Advocating for New York State Manufacturers
Randy Wolken, President & CEO

On Wednesday of last week, MACNY and our Manufacturers Alliance partners from throughout New York State advocated in Albany for critical policies to grow manufacturing in our State. So much opportunity for manufacturing exists. However, what happens in Albany significantly impacts the daily opportunities and challenges manufacturers and businesses face. In the past few years, supply chains have been turned upside down, available skilled workers have decreased as the need has grown, our political dialogue has often become confrontational, and heightened costs have severely challenged manufacturers. We need supportive policies and wise state investments to expand manufacturing.

While in Albany, we conducted nearly 30 meetings with key legislators on the issues of tax policy, labor laws and HR issues, continued investments in workforce development efforts like MACNY’s Manufacturers Intermediary Apprenticeship Program (MIAP), and the impact of the Climate Leadership Community and Protection Act (CLCPA) on energy availability, reliability, and costs for manufacturers. Our annual event in Albany to meet with legislators and staff increases our ability to influence key policymakers and critical legislative outcomes. Over 50 individuals traveled to Albany this year for our annual event. We appreciate how deeply committed these individuals and their companies are to advocating for supportive investment in manufacturing.

As manufacturing and business leaders, we must not sit on the sidelines. MACNY is committed to leading the state-wide efforts in advocacy for you, our members, and manufacturers everywhere in New York State. However, we need your ongoing help and your voice in our efforts. Our elected and appointed government officials want to hear directly from you. It would help if you told them how their policies, laws, and administrative actions affect your business, profitability, and ability to hire and retain workers. We can facilitate this by helping you connect with elected officials and state and local agency leaders.

Please continue to come to our in-person and virtual meetings with legislators and advocate for what you need from them. Virtual events provide a convenient way to participate from your desk and return to work when you are done. In-person meetings with legislators at manufacturing facilities here in our community are incredibly valuable to our advocacy efforts. When you join us, you tell your own stories and remind elected or appointed officials just how important your business is and what they can do to be more helpful.

Matt Geitner is MACNY’s Director of Government Relations. He is coordinating all forms of advocacy on your behalf. And, in my roles as President & CEO of MACNY and Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Co-chair, I am working tirelessly to put forward a pro-manufacturing and pro-business agenda for our region. If you are not yet involved, please get involved! You can do so by reaching out to me ([email protected]) or Matt ([email protected]).

As you know, manufacturing and business growth are essential to economic prosperity. We need you to stay engaged. We need your voice and efforts to educate and advocate for your interests. Our Albany representatives and state and local leaders need to know that your businesses that employ New Yorkers need to be supported. And we need policies that encourage growth.