Economic Development, Department of

Agency Web Site: https://esd.ny.gov/

Mission

Together with Empire State Development, the New York State Department of Economic Development:

• Advises the Governor and Legislature on all major economic development issues and decisions;
• Develops and recommends State economic development strategies;
• Provides technical and financial assistance to businesses through a network of regional offices; and
• Coordinates the efforts of other State agencies, authorities and organizations, as well as local governments, on actions that affect the State’s economy.

Organization and Staffing

The Department of Economic Development (DED) is governed by a Commissioner, appointed by the Executive. DED is comprised of the following divisions: Strategic Business, Environmental, Motion Picture and Television, Economic Incentives, Tourism, Minority and Women-Owned Business Development, High Technology, and Policy and Research.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends almost $83.3 million for the Department. This is a decrease of over $6.9 million from the FY 2021 budget, reflecting reduced spending from Centers of Excellence and Centers for Advanced Technology and the non-recurrence of one-time FY 2020 Legislative adds.

The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 135 FTEs for the Department to help support delivery of key Department programs such as Minority and Women-Owned Business Development.

Major budget actions include:

• Centers of Excellence Program: The budget includes $7.83 million in new funding for the Centers of Excellence Program, which is being consolidated into the Centers for Advanced Technology Program. This is a decrease of $2.8 million from last year primarily due to the non-recurrence of one-time FY 2021 Legislative adds and efficiencies in consolidated Center funding.
• Centers for Advanced Technology Program: The budget includes $11.2 million in new funding for the Centers for Advanced Technology Program. This is a decrease of $1.79 million from last year.
• $2 million to support the Empire State Entertainment Diversity Job Training Development Fund.
• New York State Innovation Hot Spots and New York State Incubators Program: The budget includes $5 million in new funding to support expenses of the Innovation Hot Spots and Incubators Program. Designated Hot Spots and Incubators will serve as high technology innovation incubators, providing growth support funding for start-up companies.
• "I ♥ NY” Program: A $2.5 million appropriation is recommended for "I ♥ NY” tourism advertising, the same level as last year.
• Tourism Matching Grants: $2.45 million is provided to assist local tourism promotion agencies.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Briefing Book – Economic Development (PDF)

Program Highlights

Marketing and Advertising

This program promotes New York State as a premier tourist destination and business location. Major activities include the “I ♥ NY” advertising campaign and local tourism matching grants administered through locally-based tourism promotion agencies representing the State’s 62 counties. The Department of Economic Development also develops the State’s tourism master plan; targets information to consumers and the travel trade; participates in national and international trade shows; provides technical assistance to tour directors and creates publications for use by the Department and the other economic development agencies.

Business Assistance Programs

To improve the competitiveness of New York State companies, the Department of Economic Development provides assistance to businesses for productivity assessments; business-specific skills training for new and existing workers; and third-party technical assistance to develop strategies for expanding export markets.

Small Business Assistance

The Division for Small Business serves as an ombudsman for small businesses and also offers these enterprises training and technical assistance. In addition, the Department provides State and Federal procurement assistance to small businesses. The Division also operates the Clean Air Act Ombudsman Unit, which helps small businesses comply with these environmental regulations.

Minority and Women-Owned Business Development

The Division of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development was established to increase the participation of minority- and women-owned businesses in State procurement opportunities. The Division identifies and certifies minority- and women-owned business enterprises; publishes a directory of certified firms to market small businesses to public and private sector organizations; and provides technical assistance to minority-and women-owned businesses.

Policy and Research Division

This Division performs policy analysis and economic research; models the economic impacts of economic development projects; supports business development activities; monitors and intervenes in State regulatory activities affecting energy supply, telecommunications, transportation, environmental facilities, and commercial/industrial site and facility development; and coordinates the development and review of State economic development programs.

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/19/2021