Governor Kathy Hochul Delivers Historic State of The State Pledging a New Era for New York
Randy Wolken, President & CEO
On Wednesday, Governor Kathy Hochul stood in the New York State Assembly Chamber and delivered her first State of the State Address, as the state’s 57th governor and the first woman to hold New York’s highest office. She delivered a bold array of initiatives to help New York recover from the pandemic and move forward. Her State of the State Address also marked the beginning of the 2022 State Legislative Session as she and our legislative leaders will now work together to adopt a new state budget by the April 1 deadline.
Much has changed since last year at this time. Many challenges remain. We still are within the COVID-19 pandemic and communities and local economies continue to feel the impacts. Our Governor laid out how to rebuild and expand our economy while addressing community needs. Over the next couple of weeks, we will be outlining MACNY’s position regarding many of these critical initiatives. Let me start this week by addressing a few significant proposals that impact the success of the manufacturing and business sectors.
Governor Hochul set forth a robust set of recommendations to develop a better-skilled and more inclusive workforce. We were incredibly excited to see the commitment to creating more apprenticeships. As a state leader in manufacturing and tech apprenticeships, these comprehensive sets of investments will make our work and the work of the manufacturing sector even easier as they invest in workers and their future. Registered apprenticeships serve as critical paths to growing our middle-skills and high-tech jobs of the future. We applaud the Governor for her focus on this crucial investment.
In my role as CNY REDC Co-chair, I am also pleased by the Governor’s commitment to supporting regional jobs and workforce approaches. She also pledged to expand the state’s commitment to locating semi-conductor fabs and facilities in New York State. Both these actions will significantly assist our region. Tax policy changes for small businesses and food production are also welcomed. Governor Hochul also committed to expanding the groups of individuals who will be educated and trained for our future jobs. Her commitment to increasing access to childcare and helping those with disabilities gain valuable job skills necessary to thrive is both critical and inspiring.
There is so much to talk about in the 2022 State of the State that I could not possibly do it here. Suffice to say; it was impressive and very encouraging. I have worked with Governor Hochul for many years. When she was Lieutenant Governor, I found her absolutely committed to manufacturing and tech business competitiveness, inclusive job growth, and community-focused investment during our close work together. She cares deeply about the future of New York State.
I look forward to continuing to work with Governor Hochul, her team, and our legislative leaders to create momentum for our future during this legislative session and forming next year’s budget. Together we can create an exciting future.
To learn more about what was proposed by Governor Hochul during the State of the State Address, click here. The full New York State of the State Book can be found by clicking here.