Archives

Mar 5 2024

Albany Times Union: Upstate New York business sentiment hits 15-year low, survey finds

Business leaders overwhelmingly believe that New York’s government works against them, according to Siena College Research Institute Read the article by Rick Karlin here. COLONIE — Opinions about the upstate New York business climate are at the lowest point since 2008, according to a poll released Tuesday by the Siena College Research Institute. In all, 67 percent […]


Mar 3 2024

D&C Editorial: Migrants a key to turn back state’s declining population

New York’s population decline has been a long time in the making. In 2020, the year of COVID-19 and working from home, 1-in-every-100 New York residents left the state. According to the state Comptroller’s Office, 2021 marked the first year the total number of personal income tax filers declined since the Great Recession. Now, newly […]


Feb 20 2024

Albany Times Union: Small farms decline in New York, especially dairy

New York farm trends mirror national movement on bigger farms By Joshua SolomonFeb 18, 2024 ALBANY — Half of New York’s dairy farms from a decade ago no longer exist as rising production costs and national market changes have shuttered thousands of small- and mid-size dairies. Despite the plummeting number of dairy and other farms in […]



Feb 13 2024

UPSTATE UNITED RESPONDS TO USDA’S 2022 CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE DATA

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United “It comes as no surprise that data released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows that New York farms are struggling to survive, with nearly 5,000 shuttered since 2012. “While the reality of this situation is disturbing, it comes following countless […]


Jan 16 2024

Statement From Upstate United Regarding Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget Proposal

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United “We were pleased that Governor Hochul’s 2024 Executive Budget presentation outlined several important investments, while also acknowledging the need for responsible spending in the coming year. “While it was encouraging that financial fixes through new taxes or gimmicks were not on […]


Jan 12 2024

Upstate United Releases 2024 Advocacy Agenda

Upstate United 2024 Advocacy Agenda and Key Priorities Today, Upstate United, a non-partisan organization representing businesses and trade organizations, released its 2024 Advocacy Agenda. The agenda focuses on pro-taxpayer and pro-economic growth policies, including items such as no new taxes, infrastructure investments, energy reliability and affordability, enhancing healthcare options, reinvigorating our communities with immigrants, and […]



Dec 26 2023

CONNECT NY: Migrants & Asylum Seekers

Season 9 Episode 12 | 56m 46s  On the December edition of Connect NY, we’ll explore the state’s response to the influx of migrants coming to New York since early 2022. We’ll consider the priorities and leadership from Governor Kathy Hochul; highlight the range of local responses outside of New York City; and discuss the […]


Dec 26 2023

Albany Times Union: Upstate New York sees minimum wage rise to $15.00

Capital Region employers already pay more, though, due to labor shortage Click here to read the full article by Rick Karlin. ALBANY — The minimum wage across upstate New York is rising to $15.00 from $14.20 on Jan. 1 – but even those who opposed the move see it as a non-event, at least in […]