Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – February 28, 2020

What’s Inside

  • Governor Announces Emergency Appropriation For Department Of Health
  • Workforce Development Initiative Program Update And Awards Announced
  • Second Round Of Census Funding Available For Non-Profits
  • Application Period For Third Round Of NYFIRST Medical School Grants Open
  • Smart Schools Review Board Approves 133 Investment Plans
  • Assembly Member Crespo Will Not Seek Re-Election 
  • Political Updates
  • Updates, Reminders, and Links
  • Coming Up

Governor Announces Emergency Appropriation For Department Of Health

Governor Cuomo announced his intention to send the legislature an emergency $40 million appropriation for the Department of Health (DOH) to hire additional staff, procure equipment and any other resources necessary to respond to the potential novel coronavirus pandemic. The Governor will also propose legislation to grant authority to DOH commissioner to ensure appropriate response measures by local health departments and public and private hospitals statewide. DOH will review protocols, best practices and procedures to help ensure they are prepared to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. The emergency appropriation will require a message of necessity from the Governor to avoid a constitutional prohibition on making an appropriation prior to legislative action on the Executive Budget. The state also intends to ask the federal government for the ability to do its own testing, through Wadsworth Laboratory, to cut down on the time it will take to receive results.

Governor Cuomo said:

“As we are seeing the novel coronavirus spread to new countries around the world, in New York we are continuing to take all necessary precautions to protect New Yorkers from this dangerous virus. While there are still no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in New York, these aggressive actions including $40 million in emergency funding will help ensure our healthcare system is equipped with the necessary staff, supplies and equipment needed to respond to any emergency situation that may arise in the future.” 

Workforce Development Initiative Program Update And Awards Announced

It was announced this week that new guidelines for the Workforce Development Initiative (WDI) will be issued in May 2020 and will be applied for the FY2021 program. New Phase 1 applications for the current fiscal year WDI program will be accepted until April 30, 2020. All applications submitted on or before April 30 will continue to be active and will be considered under current program guidelines. The Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) and the WDI review committee will continue to review completed Phase 1 applications and will permit applicants to continue work on and submit open Phase 2 applications until May 29, 2020.

In addition to the announcement of forthcoming changes, awards granted under the program were also announced this week. Nearly 70 businesses, community colleges, and community-based organizations across the state were awarded $3.1 million. Since launching in May 2019, nearly $12 million has been awarded through the $175 million Workforce Development Initiative, which will provide training to more than 8,200 New Yorkers.

The latest round of recipients include the following:

  • Finger Lakes: Baxter, Foodlink, Genesee Construction Service, Graham Corporation, Lifetime Assistance, Mary Cariola Childrens Center, McAlpin Industries, Optimax, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Prestolite, WayneFinger Lakes BOCES 
  • Southern Tier: ACHIEVE, DYCO Electronics, Global Cloud Solutions, MPL Inc., Raymond-Hadley, Triple Cities Network Solutions 
  • Capital Region: Albany Schoharie Schenectady Saratoga BOCES 
  • Central New York: Ames Linen Service, Learning Disabilities Association of CNY, Marathon Boat Group 
  • Mid-Hudson: Caribbean Food Delights, Genpak, Rockland BOCES, ShopRite, Touro College and University System, Walden Savings Bank 
  • Mohawk Valley: Breton Industries 
  • Long Island: 106th Rescue Wing Air National Guard at Gabreski Airport, AHRC Suffolk County, American Regent, Catholic Health Services of Long Island, Developmental Disabilities Institute, East End Disabilities Associates, Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Independent Group Home Living, NYU-Winthrop Hospital, Norman Keil Nurseries, SightMD, St. Francis Hospital
  • Western New York: American Niagara Hospitality, Audubon Machinery Corporation, Brunner International, Bush Industries, Cattaraugus County, Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES, Intandem, Napoleon Engineering Services, Niagara Industrial Mechanical, People Inc, Precious Plate, SG Special Mold Components, Southern Tier Environments for Living, Saint Gobain, Snyder Corporation, Time Release Sciences, TitanX, Tulip Richardson Manufacturing, VanDeMark Chemical, Washington Mills

Second Round Of Census Funding Available For Non-Profits

Governor Cuomo announced that up to $5 million in second round census funding will be made available to nonprofits, including faith-based nonprofits, that are participating in the New York State Complete Count Census campaign. Applications may be submitted for a thirty day period that ends on March 26; nonprofits can apply for pre-qualification here.

Governor Cuomo said:

“Faith-based nonprofits have special ties to at-risk and hard-to-count communities, making them invaluable partners in our aggressive efforts to make sure every New Yorker is counted in the 2020 Census. This year’s Census will determine our State’s share of funding and representation at the federal level for the next decade, and these organizations will play a critical role in reaching our most difficult to count communities and helping ensure New York is accurately represented at the federal level.”

Application Period For Third Round Of NYFIRST Medical School Grants Now Open

The application period is now open for the third round of the New York Fund for Innovation in Research and Scientific Talent, or NYFIRST. The $15 million medical school capital-funding program encourages the recruitment and retention of exceptional life science researchers through grants to support establishing or upgrading laboratories, and by providing working capital to cover costs for staff and specialized equipment. Applications and guidelines for the third round are now available at here.

Smart Schools Review Board Approves Investment Plans

The Smart Schools Review Board met for the fourteenth time to consider investment plans submitted by school districts and special education schools. The plans approved were submitted by 111 school districts and eight special education schools. Plans include $51.5 million for high-tech security projects, $19.0 million for school connectivity projects, $24.8 million for classroom technology purchases, $3.1 million for the expansion of pre-kindergarten classrooms, and $10.9 million for the removal of transportable classroom units (TCUs) and $1.4 million for non-public schools to enhance classroom technology and school connectivity. A summary of the plans is available here.

Assembly Member Crespo Will Not Seek Re-Election

Assembly Member Crespo, Chair of the Assembly Labor Committee, announced that he would not seek re-election to the Assembly seat he has held since 2009. In a letter to constituents and posted on his Facebook page, the Assemblymen said he was leaving government to pursue other opportunities, though did not specify further. Crespo is the second prominent Bronx politician to recently announce they would be leaving government entirely, following Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr’s decision to do the same.

Assembly Member Crespo said in a statement:

“For the last 11 years it has been the honor of my life to serve as the Assembly Member for the 85th Assembly District. The work we have done together in our community, alongside other leaders throughout the Bronx and with colleagues around the State has been transformational. I will forever be grateful of what we have accomplished, the friendships I have forged and the amazing individuals who have served as part of my staff over the years and helped me deliver a body of work we can all be proud of.”

Political Updates

GOP challenger to Senator Skoufis to announce candidacy.

Jaffe Challenger Announces Run for Assembly District 97.

Former IDC Senator running for Assembly.

 Endorsements

Working Families Party endorses Mondaire Jones for Congress.

 CWA endorses Michelle Hinchey for State Senate.

Updates, Reminders, and Links

City & State NY’s Weekly Winners and Losers here.

City & State NY’s 2020 New York City Power 100 here.

Coming Up

The Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on March 2nd and 3rd.

The Senate will hold a public hearing to solicit views of interested parties in the New York Voting Rights Act on March 3.

The Public Service Commission will hold its next meeting on March 19.

JCOPE will hold its next meeting on March 24.