Establishes the transitional green development program

Section 2 adds a new Article 23 to the Economic Development Law(§§ 450 through 454) creating the Transitional Green Development Grant Program.

§ 450 provides definitions, whereby: "Transitional Green Development" means utilizing all elements of a municipality's current cultural, educational, environmental and infrastructural character, and coordinating those attributes with vestiges of its industrial past to achieve sustainable green development; the "Transitional Green Development Coordinator" means an individual designated by the executive of the municipality to identify community resources, and direct, coordinate and develop a plan for transitional green development; "Transitional Green Development Grant" is a two-year grant, not to exceed $150,000, funded through the Empire State Development Corporation, to bring together a wide range of community partners in a collaborative effort to identify the municipality's unique qualities, and design strategies to best exploit those characteristics for sustainable green development.

§ 451 establishes the Transitional Green Development Program

§ 452 provides for the distribution and acceptable uses for the grants.

§ 453 provides for the duties and responsibilities of the Transitional Green Development Coordinator.

§ 454 provides that the Commissioner of Economic Development will promulgate rules and regulations to implement the program.

Section 2 of the bill is the effective date.

Justification

Many of the State's formerly industrial cities have been reeling from the loss of their manufacturing base for decades, and are struggling to redefine themselves in their post-industrial reality. Most of them have special features - such as historic properties, waterfront areas, museums, educational facilities or even former manufacturing buildings - that can be redefined and exploited as economic assets with great potential to spark redevelopment and grow jobs.{1} For instance, according to a study by the Brookings Institute, just twelve of New York's former industrial areas{2} together have over 450 buildings on the National Registry of Historic Places, 40 museums, 57 two- and four-year colleges and universities, and 45 hospitals and medical facilities.{3}

Recent and in-progress revitalization efforts show the promise of redevelopment and revitalization in upstate New York. Syracuse has pursued a comprehensive redevelopment program that includes a thoughtful focus on its downtown, including a focus on leveraging existing cultural institutions in a planned downtown cultural district.{4} The City of Beacon has seen increased economic activity following development of museum resources and an effort to strengthen surrounding areas.{5} Redevelopment projects in Buffalo have focused on repurposing formerly abandoned grain silos as hubs for cultural, marketing and recreational activity.{6} And city planners in Utica, in collaboration with Cornell University's comprehensive "Rust to Green" (R2G) initiative, have begun redirecting and repurposing the City's existing cultural, infrastructural, natural and historical resources toward a post-industrial, environmentally stable future.{7} Many cities still, however, face budgetary constraints that severely restrict their ability to identify their many, sometimes obscure, resources and weave them into a sustainable, multifaceted development strategy. This legislation establishes the Transitional Green Development Grant Program to provide grants of up to $150,000 over a two-year period to hire a temporary development coordinator, whose task will be to work with community leaders to identify those resources, develop and assist in the implementation of a Transitional Green Development Plan.

Legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

$2 million appropriation over two years.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately. {1} Vey, J., The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program, Restoring Prosperity: The State Role in Revitalizing America's Older Industrial Cities (2007) at 4, 34-38. {2} Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Rochester, Schenectady, Syracuse, Utica, Elmira, Jamestown, Niagara Falls, Rome, and Troy. {3} Brookings, Restoring Prosperity, State Profile: New York, available at http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Reports/2007/5/metrop olitanpolicyvey/20070520_oicNY.PDF. {4} See City of Syracuse Comprehensive Plan 2040. Available at http://www.syrgov.net/uploadedFiles/Comp%20Plan%20amended%202013-08-1 {5} Foderaro, L. "Beacon: A City Reborn as a Haven for Art." New York Times (Mar. 26, 2009). {6} See, e.g., Associated Press. "Labatt Blue turns Buffalo grain silos into tall, frosty beer ad." (Sept. 30, 2014) (describing the transformation of six silos at the former GLF grain mill into a giant six-pack of Labatt's Blue beer cans as the area is being transformed into a brewery, entertainment and recreation complex); Jessica Swannie, Seven Ways to Enjoy Silo City, VisitBuffaloNiagara.com (June 10, 2015) (describing a series of cultural and recreational events over summer 2015 at and around the site of former industrial grain silos); Anne Neville, Silo City about to become Drive-In City, Buffalo News (Aug. 20, 2015). {7} See http://www.rust2green.org/utica_background_story.php.