Senate Majority passes budget to create over 86,000 new jobs

ALBANY, N.Y. Press release - A plan to establish a "green" jobs development institute, put federal money to work creating tens of thousands of new infrastructure jobs and getting more than 1,300 new cops on the street are just some of the job creation efforts included in this year's budget passed on April 3rd.

In all, more than 86,000 new jobs statewide are expected through key Senate-led proposals, including:
     As many as 8,600 new "green" jobs through the Green Initiatives Institute.
     61,000 new transportation infrastructure updating and construction jobs.
     1,400 new police officers as a result of federal stimulus money.
     4200 as a result of new funding for low-income New Yorkers eligible for works programs in                              
     the social services.
     3500 new jobs through public housing capital improvements.
     7900 new jobs through clean water and drinking water improvements.

"Thousands of people have lost their job as a result of the national economic downturn, but these initiatives will help tens of thousands of them go back to work and help us turn this economy around," said Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith. "Job growth is the Senate's number one priority, because our ability to meet the needs of those we represent depends on a strong workforce and stable economy."

"There is no doubt that difficult decisions had to be made across the board in this state budget," said Senator Bill Stachowski (D-Lake View), Chair of the Senate Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Committee. "It was certainly the most complicated budget I have seen in my tenure in the Senate. We went to great pains to preserve education funding, healthcare, hospitals and economic development. In the end, this budget will create jobs for Upstate communities. The long-term economic growth of New York State will particularly depend on our ability to support small businesses and create new and good paying jobs. As we continue to cope with the extraordinary circumstances of this national recession, job growth will continue to be my number one priority."

As a way to ensure that federal stimulus money dedicated to energy efficiency and development ($561.2 million) is used to create as many jobs as possible, the Senate Majority established the new Green Initiatives Institute. The federal money will go through three programs: the
Weatherization Assistance Program ($404 million), the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program ($31.2 million), and the State Energy Program ($139.2 million).

The Institute will turn years of talk into action by supporting sustainable community development projects through these programs that are expected to produce as many as 58,000 new "green" jobs across all industries in New York.