Mineola, NY - Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi, in a visit to Albany, recently urged the New York State legislature to approve an Empire Zone in Nassau County, a step that will establish "tax-free" business sites to help spark new private sector investment, job creation and economic expansion for the local community.

"Nassau County, the nation's first mature suburban county, has stopped growing. Nassau County needs an Empire Zone to foster future growth, expand its tax base, create jobs and create new income tax revenues of New York State," County Executive Suozzi said. "While 55 counties across New York State are home to 72 Empire Zones - including three in Suffolk County, 10 in New York City and two in Westchester County - Nassau County has no Empire Zones."

"Part of our plan for the future of Nassau County is to restore and revitalize our community's downtown areas," County Executive Suozzi said. "Ours is the first suburban county in the country and we are experiencing problems that have not yet been seen in any community like ours. The Empire Zone program is an important step toward achieving our goal to foster positive growth."

Nassau County seeks Empire Zone designation for six non-contiguous areas that meet the criteria for such zones set forth in the General Municipal Law. They are Town of Hempstead (for communities like Elmont, Franklin Square, Inwood, Roosevelt, Uniondale and West Hempstead), New Cassel, Bethpage, City of Glen Cove, Village of Hempstead and the Village of Freeport.

Nassau County is seeking to attract community investment, which is key to the revitalization of the downtown areas. The county is already partnering with the City of Glen Cove to design comprehensive community and revitalization programs which will result in an increase in job opportunities.

Those businesses that participate and invest in an Empire Zone are eligible for sales tax exemption, real property and business tax credits. The purpose of the Empire Zones Program is to give companies increasing their employment opportunity to operate on an almost "tax-free" basis for up to 10 years in designated areas of the state, with additional savings available on a declining basis in years 11 through 15.

As described in an op-ed piece by Senator Dean Skelos in March 2003, "…an Empire Zone is a powerful economic development tool that would help Nassau County overcome---hurdles and ease the concerns voiced by prospective employers." This important economic tool will be a support mechanism to revitalize commercial and light industry in economically depressed areas within the County. An Empire Zone is one of the most effective tools that other New York State areas have utilized to attract business to such areas.

While Nassau County is known as the home to an affluent, highly taxed, well-educated population, as well as many mid-size corporations and regional finance, insurance and real estate firms, it also has several communities that have had an influx of poor, minority and immigrant groups who live in segregated areas and are deprived of many economic, educational and social opportunities. These communities are largely located in and around the County's older downtown areas, where often the infrastructure is not sufficient to support the demanding needs of the local residents and businesses. Compounding the problems of economic and physical despair in its low income areas, Nassau County has been impacted negatively by the downsizing of military installations, and a loss of defense contracts from the local defense industry, which resulted in decreased manufacturing needs and industry mergers, taking many jobs away from the County.

The areas for the proposed zones throughout the county are largely located in the county's downtown areas where infrastructure cannot support the needs of the local businesses and residents, public transportation is lacking and environmental justice issues are rampant. The focus is on job retention and attraction, and these themes will continue as the basis for business expansion and employment generation in the county's economic development zone.

EMPIRE ZONE

MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT

TITLE: An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to the creation of an Empire Zone in Nassau County

DESCRIPTION: This bill provides for the designation of an Empire Zone in Nassau County. The Empire Zone satisfies the criteria for an Empire Zone of interrelated, non-contiguous census tracts set forth in section 958 of the general municipal law.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: The bill creates a new subdivision (e) of section 960 of the general municipal law, to allow for the creation of an Empire Zone in economically distressed areas of Nassau County.

The bill creates an Empire Zone in designated areas in Glen Cove, Bethpage, Inwood and New Cassel where significant economic opportunities exist and a larger inter-connected area in the central portion of the County, branching out to the west and south of the Village of Hempstead. This larger area includes commercial and industrial areas in Elmont, Franklin Square, West Hempstead, Uniondale, Roosevelt and Inwood within the Town of Hempstead, and portions of the Village of Freeport as well as a focused area in the Village of Hempstead.

REASONS FOR SUPPORT: Nassau County is one of only eleven counties in New York State without an Empire Zone. This bill designates an Empire Zone in Nassau County that meets the requirements for such zones set forth in the general municipal law. This important economic tool will be a support mechanism to revitalize commercial and light industry in economically depressed areas within the County. An Empire Zone is one of the most effective tools that other New York State areas have utilized to attract business to such areas.

While Nassau County is known as the home to an affluent, highly taxed, well-educated population, as well as many mid-size corporations and regional finance, insurance and real estate firms, it also has several communities that have had an influx of poor, minority and immigrant groups who live in segregated areas and are deprived of many economic, educational and social opportunities. These communities are largely located in and around the County's older downtown areas, where often the infrastructure is not sufficient to support the demanding needs of the local residents and businesses. Compounding the problems of economic and physical despair in its low income areas, Nassau County has been impacted negatively by the downsizing of military installations, and a loss of defense contracts from the local defense industry, which resulted in decreased manufacturing needs and industry mergers, taking many jobs away from the County.

The Empire Zone Program is a critical economic tool to help the County overcome its burdensome deficit, while more specifically helping the eleven identified areas much in need of economic revitalization. An Empire Zone designation will help these areas attract new business investments and expand current businesses. Economic revitalization in these areas will bring about new job opportunities and help retain existing business enterprises, while expanding the tax base and restoring hope to families.