With part of the budget expected to be voted on tomorrow, Assemblyman Tom O’Mara (R,I,C-Big Flats) is urging his colleagues not to phase out the Empire Zone program in the Economic Development portion of the 2010-11 budget.

Assemblyman O’Mara argues that the current Empire Zone program, which expires in June, has been hugely successful across the Southern Tier/Finger Lakes region, creating thousands of jobs at such local companies as Sikorsky/Schweizer, Synthes, DeMet’s Candy, Vulcraft/NUCOR Steel, Corning Incorporated (Diesel Plant and Sullivan Park) and the new CVS distribution facility currently under construction. The Big Flats Assemblyman added that the loss of the program would severely impact the state’s ability to attract and grow businesses. 

“The Empire Zone program is a proven job creator, helping to attract thousands of businesses to upstate New York,” said O’Mara.  “Even worse than phasing out the program for potential future recipients, the governor is proposing to defer already approved incentives on current projects by 50 percent over the next three years. This proposal is a serious breach of  agreements made by the state with businesses that proceeded with projects in New York State because they were relying upon the incentives granted by the Empire Zone program.”   

            Assemblyman O’Mara also noted that companies like CVS, which is building a distribution center in Horseheads, will not receive the full funding they were promised if the Empire Zone program is allowed to expire. 

             “Empire Zones are extremely valuable tools for making the region and all of upstate New York a more competitive place to attract new businesses and good-paying jobs.  The loss of this program will have a devastating effect on the growth of our region’s economy,” said O’Mara.  “The retraction of previously granted incentives will irreparably harm the state’s credibility in negotiating future economic development projects.”