Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi is at the head of a pack of his assembly colleagues lobbying for hi-tech growth in the boro.
As the borough’s economy continues to limp after Hurricane Sandy, Queens Assembly members and business leaders said a much-needed jolt to the job market could come if Gov. Andrew Cuomo establishes an “innovation hot spot” in Queens – which aims to draw high-tech companies to the area, or support existing ones, through tax incentives.
Nearly the entire Queens delegation in the Assembly recently penned a letter to Cuomo, urging him to create what the governor is calling a “business incubator and innovation hot spot” in the borough. Cuomo proposed the idea of setting up 10 hot spots throughout the state to cement a more tech-savvy business landscape in his State of the State address in January, and the program would allow businesses within the hot spots to be exempt from state sales and business taxes. Additionally, businesses in a hot spot – which would not cover the entire borough, but a portion of it – would receive support services, including legal and accounting help.
“Queens is an ideal location to promote growth in the technology industry through the use of innovation hot spots,” said Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills), who helped to author the letter that encourages Cuomo to ensure the borough is part of the program. “We have a highly educated and motivated workforce that is capable of competing with Silicon Valley, and as the most diverse county in the United States, Queens has much to offer tech entrepreneurs seeking a market to grow.”
Much of the momentum to have the borough be considered for the governor’s program stems from the Coalition for Queens, a tech advocacy group that has been working with borough legislators to ensure the area is not bypassed as a hot spot.
“Having that official designation would get people outside of Queens to start thinking of Queens,” said Jukay Hsu, the founder of Coalition for Queens and a Flushing native. “It would people companies to increase their hiring, especially tech companies who are just starting out.”
Hsu’s group also provides education for individuals who hope to boost their skills to land a position at a tech company, noting that many businesses in the field of technology are struggling to find employees.
“Companies are desperately looking to hire, but there aren’t enough people with the skills to do the jobs they’re looking to fill,” Hsu said. “These are jobs that can start at $80,000 a year; they are well-paying jobs.”
Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway), who also signed the letter to Cuomo, said the creation of jobs – as well as the ability to match skilled workers with companies – would be especially welcome in an economy that was rocked by Hurricane Sandy.
“When it comes to recovery from the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy, we have to look to innovative ways to create jobs and get our economy back to where it needs to be,” Goldfeder said.
Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Flushing), Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D-Fresh Meadows) and Assemblyman Francisco Moya (D-Corona) also stressed that Queens is well poised to be an area known for its tech-savvy businesses.
“Queens College has the best computer science program in our city, and the students that graduate from the college have the skills that are necessary for the success of this initiative,” Kim said.
