NYS Legislative Commission on Rural Resources

04/30/2026

Data centers are resource-intensive and create few long-term jobs compared to the costs of construction and maintenance.

As we have seen their proliferation in other states, it's important to fully consider their environmental and economic impacts while protecting ratepayers and taxpayers here in New York State.

S.9182 (May)/A.10852 (Kelles) would:
-cap subsidies for mid-size data centers at $500,000 per job and ban subsidies outright for large data centers;
-ban the New York Power Authority from offering discounted electricity to large data centers;
-place the Department of Environmental Conservation in charge of all environmental reviews for data centers; and
-mandate an environmental impact statement for any data center located within 10 miles of a federally recognized indigenous nation.

Read more about it here:

Syracuse-area Sen. Rachel May has proposed a bill that would cap tax breaks for mid-sized data centers and ban them for large ones.

04/22/2026

04/20/2026

Next Friday, 5/2, SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech is hosting their third annual Empire State Entrepreneurship Expo!

Admission is free, and members of the public are encouraged to attend and experience products made by small businesses and farms from the Mohawk Valley and beyond.

More details:

The Institute for Rural Vitality welcomes its partner growers, producers and small businesses to the third annual Empire State Entrepreneur Expo. The public is invited to taste, try and buy food, beverage, and other products made by the small businesses and farms from the Mohawk Valley and beyond. T...

04/14/2026

Ensuring the right to repair for farmers has always been important to us as an affordability issue as well as one of self-determination.

Big news on that front: John Deere has agreed to a settlement that will create a $99 million fund for farms and individuals who paid authorized dealers for large equipment repairs beginning in January of 2018. The settlement also includes an agreement to provide digital tools ​required for the maintenance, diagnosis, and repair of tractors, combines, and other machinery for 10 years.

The ag manufacturing giant will also make digital diagnostic, maintenance, and repair tools available to third parties for 10 years.

04/13/2026

The New York Fashion Innovation Center is now accepting applications for grants through June 1.

Awards will total up to $10,000 per recipient, and the program has funded 24 projects across the three previous rounds to advance and scale sustainable textile development in New York.

There is a virtual Q&A session on May 4, and you can learn more here:

Grants $10,000 Grants for Sustainable Textile Innovation Round Three of NYFIC’s grant program has been awarded. Congratulations to the newest group of innovators advancing sustainable textiles across New York State. View awardees.Applications for Round Four will open on April 13, 2026.In the meant...

04/01/2026

It's hard to believe that it's been a week since our fair already!

Thanks again to all of our participants and mark your calendars for 2027 as we celebrate our fifth year on March 24!

03/28/2026

This week in Albany, I attended the Rural Resource Fair hosted by the NYS Legislative Commission on Rural Resources. More than 50 rural associated groups were in attendance, including our own Fingerlakes Land Trust! It was wonderful to connect with a vast number of organizations that are focused on delivering resources to rural communities like our district.

03/26/2026

03/26/2026