Press Releases


Sep 19 2023

80% of New Yorkers Want A More Affordable Place to Live, We Agree!

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United A staggering 80 percent of New Yorkers – across the political spectrum – identified cost of living to be the most important issue for state leaders to address, with 57 percent displeased with the quality o life in New York. These […]


Aug 29 2023

Upstate United Responds to CLCPA Filing Deadline and Projected Cost Increases

A statement from Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “Yesterday was the last day for parties to respond to the first three petitions by renewable developers and their trade associations seeking contract modifications that would essentially increase the costs of the projects by 64 percent, according to NYSERDA’s comments on petitions requesting price adjustments […]


Aug 22 2023

Upstate United Reacts to Significant Loss of Financial Sector in NYS

A statement from Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “The increasing loss of players within the financial industry from New York to the sun belt over the past few years is something state leaders should be paying close attention to as we look ahead to continued short falls in our state’s financial plan. A recent […]



Jul 14 2023

Upstate United: Reliability Need Declaration Should Raise Alarm Bells

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United“This reliability need declaration should raise alarm bells for all New Yorkers. It is time for policymakers to take a serious look at the CLCPA’s aggressive timeline and consider the importance of reliability. New York City and New York’s economy and people cannot afford […]


Jul 11 2023

Upstate United Responds to CNBC’s 2023 Top States for Business

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “Today CNBC released an annual study which ranks America’s Top States for Business using 86 different metrics in 10 key categories of competitiveness, ranging from workforce as the heaviest-weighted category to cost of living as weighted least. “While New York State has made […]


Jun 7 2023

Upstate United Responds to Latest NYISO Report

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “Today, the New York Independent System Operator’s (NYISO) released its 2023 Power Trends report. This year’s comprehensive, 46-page report accurately focuses on the importance of a balanced approach to a clean and reliable grid as New York policy continues to drive […]


Jun 5 2023

Upstate United Releases 2023 End of Session Priorities

Upstate United has released its 2023 End of Session Priorities ahead of the last scheduled week of this year’s Legislative Session. The non-partisan organization, which represents businesses and trade organizations, focuses on being pro-taxpayer and pro-economic growth, with a large emphasis on the needs of Upstate New York. The priorities include five top items Upstate […]


May 3 2023

Statement from Upstate United Following the Passage of the 2023-2024 New York State Budget

The following can be attributed to Upstate United Executive Director Justin Wilcox. Minimum Wage: “If increasing the minimum wage is intended to help those struggling financially, the earned income tax credit is a much better policy tool. It targets exactly those it is intended to help. Instead, our state leaders have decided to fuel the Empire State […]