Potsdam, NY, May 30, 2013 — Governor Andrew Cuomo and his cabinet are on the road for a second week, pushing hard on a proposal to create tax-free zones for businesses that set up shop on or near public college campuses in New York.

He's due in Plattsburgh this morning. Cuomo's Deputy Secretary of State, Dede Scozzafava, has already visited SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Plattsburgh to pitch the plan.

At the initial announcement in Albany last week, Cuomo said the tax free zones will boost the struggling upstate economy. "It doesn't cost us money," he said. " It's not an investment in tax dollars. It's stopping the collection of tax revenues. So I think it is exactly the type of approach the state needs to take."

The plan would provide a 10-year abatement of all taxes...sales, property, corporate, state income taxes and fees - for the business and its employees.

Legislative leaders have not yet said they'll support the proposal. Monday, the governor called a group of local leaders to Albany Monday to ask for their help in convincing state lawmakers it's a good idea.

Steve Yugartis is Mayor of the Village of Potsdam. He wasn't in Albany for the meeting. He says he doesn't know much about the plan, and considering the village's existing tax free properties, he's cautious about adding more.  Go to full article

Apr 03, 2013 — Syracuse's development agency and the developer of the Destiny USA shopping mall have reached a settlement to avoid several legal battles.

This week's agreement shuts down three different threats of legal action between Destiny USA's owner - The Pyramid Companies - and the City of Syracuse and its industrial development agency, or IDA.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Feb 25, 2013 — The North Country's Regional Economic Development Council has been one of the most successful in the state. It's received top awards twice now, for projects that range from renovating an historic building in Port Henry, to making improvements to the Wild Center in Tupper Lake, to treating wastewater in Malone.

Several of the projects the state funded aim to improve the North Country's economic outlook through the arts. One of these is "Invisible Factory", a project whose goal is to support regional artisans, and help them make a living from what they do.

"Invisible Factory" is a partnership between Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, in Canton, and the Adirondack North Country Association, in Saranac Lake.

Nora Flaherty stopped by TAUNY, to learn more about Invisible Factory.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Dec 20, 2012 — Governor Cuomo awarded over three quarters of a billion dollars for economic development projects at a ceremony Wednesday at the State Capitol. While every region in the state got something to go towards key projects, some regions got more than others.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Dec 19, 2012 — For the second year in a row, the North Country Regional Economic Development Council is receiving one of the largest awards in the statewide competition for economic development funding.  Go to full article

Fredonia, NY, Jan 12, 2012 — New York is home to a new social networking site. But it's not like Facebook or Twitter. Tech start-up Selling Hive tries to increase sales for businesses by linking them together online.

As the Innovation Trail's Daniel Robison reports, the company's founders say the service is one-of-a-kind.  Go to full article

Buffalo, NY, Jan 06, 2012 — While Governor Cuomo's State of the State pledge to spend $1 billion dollars on Buffalo's economic recovery got a big splash, western New Yorkers are looking for details. And some think the money is far from a sure thing. The Innovation Trail's Daniel Robison has more.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Dec 29, 2011 — Many North Country Maple producers can now tap into a new loan fund to help them increase the amount of syrup they produce. The Development authority of the North Country, or DANC, set up the program after several studies showed most maple trees in the area aren't being tapped. That means producers are missing out on a lot of potential revenue. Nora Flaherty has the details.  Go to full article

Oct 13, 2011 — It looks like the Canadian contractor General Propulsion will likely be moving its corporate headquarters to Ogdensburg.

The Ottawa-based company has manufactured products for military and civilian uses. But it's looking to work with the US Military, which places restrictions on foreign contractors.  Go to full article

Buffalo, NY, Aug 17, 2011 — The western New York Regional Council held its first public meeting in Buffalo yesterday. It's one of 10 councils the Cuomo Administration has set up in a new regional approach to economic development.

The North Country council is co-chaired by Clarkson University president Tony Collins, and Garry Douglas, president of the North Country Chamber of Commerce based in Plattsburgh. The meeting yesterday provided a glimpse into how this new initiative will work.  Go to full article