S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4858--B
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 11, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CRESPO, RODRIGUEZ, MOYA, SEPULVEDA, RAMOS,
ARROYO, RIVERA, JAFFEE, STEVENSON, ROSA, AUBRY, GABRYSZAK, P. LOPEZ,
ROBERTS -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. FINCH, HEASTIE, ROBINSON,
SCHIMEL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
-- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended
and recommitted to said committee -- recommitted to the Committee on
Higher Education in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- commit-
tee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recom-
mitted to said committee
AN ACT in relation to requiring the Empire State development corporation
in consultation with the state university of New York, the city
university of New York and the commission on independent colleges and
universities to study the economic impact of optimizing kitchen incu-
bators in New York state
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby finds that in
order to improve the economic opportunities for its citizens and entre-
preneurs, it must use the established capabilities of its university
systems to offer space and resources to the next generation of food
manufacturing businesses.
It has been documented that the chief obstacle for start-up food manu-
facturing businesses is their inability to access affordable commercial
kitchen space. Currently all over the state, there are only a few kitch-
en incubators facing high demand and unable to meet the needs of the
many potential start-up businesses.
Kitchen incubators are valuable resources for New York state as it
moves to promote more job development, business development and
increased tax revenues.
In New York City alone, there are more than 900 food firms, with over
16,000 employees and another 2,500 who are self-employed. This has been
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08637-04-4
A. 4858--B 2
viewed as evidence of entrepreneurs' intent on developing their food
manufacturing ideas into full scale production capabilities and fully
functional business entities.
Minority and immigrant populations are growing significantly through-
out the state and so are their number in entrepreneurship activities,
including in the development of foods from their native place of origin
and this creates growing demand for such foods by increasing minority
and immigrant communities.
Kitchen incubators housed at select college campuses throughout New
York state and New York city will help develop new entrepreneurs and
increase the economic benefits of such activities for the entire state.
However, New York must do more to propel these business start-ups and
potential manufacturers into full scale operations and should move to
allow its university systems to expand their regional economic catalyst
activities to serve entrepreneurs looking to enter the food manufactur-
ing sector.
S 2. For purposes of this act, the term "kitchen incubator" shall mean
an affordable small space with shared ovens, ranges, industrial mixers
and other commercial kitchen equipment, to be rented by entrepreneurs to
assist them in the development and/or manufacturing of food products for
commercial purposes.
S 3. a. The Empire State Development Corporation, in consultation with
the state university of New York, the city university of New York, and
the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities and groups
selected by the Empire State Development Corporation, shall study and
examine the potential economic impact for optimizing kitchen incubators
in New York state including establishing and/or expanding such opportu-
nities in the state university of New York, the city university of New
York, and the Commission on Independent Colleges.
b. The study conducted pursuant to this section shall evaluate the
impact of such optimization on entrepreneurship efforts in growing
minority and immigrant populations.
c. The Empire State Development Corporation shall create a report
containing recommendations for the creation, funding and future expan-
sion of kitchen incubators throughout the state and on college campuses;
and increasing entrepreneurial success in the culinary industry, by
providing comprehensive advisory and business development services along
with access to facilities and equipment in a co-working environment
conducive to collaboration, networking and mentorship.
d. The report compiled by the Empire State Development Corporation
pursuant to paragraph c of this section shall be submitted to the gover-
nor and the legislature not later than May 1, 2015.
S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.