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Governor Cuomo Announces Agreement with Legislative Leaders to Create Economic Development Fund in North Country

Albany, NY (June 16, 2014) Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced an agreement with legislative leaders to create a new development fund devoted to spurring economic activity in the North Country. The agreement allows for the net earnings from the market sale of a block of unutilized hydropower from the New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Hydroelectric Plant to be applied for economic development in St. Lawrence County. The use of the anticipated earnings of approximately $2 million a year is also consistent with commitments made under the recently announced St. Regis land claim agreement for payments to St. Lawrence County as part of the overall package of provisions settling the matter. 

 Under the agreement with state legislative leaders for the new legislation, up to 20 megawatts (MW) of hydropower that is made available under contract to the Massena Electric Department (MED) for “sub-allocations” to eligible businesses will also be harnessed for area economic development from the net earnings of the sale of the power into the wholesale electricity marketplace.

 The net earnings, or “proceeds,” will be used to award grants to enterprises in St. Lawrence County from a Northern New York Economic Development Fund.  An entity created by the legislation—the Northern New York Power Proceeds Allocation Board—will recommend the awards from the fund on the basis of statutory criteria, including capital investments and jobs., The NYPA Board of Trustees will take into account the recommendations before making awards. 

 Since 2012, the 20 MW has been available for sub-allocation by the MED to businesses, at cost-based rates, in consultation with the St. Lawrence River Valley Redevelopment Agency (RVRDA), the Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency Local Development Corporation (IDA), and the North Country Regional Economic Development Council.  The monetized value of the power will now also be captured as a result of the new legislation. Both the RVRDA and the IDA will assist in administration of the fund and will provide input on grant applications working closely with NYPA and Empire State Development Corp.

 The 20 MW is drawn from hydropower previously sold to out-of-state electricity customers and redirected to New York State during the 2003 federal relicensing of the St. Lawrence-FDR project.

 The Northern New York Power Proceeds Allocation Act is similar to legislation created in 2012 for the use of unutilized hydropower from NYPA’s Niagara Power Project for economic development in Western New York.  This has resulted in approval of more than 20 grant awards to enterprises in that region. 

 The Northern New York Power Proceeds Allocation Board will consist of five members appointed by the Governor.  Under the legislation, three of the members must reside in St. Lawrence County. 

 Ontario Elections June 12, 2014

The Liberals have taken new territory across Toronto — paving the way for a return to power, as a majority government, for the party that has led the province for more than a decade. 

Kathleen Wynne, leader of a minority Liberal government since winning her party’s leadership last year, guided the party to a 59-seat win Thursday night. The Progressive Conservatives finished with 27 seats and the NDP took 21 seats.

Governor Cuomo Announces Agreement with Legislative Leaders on Bill to Support Veterans, Service members and Military Families

Albany, NY (June 14, 2014) Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced an agreement with legislative leaders on a bill to advance educational and professional opportunities for Veterans, active service members and their families. Delivering on priority issues identified during the Governor’s Veterans and Military Families Summit, the bill eases the transition to a new school for children of military families that relocate as a result of change of duty station, lowers the cost of higher education for Veterans receiving benefits under the GI bills, and offers military family members greater flexibility with professional licenses received from other states or jurisdictions. The bill also strengthens the supplemental burial assistance provided by the state to military families when a service member dies in combat or as a result of injuries sustained on the battlefield.

Retailers to Provide Unit Pricing Online

NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced a first-ever initiative to bring unit pricing information to online supermarkets and drugstores nationwide, including top national and New York retailers. Within nine months, this information will be available on the websites and mobile apps of Walmart, Costco, Walgreens, FreshDirect, CVS and Drugstore.com. Amazon refused to participate in this consumer-oriented initiative. 

Unit pricing benefits consumers by allowing them to quickly compare prices of different items regardless of quantity, manufacturer, packaging size or discounts. For example, a single product category, such as breakfast cereal, can feature a wide array of sizes and packaging combinations from a variety of competing brands. The unit price combines those factors and gives the price per ounce, generally displayed next to the retail price, allowing consumers to make better and faster choices. 

According to Forrester Research, online grocery sales are projected to reach $21 billion a year nationwide by 2016. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have some type of unit pricing requirement.  New York law requires that large retail stores clearly display the price per unit of measurement for most types of food, cleaning and paper products, toiletries, pet food and over-the-counter medications.

Prior to this initiative, unit pricing information online was rare. Among large retailers, full availability of unit pricing was limited to online grocer Peapod.

Under the agreement, Walmart and Costco will provide unit pricing information on their websites and mobile stores throughout the United States by the end of 2014. Walgreens, FreshDirect, CVS and Drugstore.com will provide unit pricing online by March, 2015. All six chains have agreed to continue providing unit pricing to consumers in the future, including in any online stores they create in the years to come.