While noting that it is still analyzing the final State budget bills now undergoing approval, the North Country Chamber of Commerce is pleased to see two items it has been supporting and hoped to see included.
"The final budget has a $1 billion package of COVID relief aid we supported," says Chamber President Garry Douglas. "This includes $800 million for a new COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Grant Program, a $25 million Restaurant Resiliency Grant Program, a $40 million Arts and Cultural Organizations Recovery Grant Program, and a new Restaurant Return-To-Work Tax Credit. These are all in addition to the new federal resources for small businesses, restaurants and performance venues recently enacted by Congress. We welcomed the opportunity to work with Governor Andrew Cuomo and with Legislative leaders including Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Small Business Chair Al Stirpe and our own Assemblyman Billy Jones in the development of these initiatives and are pleased this robust and targeted package will now become a reality. As with other new relief programs in the past, we will offer more information as soon as it becomes available including a webinar briefing."
"It is also exciting to see that the full $92.5 million in capital investment in ORDA which was proposed by the Governor in January was embraced by the Legislature and delivered in full," notes Douglas. "This is a truly historic level of new investment in ORDA's Adirondack sports facilities and should really set the stage for the 2023 Wotld University Games and many other events for decades to come. We thank the Governor for his continued commitment to ORDA along with our North Country legislators including former Senator Betty Little, Senator Dan Stec and Assemblymen Matt Simpson."
