eAdvance




Keeping NYSEDC members in touch and informed

January 12, 2026

Join nearly 400 economic developers from across New York State for two days of networking, professional development, and industry insights. This conference sells out every year so register your team today!

Projects, Communities, + People in the News

Thousands of New Yorkers waiting on heating help should see relief soon. State officials said most delayed HEAP payments should reach utility accounts by the end of this week. A federal shutdown pushed back the December 1 application start. | Finger Lakes 1 has more.

Empire State Development was awarded a 2025 Impact Award by Business Facilities Magazine for their work with public and private partners to secure Chobani's investment in New York State. | See the full lineup of winners here.

The state of New York is giving a packaging equipment maker a $1 million incentive to move a production line from Quebec to Brewerton. The move will create 20 jobs at the company's plant. | Learn more on Syracuse.com.

A local plastics company is expanding its Orchard Park facility, adding a clean room to increase capabilities and capacity in the semiconductor industry. The company will upgrade utilities, expand electrical capacity and build out a clean room. | Read more at Buffalo Business First.

Monroe County is expanding tax incentives for new rental housing construction after a study concluded the market is stuck -- lacking sufficient inventory at every price point. | WXXI News has more here.

Applications for 58 battery energy storage systems were approved by the NYC Department of Buildings in 2025 and another 98 are currently under evaluation for placement throughout the five boroughs. | Read more at SI Live.

The Town of Ticonderoga has announced the second round of its small business grant program in partnership with the Essex County IDA and the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce. | Learn about the program at Sun Community News.

A Huntington-based developer is seeking tax breaks from the Nassau County IDA to turn a vacant lot into a self-storage warehouse for small businesses. | Read more about the application at Newsday.

A site at Woods Corners, recently owned and utilized by Chobani for administrative offices, was leveled last week to make the site "shovel ready" for future development. Chobani is carrying out the demolition and cleanup effort without any form of public assistance. | The Evening Sun has the story here.

It is hard to believe that the Capital Region would benefit from the construction of nuclear submarines. But it will, according to the Center for Economic Growth in Colonie. | Read more through the Times Union.

UPCOMING NYSEDC EVENTS:

Economic Development Conference

February 10 - 11

Albany, NY

Registration Open!


Spring IDA Academy

Date & Location TBD


Annual Meeting

May 20 - 22

Cooperstown, NY


Basic Economic Development Course June 8 - 11

Albany, NY

JOBS BOARD

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is hiring a Director, Scale.Rensselaer

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The Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce is hiring a President

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The City of Troy is hiring a Commissioner of Planning and Community Development

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Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is hiring a Director of Industry Partnerships

Have a job posting, RFP, or news story to share with the NYSEDC and its membership? Email updates to Steph Cavalier.

The Bigger Picture

Hiring Slows in December to end the weakest year of job growth since the pandemic


U.S. employers added just 50,000 jobs last month, according to a report from the Labor Department. The unemployment rate dipped to 4.4%, from 4.5% in November, while job gains for October and November were also revised down by a total of 76,000 jobs.


For all of 2025, employers added 584,000 jobs -- compared to 2 million new jobs in 2024. That meant that last year was the worst for employment growth since 2020.


See NPR's reporting on the latest jobs numbers here.

New York State Policy and Programs

$463 Million Awarded Statewide Through Regional Economic Development Council Initiative


Long Island, the Mohawk Valley, New York City, and the Southern Tier were chosen as winners of the inaugural $150 million ACHIEVE Competition. Additionally, nearly 400 projects across the state have been awarded over $300 million in funding through the various state agency programs within the annual Regional Council Initiative and Consoliated Funding Application.


Read the announcement and learn about the projects.

DEC Announces More Than $22 Million for Climate Smart Communities Grant Awards


$22.7 million in Climate Smart Communities Grant Awards have been announced for 43 projects to help municipalities take action to address climate change.


Learn more about the program and awardees here.

NYSEDC | nysedc.org | 518.426.4058
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