December 2014

The legislation that Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed on November 13 reduces what the Governor calls “burdensome” requirements, and provides $3 million in promotional funding via two craft-beverage grant programs. Jim Trezise, President of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, and Paul Leone, Executive Director New York State Brewers Association both praised the new law, which takes effect on December 13.Food and beverage manufacturers employee thousands of New Yorkers and generate billions of dollars in revenue.

In The Future of Manufacturing: Driving Capabilities, Enabling Investments, the World Economic Forum analyzes trends in global manufacturing from a value chain perspective. This 40-page report asserts that although developed countries have seen significant declines in manufacturing employment, improvements in manufacturing capabilities have “counterbalanced” this trend.

Monolith Solar is planning a $4.9-million expansion at the Vista Technology Campus in Bethlehem, a suburb of Albany in heart of New York State’s Tech Valley. The company, which designs, manufacturers, and installs solar panels, received a $400,000 grant from Empire State Development (ESD) and $400,000 in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits, which are performance-based and directly linked to job creation and investments.