Albany, NY, Jul 21, 2011 — Governor Cuomo notched a series of political wins in his first six months in office: an on-time budget, a property tax cap, union concessions, and legalization of same sex marriage. This week, he outlined his next big push, outlining an aggressive plan to reinvent state government. WRVO's Dave Bullard reports that the effort boils down to one word: jobs.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, May 18, 2011 — Financing complications have stalled a project that could bring 900 jobs to the Plattsburgh area. Canada-based Laurentian Aerospace says work could resume in three weeks on the aircraft maintenance it's building at the Plattsburgh airport.  Go to full article

Tupper Lake, NY, Apr 22, 2011 — For seven years, developer Michael Foxman has been promising to build a massive new resort in Tupper Lake, worth roughly $500 million.

He's hoping to win final approval for the project from the Adirondack Park Agency this fall.

Many community leaders have embraced his vision as a way to revive a former logging and manufacturing town that lost seven percent of its population over the last decade.

But an investigation by North Country Public Radio, in partnership with the Adirondack Explorer magazine, found that significant doubts remain about the economic viability of Foxman's resort.

Over a period of weeks and dozens of interviews, we found that important questions remain unanswered about how the resort will be financed and marketed.

As Brian Mann reports, it's unclear when the project's elaborate infrastructure and amenities, including those at the Big Tupper ski area, will be built.  Go to full article

Tupper Lake, NY, Apr 22, 2011 — The story reported above by Brian Mann, in cooperation with the Adirondack Explorer, looks hard at the financial underpinnings of the big luxury resort project proposed for Tupper Lake several years ago. It raises complicated questions and concerns still on the table as the Adirondack Park Agency prepares for its final review, and decision.
Martha Foley spoke further with Brian this morning about the skepticism he found, and why these questions matters.  Go to full article

Rochester, NY, Feb 16, 2011 — New York relies heavily on perks like tax breaks to induce businesses to come or grow here. According to a study by the Fiscal Policy Institute, the state handed out more than $5-billion in tax incentives last year alone. But as the Innovation Trail's Zack Seward reports, business groups say structural changes are needed if New York wants to boost economic development.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Feb 03, 2011 — In his budget speech Tuesday, Governor Cuomo made clear the deep cuts he proposes are only a short-term fix. The long-term answer to New York's fiscal crisis, he said, is economic development.

New York's economic development strategy is in a state of flux. Empire Zones of the Pataki-era are yielding to regional economic development councils proposed by Andrew Cuomo.

But for decades, incentives and perks have been the main way to attract companies to do business in New York. The Innovation Trail's Emma Jacobs reports on that history.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Jan 07, 2011 — There were cheers this morning in Massena, where Alcoa officials just told workers the company will reopen its East smelter after a two-year furlough.

The company will hold a press conference to make the news official at 11 this morning. Alcoa will recall 95 workers who were laid off and hire another 20 to 30 new employees.

Company spokeswoman Laurie Marr said this morning those rehires will begin immediately.

Low aluminum prices as a result of the recession were also a factor in the extended furlough. Prices have been rising steadily in the last several months.

Massena Mayor James Hidy told the Watertown Daily Times the news is "a morale boost for the whole community."

Meanwhile, a planned modernization of the plant has been put on hold. As a part of its low cost power contract, Alcoa was to have invested 600 million dollars into the facility. But the New York Power Authority agreed to let Alcoa put off that project until 2013.  Go to full article

Tupper Lake, NY, Sep 10, 2010 — Developers of a new resort in Tupper Lake won a major victory yesterday when a local jury awarded them road access to a 1200-acre parcel of land.

The decision will allow the Adirondack Club and Resort to maintain a short road easement across neighboring property owned by the Adirondack Nature Conservancy.

The company says they needed access in order to move their project forward. The green group says the developers wanted to take their private property rights.

Brian Mann was in Tupper Lake and has our story.  Go to full article

Aug 20, 2010 — Critics of the Adirondack Park Agency have long claimed that its zoning rules and regulations stifle economic activity.

But over the years, the APA has approved eight shovel-ready business parks for light industry and manufacturing.

Businesses who choose to locate in these industrial parks - which stretch from Tupper Lake to Moriah - face little or no APA oversight.

Still, most remain empty or nearly empty.

As Jon Alexander reports, the real problem may be the lack of infrastructure and convenient access in remote rural towns.  Go to full article

Ray Brook, NY, Jun 30, 2010 — New York State's budget crisis, and routine staff retirement plans re combining to threaten the Adirondack Park Agency's economic development office.
A job freeze that's part of Gov. Paterson's budget would mean a key job at the top of the APA's staff would go unfilled.
Jon Alexander has the story.  Go to full article