Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Local Governments Committee Chair William Magnarelli and Economic Development, Commerce, Industry and Job Creation Committee Chair Robin Schimminger today announced that $19.5 million in funding restorations for economic development funding is included in the approved 2015-16 SFY Budget.

"In this budget, the Assembly continues its commitment to invest in economic development programs that benefit local economies and jobs," said Speaker Heastie. "This funding advances and builds on our economic development efforts to enhance the state's business climate and create good-paying jobs for New Yorkers."

"The economic development funds in this budget continue important programs that invest in all sectors of the state's economy, from small businesses and manufacturing companies to burgeoning hi-tech industries with the goal of creating high-paying jobs for the people of this state," said Schimminger.

"The budget restorations and funding support the Assembly provides in this budget will help many communities capitalize on their geographic assets, retain and attract businesses and boost job creation," said Magnarelli.

The 2015-16 SFY Budget will provide $19.5 million in funding restorations to programs administered through the Department of Economic Development and the Empire State Development Corporation, which includes:

• $3 million for military base retention efforts;
• $1 million for the Bronx Overall Development Corporation;
• $1 million for the NUAIR Alliance at Griffiss International Airport;
• $1 million for the Beginning Farmers NY Fund; and
• $600,000 each for Advanced Manufacturing in Central New York and the Seneca Army Depot.

This budget also provides additional funding support for many vital economic development programs, including:

• $1.28 million for the Centers of Excellence, guaranteeing that each of the 10 centers receives $1 million;
• $1 million to New York State Incubators, providing a $6 million total for the NYS Business Incubator and Innovation Hot Spot Program;
• $500,000 for the Centers of Advanced Technology, providing a total of $14.32 million;
• $500,000 for local tourism matching grants, for a total of $4.32 million; and
• $200,000 for Canisius College Women's Business Center and Center for Professional Development.

Additional economic development funding restorations also include $600,000 for the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Smart Lighting Program; $365,000 in additional support for the Minority- and Women-Owned Business Development and Lending Program, for a total of $1 million; and $350,000 for the Veterans Entrepreneurial Assistance Program.

Among the other economic development initiatives funded in the budget are $2 million for the Bronx Children's Museum; $300,000 for the Glimmerglass Opera; $250,000 for a Finger Lakes Regional Gardening Program to provide technical assistance and support services; and $100,000 for the New York State Racing Fan Advisory Council.

The importance of New York grown food products to the state's economy is recognized in the budget with language to expand the eligibility provisions of the Real Property Manufacturing Tax Credit to farmers.

Inadvertently, farmers were excluded from this tax benefit that provides a tax credit equal to 20 percent of a manufacturer's real property tax bill. Eligibility for this newly established tax credit, which was enacted in 2014, will now be extended to qualified taxpayers who are engaged in the production and manufacture of goods, processing, assembling, refining, mining, extracting, farming, agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, viticulture or commercial fishing.