Crain’s New York Business reports that the Bloomberg administration is looking for developers to help rebuild one- to four-family homes in New York City. More than six months after Sandy, hundreds of houses across the five boroughs still need to be rebuilt. The city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development released a request for qualifications last week saying that the process of rebuilding will go faster with experts handling the process.
The Business Council has long been focused on workforce development in New York State. Many of our manufacturing members have told us they have difficulty finding high-skilled workers. David Robinson of The Buffalo News wrote that “nearly one of every three [Western New York] factory jobs [are] expected to come open within the next seven years.” With that in mind, writes Robinson, the Western New York Economic Development Council has “endorsed a plan to create a workforce training center that will help teach local workers the skills needed in today’s more advanced factory work.”
Click here to read about the center which is expected to open next year.
Today’s Buffalo News has a letter to the editor from Thomas B. Stebbins, executive director of Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York calling for the state to reform Section 240 of the New York State Labor Law. Also known as the Scaffold Law, Stebbins outlines how ultimately everyone, not just contractors, municipalities, schools and the state itself wind up paying.
Read the full letter to the editor on The Buffalo News website.
It’s “the glue” that will hold a downtown Buffalo neighborhood together, the University of Buffalo‘s new Medical School. Stephen Watson, staff reporter for The Buffalo News, wrote about the $375 million facility slated to open in 2016. It’s a grand design.
Take a look at the design unveiled Wednesday.
Click the logo to learn more about Made in New York, The Business Council’s website dedicated to showcasing those companies that make up the backbone of New York’s economy.
Annie Karni of Crain’s New York Business covered the recent Rebuilding New York conference where New York officials met to talk about rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy and about preparedness for the future.
Read Karni’s article on the Crain’s New York Business website.
Small Business Day on April 17th is the opportunity for New York businesses to speak out on reforming the state’s Scaffold Law. The current law places an absolute liability standard on businesses making them responsible for worker injuries, even if a worker has not taken responsibility for their own safety. This has led to increased business costs for New York employers who oversee work on job sites, with general liability insurance costing between 300% and 1200% higher than in other states.
A.3104 (Morelle)/S.111 (Gallivan)
Business Council Memo Supporting Scaffold Law Reform
Crain’s New York Business: Developers take aim at ‘outmoded’ law
New York Real Estate Journal: An attorney discusses labor law 240 and shareholder renovations
To register for Small Business Day contact Erin DeSantis Assistant State Director at NFIB for more information. 877.434.1262 or email Erin.DeSantis@NFIB.ORG.
Buffalo Business First projects editor , G. Scott Thomas, posted this good news story about Buffalo’s climb in the national economic rankings. That’s according to the On Numbers Economic Index.
Check out MadeInNY.org for great Made In NY products. Buying New York products helps keep our economy going.
Gannett reporter Joseph Spector writes in this morning’s Democrat and Chronicle that Governor Cuomo and leaders of the state’s nanotechnology will soon “announce expansion of nanotechnology manufacturing in Rochester.”
Click here to read Spector’s report.
In today’s Crain’s New York Business, Annie Field has an interesting story about how state-of-the-art equipment is helping manufacturers boost productivity and allow them to enter new markets.
On The Hill’s blog, On The Money, Vicki Needham reported that “manufacturers say businesses are holding back on hiring because they are frustrated about the nation’s fiscal situation and its regulatory environment.” That from Chad Moutray, chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers. His comments followed the release of the February jobs report which showed an addition of 14,000 in manufacturing. Good, but not good enough.
Click here to read Needham’s report.
