Brian Nearing reports in the Times Union - “Some people who live near the Lafarge cement plant have elevated levels of toxic mercury, but it’s not enough to cause health problems and isn’t coming from Lafarge, the state Department of Health said.

The health department reached the conclusions after it reviewed blood and hair test results taken by Harvard University researchers from 172 neighbors of the Route 9W plant, according to letters the health department mailed to some study subjects.”

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Craig Wolf writes in the Poughkeepsie Journal - “ontinental Organics plans to build a large plant here and create about 120 full-time jobs, the company and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today.

Continental Organics has been housed at the Orange County Business Accelerator, also located here, where it developed its plans.

The company will specialize in organic produce, fish and fertilizer using aquaponics to grow food in a nutrient-rich solution rather than soil. The farm will also sell tilapia, a fish, and organic fertilizer. It will also lease an adjacent farm.

The state is awarding it a $6.2 million incentive package through the Empire State Development Corp.”

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Export NY is a specialized training program designed to improve a company’s exporting skills. Conducted monthly over a six-month period, ExportNY brings together various resources to focus on issues ranging from international financing and strategic marketing plans to distributor contracts and differing business cultures. ExportNY includes formal training, guest lectures from international industry participants, networking on best practices, and guidance on the development of an international business plan. Classes will be held at the Albany Colonie Chamber of Commerce once a month on Fridays from 8am – 2pm. Advance registration and full payment of $600 per person is required. For more information contact Louise Aitcheson at 518-465-8975, x229 or louisea@ceg.org.

To fill out an application click here.

“Upstate New York business leaders are more confident about the economy and their own prospects than at any time in the past four years, a new study shows. But businesses are still not ready to invest or borrow too much, and they have little faith in state government,” writes Jonathan D. Epstein in the Buffalo News about a new business survey from First Niagara Financial Group.

“More than one-third of 645 business executives across the state — 35 percent — expect economic conditions in the state to improve in 2011, according to First Niagara Financial Group’s fourth annual survey of upstate New York business leaders.”

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50 companies have now been designated the Best Companies to Work for in New York for 2011. This fourth annual statewide survey and awards program identifies and recognizes the best places of employment in the State of New York. These organizations are examples that happy employees make for good business and drive the Empire state’s economy.

The fourth annual program is the result of a partnership between the New York State Society for Human Resource Management, the Business Council of New York and Best Companies Group, an independent company that manages Best Places to Work programs on state, regional and national levels around the country. The 2011 program is sponsored by Jackson Lewis, LLP.

The 2011 Best Companies to Work for in New York list is made up of 50 companies split into two groups: 27 small/medium-sized companies with 15-249 employees and 23 large-sized companies of 250 or more employees.

Companies from across the state entered the two-part process to determine the best employers in the Empire State. To be considered for participation, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:

- Have at least 15 full-time and/or part-time employees in the state of New York;
- Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or government entity;
- Be a publicly or privately held business;
- Have a facility in the state of New York; and
- Must be in business for a minimum of one year.

A survey was then conducted by Best Companies Group to evaluate and rank the best places of employment in New York based on employee satisfaction and engagement, as well as workplace practices and policies.

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Greg David writes on Crain’s New York Business.com - “Governors have put a wide range of people into the state’s top economic job. Mario Cuomo chose a Wall Street executive and regulator who donated a lot of money to his campaigns. George Pataki put his top fundraiser in the job. Eliot Spitzer liked lawyers.

No one has done what Gov. Andrew Cuomo just did–tapping a longtime advocate for business and economic growth who has a track record not of doing favors for politicians but of arguing for sensible public policies.

I have known Kenneth Adams, named Thursday as president of the Empire State Development Corp. and commissioner of the state’s economic development department, for two decades.

He first came to Crain’s attention in 1990 when we named him a 40 Under 40 for his work founding a volunteer organization in Brooklyn. He achieved some prominence in the city as the head of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, an organization he revitalized. In 2006, he was tapped to lead The Business Council of New York State Inc. and was charged with re-energizing that group–a task he’s mostly accomplished.

Ken is not a firebrand–although he understands why New York business people are so angry at the state of New York’s affairs. He’s calm and speaks somewhat softly. He thought about going into politics by running for City Council, but the opportunity never arose. Even if it had, I am not sure he would have won. (Remember only one of the 51 members of the Council is a businessperson, and he’s a Republican.)”

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Joseph Spector writes in the Ithaca Journal - “The decision by Wisconsin and Ohio to forgo federal high-speed rail money will mean a boost for New York, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Thursday.

The $1.195 billion in high-speed rail funds originally designated for Wisconsin and Ohio, who under new Republican governors balked at the aid as a waste of money, will be redirected to other states that are “eager to develop high-speed rail corridors across the United States,” LaHood announced.

New York’s piece will be up to $7.3 million, the fifth most of the 13 states receiving the aid. Still, it’s much less than the $624 million for California and the $342 million for Florida.

In January, New York received $151 million for high-speed rail initiatives, part of $8 billion that was designated nationally. The state’s goal is to ultimately build high-speed rail from Buffalo to New York City.”

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The New York State Common Retirement Fund (the Fund) allocated an additional $100 million to the New York Business Development Corporation to make loans to small businesses based in New York State, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today at a news conference in Syracuse.

“New York’s small businesses are a vital part of the state’s economy,” DiNapoli said. “Working with the New York Business Development Corporation, we are investing an additional $100 million in the state’s small businesses. Small businesses are smart investments that provide solid returns for the pension fund. By providing loans to help local companies get off the ground and expand, we can do well for the members of the Retirement System while at the same time do good for New York’s small businesses and most importantly New York’s economy.”

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In today’s economy, it is more important than ever for employers to draw upon the skills of the 54 million Americans are living with a disability. This innovative and often underutilized talent pool as a potential source of employees. Likewise it’s essential for employers to consider the growing number of consumers with disabilities as a potential market. Implementing inclusive workplace practices and offering disability-friendly service benefits everyone and can help businesses succeed.

At The Business Council we hope that you will find Disability.gov as a valuable resource for finding answers to questions about disability-related programs, services, laws and benefits.

On this site employers are connected to thousands of national, state and local resources on topics such as tax incentives, tips for recruiting and interviewing a person with a disability, workplace accommodations and how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) affects businesses.

Mark Weiner of the Syracuse Post-Standard writes - “Reva Electric Car Co., the Bangalore, India-based electric car maker whose partners want to open an assembly plant in Central New York, agreed Wednesday to sell a controlling stake to a larger firm that could inject new capital into the company.

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. will acquire 55.2 percent of Reva, and the company will be renamed Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicle Co., the companies announced.
Full financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Mahindra & Mahindra manufactures compact trucks, and plans to begin the first exports of Indian made vehicles to the United States in December.”

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