An Open Letter to All New Yorkers on the Potential Death of Economic Development in New York State
We are members of a coalition of nearly 50 organizations that represent thousands of employers and millions of New York jobs, and we are deeply concerned about New York’s economic climate and performance.
Many areas of New York, especially Upstate, desperately need to replace private sector jobs lost in the Great Recession.
Even Downstate, with its strong regional economy, needs more jobs, more affordable housing, and expanded community services.
Private sector investments are key to addressing these statewide needs. Unfortunately, the state legislature is considering a bill that would make these crucial investments more expensive by imposing significant wage and benefit mandates on private projects receiving any level of state or local economic development assistance.
The state’s “prevailing wage” mandate, now restricted to governmental projects, will drive up labor costs by 25 percent or more on these private sector investments.
The recent loss of the Amazon HQ2 project has left many businesses questioning New York’s commitment to promoting new investment and job creation.
The last thing that New York’s economy needs is legislation that will drive up the costs of new private sector investments – and drive many of those planned investments out of New York State.
Visit dontlbocknybuilding.org to help stop this unnecessary, job killing proposal, and to promote new private sector investments and new jobs across New York State.
Business Council of New York State
Real Estate Board of New York
Associated Builders and Contractors – Empire
State Chapter
American Council of Engineering Companies of NY
American Institute of Architects, New York State
Associated General Contractors – New York State
Association for a Better Long Island
Buffalo Niagara Partnership
Business Council of Westchester
Capital Region Builders & Remodelers Association
Capital Region Chamber
Center State CEO
Commerce Chenango
Cortland County Chamber of Commerce
Food Industry Alliance of New York State
Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce
Habitat for Humanity NY
Home Builders & Remodelers of Central New York
Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation
Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce
Long Island Association
Long Island Builders Institute
Mohawk Valley EDGE
NFIB
New York State Association for Affordable Housing
New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association
North Country Chamber of Commerce
Northeast Charter Schools Network
Northeastern Subcontractors Association
NYS Builders Association
NYS Economic Development Council
Rochester Home Builders’ Association
Rockland Business Association
Seneca County Chamber of Commerce
Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Unshackle Upstate
Westchester County Association
Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce
