New York’s Manufacturing Moment: Now Is the Time to Come Together and Grow
Randy Wolken, President & CEO

The elections are over. Voters have made their choices, and New York’s elected leaders now have an opportunity to turn their attention toward the work ahead. While political differences will remain, one priority should unite us: building a stronger, more competitive, and prosperous New York economy.

We have an extraordinary opportunity to do just that through this Manufacturing Moment.

New York is experiencing a manufacturing moment unlike anything we have seen in generations. Major investments in semiconductors, advanced electronics, defense, energy technologies, pharmaceuticals, and other industries are creating the potential for thousands of good-paying jobs, stronger communities, and renewed economic growth.

Micron’s historic investment in Central New York is the most visible example, but it’s far from the only one. Across Upstate New York, manufacturers are investing in new facilities, modernizing operations, and developing products essential to our nation’s economic and national security.

The question before us is no longer whether New York has an opportunity. It’s whether we’ll come together to fully realize it.

It’s time now to move from elections to economic growth.

Elections naturally emphasize differences. Candidates and political parties offer competing visions, debate priorities, and seek public support. That’s an essential part of our democracy.

But governing requires something more. It requires finding common ground and accomplishing what matters.

Now is the time for business leaders, elected officials, public agencies, educators, workforce organizations, and communities to work together around a shared commitment to economic growth.

Manufacturing offers an exceptional opportunity for that collaboration. Its benefits reach far beyond individual companies. Manufacturing supports suppliers, construction firms, transportation providers, technology businesses, and local communities. It creates career opportunities for people with diverse educational backgrounds and generates economic activity that strengthens entire regions.

We should approach this moment with urgency, optimism, and a willingness to work across traditional boundaries.

There are five priorities for New York’s manufacturing competitiveness. To take full advantage of this opportunity requires deliberate action in five areas.

First, energy abundance. New York must have the reliable, affordable, and increasingly abundant energy required to support industrial growth. That means investing in generation, transmission, and distribution while pursuing an all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes nuclear power, renewables, energy storage, and natural gas where necessary. Manufacturers can’t expand without confidence that electricity will be available when they need it.

Second, speed to investment. We must make New York a place where high tech and industrial investments can proceed with greater predictability and efficiency. Building on the EXPRESS NY initiative, coordinated permitting, modernized SEQR processes, and improved utility readiness can reduce unnecessary delays while preserving essential environmental protections.

Third, tax competitiveness. Manufacturing is capital-intensive. Companies continually invest in buildings, machinery, equipment, and advanced technologies. New York should maintain competitive tax policies, including alignment with federal accelerated-expensing provisions, that encourage manufacturers to invest here rather than elsewhere.

Fourth, workforce capability. The manufacturing workforce of tomorrow must be developed today. Employer-connected pre-apprenticeship programs, Registered Apprenticeships, incumbent worker training, and lifelong learning pathways are essential. Through MACNY’s Manufacturers Talent Institute (MTI) and its partners, we have demonstrated approaches that can be expanded to serve more employers and workers.

And fifth, supply chain development. Major manufacturing investments should create opportunities for existing New York manufacturers, especially small and mid-sized companies. We must help these businesses strengthen quality systems, adopt advanced technologies, develop new capabilities, and qualify for emerging semiconductor, energy, and advanced-manufacturing supply chains.

It’s our shared responsibility to act. None of these priorities can be accomplished by government or industry acting alone. They require collaboration among manufacturers, state and local officials, utilities, educational institutions, workforce organizations, and economic development partners.

At MACNY and the MTI, we believe our role is to help strengthen this manufacturing ecosystem by connecting capable organizations, identifying shared challenges, and developing practical solutions.

We need more than announcements and aspirations. We need measurable progress: infrastructure built, permits issued predictably, workers trained, suppliers qualified, and investments brought into productive operation.

We also need to ensure that small and midsized manufacturers benefit from this moment. Their success will determine how broadly New York’s manufacturing resurgence reaches our communities.

Let’s make this New York’s Manufacturing Moment!

The elections have concluded. The opportunity before us has not.

We can continue debating what divides us, or we can build upon what unites us: the desire for good jobs, thriving businesses, strong communities, and a more prosperous future.

New York has the companies, workers, research institutions, entrepreneurial talent, and industrial heritage to lead.

What we need now is the collective determination to act.

The manufacturing moment is here. The time to come together, focus on growth, and build New York’s future is now.