent and expertise New York can offer to the rest of the Nation. I congratulate President Obama for his decision to nominate Major General Taluto to serve as Director of the Army National Guard.    » read more »

12 May 2009 -- ERIE, Pa. -- GE Transportation, a unit of the General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), announced today the next step in its commitment to develop leading hybrid technology. The Company announced plans to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant for advanced storage batteries.

The new battery business will be a part of GE Transportation and will serve customers in the rail, marine, mining, telecommunications and utility sectors. As the leading producer of diesel-electric locomotives, GE has a rich history of delivering breakthrough technologies that are today commonplace in the rail industry.    » read more »

State To Provide $15 Million to Support New Sodium Battery Manufacturing Plant; Facility Would Create 350 New Jobs in Upstate New York

May 12, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson and General Electric (GE) Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt today announced that GE has proposed the establishment of a new sodium battery manufacturing facility in the Capital Region that would also create 350 new jobs.

The announcement is the latest success in Governor Paterson’s bold clean energy agenda, which is positioning New York as a global leader in energy efficiency and renewable energy technology. Continuing on this path will position New York to become a net exporter of clean energy technologies to the rest of the world.    » read more »

Application for Part 1 of New York's State Stabilization Funds Approved Today

May 11, 2009 -- U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that more than $2 billion is now available for New York under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save hundreds of thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts.

New York will be eligible to apply for another $996 million this fall. Today's funding is being made available per New York's successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1.    » read more »

Energy Initiatives Will Help Put People to Work by Creating Clean Energy Jobs; State Will Partner with the Long Island Power Authority, Stony Brook University and Farmingdale State College

May 11 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson and Congressman Steve Israel today announced that the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), along with Stony Brook University and Farmingdale State College, have proposed the creation of Long Island’s first integrated Smart Energy Corridor.

The initiative would assist residential, commercial and industrial LIPA customers in monitoring and reducing energy usage, increase reliability, encourage energy efficiency by facilitating smarter technologies, and create clean energy jobs.    » read more »

May 8, 2009 -- NEW YORK, NY – The American public will once again be able to visit the crown of the Statue of Liberty, which was closed after the 9/11 attacks for safety and security reasons, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today.

In addition, the Department of the Interior will invest $25 million under the President’s economic recovery plan to stabilize the Baggage and Dormitory Building at Ellis Island, built in 1908 to house immigrants waiting for further processing, and repair 2,000 feet of the island’s crumbling seawall.    » read more »

Funding Will Stimulate Local Economies Across New York; Will Create 50,000 Summer Youth Jobs – more than 27,000 in New York City

May 9, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today was joined byNew York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Congressman Charles Rangel, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Congressman Gregory Meeks and State and City officials in announcing nearly $100 million in federal funding for job creation, a portion of which will be used to assist New York’s lower-income youth in finding summer employment.    » read more »

Project to Create or Retain More Than 180 Jobs and Protect the Long Island Sound

May 8, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson, Congressman Tim Bishop, and the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) today announced the award of economic recovery funds for a wastewater project on Long Island, part of the first round of economic recovery funds for wastewater projects.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has designated $4 million for the Village of Greenport to install state-of-the-art modifications in a local water treatment facility, creating or retaining an estimated 186 jobs and reducing the introduction of pollution into the Long Island Sound. The New York Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) will disburse the $4 million grant.    » read more »

Funding Will Help Hospitals Transition to New Model of Care with Expanded Access to Primary and Preventive Care

May 7, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that New York State will provide $175 million in new funding to further the restructuring of New York’s health care system. This funding, provided under the State’s Health Care Efficiency and Affordability Law (HEAL NY), will help hospitals transition to a new model of care through the consolidation of excess hospital beds and the support of more outpatient care, furthering the Governor’s primary and preventive health care agenda.    » read more »

May 6, 2009 - New York Governor David A. Paterson today applauded U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius for proposing to rescind regulations that would have restricted states’ flexibility to administer the Medicaid program, shifted costs from the federal government to states, and significantly reduced funding for critical Medicaid providers, including state agencies, school districts, critical health providers and beneficiaries.    » read more »

Upstate Regional Blueprint Fund Targets Small Business Investments and Development; Applications due June 15, 2009; Awards Announced August 17, 2009

May 6, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced the availability of $120 million in Upstate Regional Blueprint Fund grants to finance business investment, infrastructure upgrades and downtown redevelopment that will advance New York’s economic vitality. The Fund will support projects that help provide a framework for future growth in regions with stymied development. The Blueprint Fund, which will be administered by Empire State Development (ESD), will help to attract businesses, improve commerce and revitalize local economies.    » read more »

Two More New York Schools Close

May 5, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that specimen testing performed Monday by the New York State Department of Health’s (DOH) Wadsworth Laboratories resulted in one new confirmed case of H1N1 (swine flu).

“At my request, DOH continues to coordinate a statewide response to the H1N1 outbreak,” said Governor Paterson. “Yesterday, DOH’s Wadsworth Laboratories tested 18 specimens from 18 patients, including one repeat from Sunday. One new confirmed case of H1N1 was identified in Queens.”    » read more »