NY State Senate Bill 2023-S7718

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Corporations, Authorities And Commissions Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

Please enter your contact information

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

A valid email address is required.

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.

Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2024	referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Oct 18, 2023	referred to rules

co-Sponsors

2023-S7718 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A8136
Current Committee:: Senate Corporations, Authorities And Commissions
Law Section:: New York State Urban Development Corporation Act
Laws Affected:: Add §16-ii, UDC Act

2023-S7718 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the rural equity assistance program to promote and facilitate community and economic development in the small towns and rural areas of the state.

2023-S7718 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7718

SPONSOR: GRIFFO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the New York state urban development corporation act, in
relation to establishing the rural equity assistance program

 
PURPOSE::

The purpose of this bill is to create a program that assists rural
communities in New York with the technical aspects of discovering and
applying for funding opportunities available for economic or community
development.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::

Section 1 amends the New York State urban development corporation act by
establishing the Rural Equity Assistance program. The program will
promote and facilitate community and economic development in small towns
and rural areas of New York State. Services provided by the program to
small towns and rural areas of the state include recommending available

funding opportunities and assisting in the completion of the application
process for grants and other funding opportunities. The program shall
coordinate with the regional economic development council to avoid
duplication of services.  Establishes ten (10) rural equity assistance
centers, spread across each of the economic development regions in New
York. Each center will be responsible for providing information on
available funding opportunities and provide the technical assistance
necessary during the application process. The Empire State Development
Corporation is responsible for staffing each of the rural equity,
assistance centers with existing resources. Beginning January 1, 2025,
and annually thereafter, the president of the corporation shall submit
to the governor, speaker of the assembly, minority leader of the assem-
bly, temporary president of the senate, and the senate minority leader a
report detailing the activities and progress of the rural equity assist-
ance program.

Section 2 establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION::

New York's communities are as diverse as the people that live in them
and require different approaches to meet their unique needs. While
Statewide economic development services have the potential to provide
valuable resources to all areas of New York, the return on investment
shows that we must alter our current approach. We must allow localities,
specifically those in our rural areas, to access the tools and capital
vital to accomplishing their homegrown goals without Albany getting in
the way. The Rural Equity Assistance Program created in this legislation
seeks to connect rural communities with available resources that have
gone unutilized in New York's current top-down approach due to lack of
awareness of available funding, or lack of proper staff to manage appli-
cations.  Through the rural equity assistance centers spread across the
State, New York's rural communities and not-for-profits will be able to
collaborate with State, federal, and private entities for funding that
best suits the needs of their neighborhood/region.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS::

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE::

Immediate.

2023-S7718 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7718
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             October 18, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  GRIFFO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT to amend the New York state urban development corporation act, in
   relation to establishing the rural equity assistance program
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Section 1 of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968, constituting
 the New York state urban development  corporation  act,  is  amended  by
 adding a new section 16-ii to read as follows:
   § 16-II.  RURAL EQUITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.  1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION
 THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A) "RURAL AREA" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SUCH TERM  IS  DEFINED
 IN SUBDIVISION 8 OF SECTION 260 OF THE AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW.
   (B)  "SMALL  TOWN" MEANS A TOWN IN THE STATE WITH A POPULATION OF LESS
 THAN 5,000 AT THE DATE OF THE MOST RECENT UNITED  STATES  CENSUS  BUREAU
 DECENNIAL CENSUS.
   (C) "MUNICIPALITY" MEANS A CITY, COUNTY, TOWN, VILLAGE, OR OTHER POLI-
 TICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED WITHIN A RURAL AREA.
   (D)  "NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION" MEANS A DOMESTIC CORPORATION INCOR-
 PORATED PURSUANT TO OR OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO  THE  NOT-FOR-PROFIT  CORPO-
 RATION LAW.
   2.  THERE  IS  HEREBY CREATED WITHIN THE CORPORATION, THE RURAL EQUITY
 ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO PROMOTE  AND  FACILITATE  COMMUNITY  AND  ECONOMIC
 DEVELOPMENT  IN  THE SMALL TOWNS AND RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE. THE RURAL
 EQUITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SHALL COLLABORATE WITH  MUNICIPALITIES,  BUSI-
 NESSES,  REGIONAL  DEVELOPMENT  CORPORATIONS, NOT-FOR-PROFITS, AND OTHER
 APPROPRIATE ENTITIES TO ACCESS FUNDING AND OTHER ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO
 RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE.
   3. (A) THE RURAL EQUITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING
 SERVICES TO SMALL TOWNS AND MUNICIPALITIES IN RURAL AREAS:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11439-02-3
 S. 7718                             2

