The Business Council's Manufacturing Council will conduct a series of regional events around New York State to identify legislative issues of greatest importance to industry, and to intensify the involvement of manufacturing companies and executives in manufacturing-related advocacy in Albany.
The events are part of a long-term effort to leverage the influence of New York State manufacturers to promote policies that will improve New York's climate for manufacturing, said Ken Pokalsky, The Council's director of environmental and economic development programs.
The events will be conducted in collaboration with regional manufacturing and business associations, said Pokalsky, who coordinates the activities of the Manufacturing Council.
"Our goal is to increase the awareness in Albany of the high economic value of manufacturing in New York State and to contribute to The Business Council's ongoing advocacy to make New York State an easier place for manufacturers to compete," Pokalsky said. (For information on The Public Policy Institute's September 2002 report on the importance of manufacturing to New York's economy, as well as a link to the full report, visit www.bcnys.org/whatsnew/2002/0916mfg2.htm.
In organizing the regional events, The Council is making a special effort to involve its small and medium-sized manufacturing members, including more than 500 manufacturers that are members of The Business Council's Workers' Compensation Trust.
These regional events will be followed by a statewide Manufacturing Lobby Day scheduled for Tuesday, March 4.
The Business Council's Manufacturing Council is led by a 10-member steering committee that consists of plant managers and other on-site manufacturing executives, Pokalsky noted. This team is helping to develop the Manufacturing Council's priorities and advocacy plan for 2003. The regional events are intended to obtain additional input from in-state manufacturers.
Events are planned for:
- Tuesday,
Dec. 3, in Syracuse, to be conducted with the Manufacturers
Association of Central New York (MACNY).
- Wednesday,
Dec. 11, in Buffalo, to be conducted with the Buffalo-Niagara
Partnership.
- Thursday,
Dec. 12, in Rochester, to be conducted in collaboration
with the Greater Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce and
the Industrial Management Council.
- Wednesday, Dec. 18, in Albany.
Additional meetings are planned for other regions of the state in January, Pokalsky said.