December 5, 2003

Empire Zones: input needed . . .

In advance of the Assembly hearings on Empire Zones (see http://assembly.state.ny.us/Press/20031118/), and in advance of next year's legislative battles on Empire Zone extension, expansion and reform issues, The Business Council is looking for input based on your experience with local and regional Empire Zones.

Specifically, the Council is looking for comments on:

• local zone administration, including appropriateness of local decisions on allocating zone acreage and accepting businesses into the program
• assessment of the impact of the zones on the local economy, based on the nature of businesses taking advantage of the program
• the level of investments and new jobs in the zone
• other suggestions you have regarding overall zone program reforms

Feel free to submit comments either by email, phone, or fax. Contact Ken Pokalsky, whose information is provided below. Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Kenneth J. Pokalsky
Director, Environmental & Manufacturing Programs
The Business Council of NYS, Inc.
152 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12210
phone: (518) 465-7511 extension 205
fax: (518) 465-4389
email: ken.pokalsky@bcnys.org

Membership data requested . . .

If you haven't already returned Joan Testa's request for statistics on your chamber, please do so today! Chamber Development Services, Inc. is compiling information on dues structures, saturation rates, retention rates, and income sources, which will be compared to national data and presented in the workshop, "Growing Your Chamber" at the Legislative and Leadership Conference, January 20-21.

In order to have complete data, please take a moment to complete the SURVEY and fax it to Joan at 800-584-0321, or e-mail the information to joan@chamberdevelopment.com. Chamber names, cities and executives will be kept confidential -- but Joan needs them to avoid duplication when compiling the results.

Legislative & Leadership Conference . . .

For the full agenda of the 2004 Legislative and Leadership Conference, click HERE. Registration materials are available HERE. Hurry -- registration fees increase in two weeks!

Registration is underway for CANYS' January conference, to be held the 20th and 21st in Albany. There’s something on the agenda for every staff person at your chamber, from membership to communications to government affairs … and everyone in between! Confirmed presenters include:

• Carolyn Hicks, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Jeff Lovell, Deputy Secretary to Governor Pataki
• Kip Lilly, Lilly Foresight Dynamics
• Joan Testa, Chamber Development Services, Inc.
• Mariadele Priest, Fannie Mae
• The Business Council’s Government Affairs Committee meeting, and the renowned Legislators’ Reception
• Plus roundtables on Association Health Plans, DestiNY USA, and more!

The conference committee has designed this condensed, 30-hour conference to provide you with a blast of invaluable programming, networking and lobbying that gets you back home to your chamber quickly, with the right tools to succeed! Register your chamber's staff members today!

Tell us about it . . .

Got a question you’d like to ask other CANYS members? Job opening in your chamber? Great idea you’d like to share? Send it to maggie.moree@bcnys.org.