New
Business Incentives: Empire Zone Program
New York State and the Southern Tier Region are providing a variety of incentives to encourage expansion and new business development. The most recognized incentive plan is entitled the Empire Zone Program. As described by the New York State Department of Labor, "The Empire Zone program is designed to stimulate economic growth in the most distressed areas of New York State. By offering wide-ranging financial incentives and community-based workforce enhancement, the program has become a catalyst for new business development, existing business expansion and job creation. During the past five years [since 2002], the program has expanded throughout the state and now provides a greater variety of incentives to foster economic growth, such as: enhanced Wage Tax Credits, low-cost financing, investment tax credits and the new Qualified Empire Zone Enterprises (QEZE) credits."
New Load Incentives: Power for Jobs
The New York Power Authority administers a program, implemented in 1998, that "provides economic development power allocations for businesses in New York State with a minimum monthly usage of 100,000 kwh … [business that qualify] will significantly reduce their total electric power costs." This is a powerful program which will enable your organization to relocate to the Southern Tier, because it levels the playing field with organizations located out of New York State which can receive electricity at a lower cost. Power for Jobs "offers significant relief by supplying these businesses [those with significant power usage that are at a disadvantage to out-of-state competitors or may have operations at risk of downsizing or closing] with low-cost electricity." Another state program available for businesses is the Peak-Load Reduction Program, which is "offered under the umbrella of the New York Energy $mart Program."
NYSEG
New York State Electric & Gas Corporation, the foremost electric supplier of the Southern Tier, has created its own incentive program, which "offers negotiated flexible electric and fixed rate electric discounts for many types of new businesses and negotiable firm gas transportation service." Regional NYSEG incentives include the Empire Zone Incentive and Business Retention Incentive, both of which "provide reductions from the normal tariff rate" for businesses. Other NYSEG incentives include grants and loans, PILOT programs (Payments In Lieu of Taxes), training funds, abatement programs for sales and property taxes, and rate reductions for added electric demand (minimum of 25 kwh for NYSEG service classes 2, 3, and 7). Further detail on NYSEG incentives can be found here.
Steuben Rural Electric Cooperative
Another regional electricity supplier is the Steuben Rural Electric Cooperative, Incorporated, which is the largest REC in the state. The Steuben REC's main office is located in Bath, NY with a branch office in Cherry Creek, in western New York.
Corning Natural Gas Corporation
The Southern Tier also offers several options for suppliers of natural gas. Businesses can "purchase their gas from Corning Natural Gas or an approved non-utility supplier who operates in our service area." Corning Natural Gas will still deliver natural gas to the business, and the non-utility supplier will be billed for use of the pipeline. Businesses will then receive a bill from the alternate supplier for gas used.
Advanced Telecommunications
Although located in a fairly rural environment, the Southern Tier enjoys a high functioning and developing telecommunications system. As stated by the Southern Tier Economic Growth Council, the Southern Tier offers "communications systems that rival major metropolitan centers. For example, point-to-point high-speed wireless Internet access - which eliminates local loop charges for T-1 lines - is available, as is unlimited high-speed Internet access via a cable television network." This allows organizations to enjoy the natural beauty of the region while still being linked with the lightning-speed pace of current international operations.