 
   (I) IDENTIFICATION OF GRANTS OR OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES  AVAILABLE
 WHICH  MAY  FACILITATE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, SITING OF BUSINESSES, WORK-
 FORCE DEVELOPMENT, BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT,  OR
 OTHER ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES; AND
   (II) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN WRITING GRANTS, ACCESSING, AND COMPLETING
 THE  APPLICATION PROCESS FOR IDENTIFIED GRANTS OR OTHER FUNDING OPPORTU-
 NITIES, INCLUDING WRITING APPLICATIONS  FOR  GRANTS  OR  OTHER  FUNDING,
 COORDINATION  WITH PROVIDERS OF GRANTS OR OTHER FUNDING, STRATEGIC PLAN-
 NING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OR TIMING OF ACTIVITIES FUNDED BY GRANTS  OR
 OTHER  FUNDING,  AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF GRANT AWARDS OR
 AWARDS OF OTHER FUNDING.
   (B) THE RURAL EQUITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM  SHALL  PROVIDE  SMALL  TOWNS,
 MUNICIPALITIES,  AND  NOT-FOR-PROFITS  IN  RURAL  AREAS WITH SERVICES TO
 FACILITATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN  SUCH  AREAS.  THESE  SERVICES  SHALL
 INCLUDE,  BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO RECOMMENDING AVAILABLE GRANTS, TAX CRED-
 ITS, OR OTHER INCENTIVES THAT A SMALL TOWN, MUNICIPALITY OR NOT-FOR-PRO-
 FIT IN A RURAL AREA CAN USE  TO  ATTRACT  BUSINESSES,  SUPPORT  EXISTING
 BUSINESSES  AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS IN THAT COMMU-
 NITY.
   (C) IN PROVIDING SERVICES UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION, RURAL EQUITY ASSIST-
 ANCE CENTERS, AS ESTABLISHED IN SUBDIVISION 4  OF  THIS  SECTION,  SHALL
 COORDINATE  WITH  THE  REGIONAL  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL WITHIN THE
 SAME REGION TO AVOID DUPLICATION OF BUSINESS RECRUITMENT  AND  WORKFORCE
 DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ALREADY PROVIDED.
   4.  (A)  THE  EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS HEREBY EMPOWERED
 AND SHALL ESTABLISH RURAL EQUITY ASSISTANCE CENTERS IN EACH OF  THE  TEN
 ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT REGIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. RURAL EQUITY ASSIST-
 ANCE CENTERS SHALL:
   (I) SERVE AS A CENTER FOR INFORMATION REGARDING  ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT
 RESOURCES  AVAILABLE  FROM THE STATE, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LOCAL AGENCIES
 AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT;
   (II) COORDINATE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS  AND  ACTIVITIES  OF
 STATE AGENCIES AND AUTHORITIES WITHIN THE REGION;
   (III)  PROVIDE  OR  ARRANGE  FOR  ASSISTANCE  FOR SMALL TOWNS, MUNICI-
 PALITIES, AND NOT-FOR-PROFITS IN RURAL AREAS OF THE  STATE  IN  APPLYING
 FOR ASSISTANCE FROM STATE, FEDERAL, LOCAL AND/OR PRIVATE ECONOMIC DEVEL-
 OPMENT PROGRAMS; AND
   (IV)  PROVIDE  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING FOR NECESSARY LICENSES
 OR PERMITS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL,  STATE,  OR  LOCAL  RULES  AND  REGU-
 LATIONS.
   (B)  EACH  RURAL EQUITY ASSISTANCE CENTER SHALL CONSIST OF A DEDICATED
 REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT  CORPORATION,  A  GRANT
 WRITER,  AND  ALL  NECESSARY  STAFF TO CARRY OUT THE DUTIES OF THE RURAL
 EQUITY ASSISTANCE CENTER. ALL COSTS TO OPERATE  SUCH  CENTERS  SHALL  BE
 PAID FOR OUT OF EXISTING RESOURCES OF THE CORPORATION.
   (C)  APPLICATIONS  FOR ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY THE RURAL EQUITY ASSIST-
 ANCE PROGRAM SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE RURAL  EQUITY  ASSISTANCE  CENTER
 FOR  THAT  REGION, FOR NO FEE. IN PROVIDING SERVICES UNDER THIS SUBDIVI-
 SION, A RURAL EQUITY ASSISTANCE CENTER SHALL GIVE PRIORITY  TO  PROJECTS
 THAT  HAVE  RECEIVED  NECESSARY STATE OR MUNICIPAL APPROVAL AND THAT ARE
 READY FOR CONSTRUCTION OR IMPLEMENTATION.
   5. BEGINNING ON JANUARY 1, 2025, AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER,  THE  PRESI-
 DENT  OF  THE  CORPORATION  SHALL SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR, SPEAKER OF THE
 ASSEMBLY, MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY, TEMPORARY  PRESIDENT  OF  THE
 SENATE, AND MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE, A REPORT REGARDING THE ACTIV-
 ITIES  AND  PROGRESS  OF THE RURAL EQUITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THE REPORT
 S. 7718                             3
 
 SHALL SUMMARIZE THE PROGRAM'S ACTIVITIES FROM THE PRECEDING YEAR; EVALU-
 ATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE  PROGRAM;  PROVIDE
 AN  ACCOUNTING  OF  THE GRANTS OR OTHER FUNDING THAT THE PROGRAM FACILI-
 TATED  OR  HELPED  SECURE;  AND  RECOMMEND ANY CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM TO
 FURTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SMALL TOWNS AND MUNICIPALITIES IN  RURAL
 AREAS OF THE STATE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

Create an account. An account allows you to sign petitions with a single click, officially support or oppose key legislation, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Senate Bill S7718

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Corporations, Authorities And Commissions Committee

co-Sponsors

2023-S7718 (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S7718 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S7718 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S7718 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S7718

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Joseph A. Griffo

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Corporations, Authorities And Commissions Committee

co-Sponsors

Pamela Helming

2023-S7718 (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S7718 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S7718 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S7718 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments