Upstate United

Upstate United Executive Director Justin Wilcox visited with members of The Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association and the Rochester NYSCAR to share insights on 2026 priorities and the All-Electric Buildings Act.

Thank you to both groups for the great discussion & your partnership!

UU Board Member Garry Douglas was presented with a Key to the Consulate by Consul General Clark at the North Country Chamber of Commerce's Annual Board Retreat last week.

Garry's leadership and commitment to strengthening cross-border partnerships are essential to the Upstate economy.

Re-energizing upstate’s economy is key.

Thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul and Micro Bird for a $35 million investment bringing hundreds of jobs to the North Country. Congrats to UU member Garry Douglas, North Country Chamber of Commerce President, whose leadership helps ensure this growth directly benefits local businesses and communities!

Hochul visits Micro Bird in Plattsburgh to celebrate grand opening Hochul takes a trip to the Micro Bird bus manufacturing facility in Plattsburgh for the Quebec-based company's grand opening celebration.

The is no longer financially feasible or practically achievable, and state leaders know it...

You can read Justin Wilcox's opinion piece in syracuse.com here: https://upstateunited.com/news/syracuse-post-standard-nys-climate-plan-is-no-longer-achievable-or-affordable-guest-opinion-by-justin-wilcox/

💸We cannot make New York a more affordable place to live if policymakers continue to pass costs down to ratepayers, business owners, consumers, employers, etc.

Read the full release on our 2025 Affordability Agenda:
https://upstateunited.com/news/upstate-united-releases-end-of-session-affordability-agenda/

Garry Douglas, president/CEO of the North Country Chamber of Commerce and UU Board Member, has been vocal about how tariffs adversely impact Upstate industries & businesses, specifically those near the Canadian border.

Read more in a piece from The Atlantic below:

Here Are the Places Where the Recession Has Already Begun Towns near the Canadian border are suffering.

A recent analysis from WalletHub ranks states by tax burden. How did New York do?

❌2nd Overall Tax Burden
❌1st in Individual Income Tax Burden
❌4th in Property Tax Burden
❌22nd in Sales & Excise Tax Burden

Read our full statement 👇
https://upstateunited.com/news/new-yorks-overall-tax-burden-ranks-second-in-the-nation-in-2025/

Members of UU joined NFIB NY and other great partners to advocate for NY's small businesses in Albany today.

This year we shared important priorities like:
➡️Funding UI
➡️Opposing Prevailing Wage Expansion
➡️Limiting Weekly Pay Lawsuits
➡️Delaying the Advanced Clean Trucks Rule

Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce Associated Builders & Contractors, Empire State Chapter Patrick Gallivan Senator George Borrello Jeremy Cooney Sean M. Ryan

ICYMI: UU Exec Director's recent opinion piece in The Buffalo News outlines concerns about how health care costs impact NY's small, local businesses & why it's important for policymakers to address skyrocketing costs that are outpacing inflation.

Another Voice: Health care costs hurting state's small, local businesses Like many New Yorkers, I listened with interest to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s recent State of the State address.

If Governor Kathy Hochul is serious about transparency & affordability, she must demand that DPS release the overdue report on costs to utility customers. The one report we've seen used 2022 data & showed double-digit increases due to the alone!

That isn't good for NY families.

Calls for making NYS more affordable have been loud & clear. However, that won’t happen if the costs of the state’s most historically ambitious continue to outpace proposals & rebates aimed at ‘putting money back in our pockets.’

Read More: https://upstateunited.com/news/upstate-united-responds-to-2025-state-of-the-state/

👏Congratulations to UU board members Garry Douglas of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, Bob Duffy of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and Stacey Duncan of the for being recognized by City and State NY as Trailblazers in Economic Development for NYS!

The 2024 Trailblazers in Economic Development New York’s notable job creators and business boosters.