BILL NUMBER: S3561
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act in relation to requiring the Empire State development corporation
in consultation with the department of agriculture and markets and the
office of new Americans to study the economic impact of optimizing and
creating kitchen incubators in New York state
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF THE BILL:
This legislation creates a study on the economic impact of optimizing
and creating kitchen incubators in New York.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 provides the legislative intent of this bill. The legislature
hereby finds that in order for the state to improve the economic oppor-
tunities for its citizens and entrepreneurs; the state must also use and
expand its capabilities to offer space and resources to the next gener-
ation of food manufacturing businesses.
Section 2 defines "kitchen incubator." For purposes of this act, "kitch-
en incubator" shall mean a food preparation facility that provides
kitchen space and access to commercial-grade equipment to prepare food
at a shared or leased location.
Section 3 provides that using available appropriation, the Empire State
Development Corporation, in consultation with the Department of Agricul-
ture and Markets and the Office of New Americans, shall study and report
on the economic impact of optimizing and expanding kitchen incubators in
New York State. This section also provides specific components that such
report must include, such as insight into optimizing and expanding
kitchen incubators and entrepreneurship efforts for minority, women, and
immigrant populations, and recommendations on how to create more entre-
preneurial success in the industry.
Section 4 provides an effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation requires the Empire State Development Corporation to
consult with the Department of Agriculture and the Office of New Ameri-
cans to examine what potential economic impact optimizing and creating
kitchen incubators would have on the state. Kitchen incubators are food
preparation facilities that provide kitchen space and access to commer-
cial-grade equipment to prepare food at a shared or leased location.
In order to improve the economic opportunities for citizens and entre-
preneurs, the State must use the established capabilities to offer space
and resources to the next generation of food manufacturing businesses.
It has been documented that the chief obstacle for start-up food manu-
facturing businesses is their inability to access affordable commercial
kitchen space. Currently, all over the state, there are only a few
kitchen incubators. They are facing high demand and are unable to meet
the needs of the many potential start-up businesses. Kitchen incubators
are valuable resources for New York State as it moves to promote more
job development, business development, and increased tax revenues. In
New York City alone, there are more than 900 food items, with over
16,000 employees and another 2,500 who are self-employed. This has been
viewed as evidence of entrepreneurs' intent on developing their food
manufacturing ideas into full-scale production capabilities and full
functional business entities. Minority and immigrant populations are
growing significantly throughout the state, as are their numbers in
entrepreneurship activities. Many immigrant entrepreneurs are developing
businesses focussed on foods from their native place of origin. The
demand for such foods are rapidly increasing in immigrant communities.
Kitchen incubators will help develop new entrepreneurs and increase the
economic benefits of such activities for the entire state. However, New
York must do more to propel these business start-ups and potential
manufacturers into full-scale operations.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Passed in 2023-24; Vetoed.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL
NONE. THIS LEGISLATION WILL HELP CREATE STATE AND LOCALITIES BY ENCOUR-
AGING THE AND THE HIRING OF NEW EMPLOYEES.TAXABLE INCOME FOR NEW YORK
ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW BUSINESSES
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.