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Hochul’s Plans to Revitalize Tourism Industry Hochul

By Miles Hood

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Gov Hochul: That’s why today, I’m very proud to announce a $450 million investment in our tourism workers and our businesses.

Miles Hood: The new initiative is aimed at revitalizing an industry that lost over 50% of business and plans to do some of the burden that the COVID 19 pandemic has had on places like the Erie Canal Museum. Executive director of the museum, Natalie Stetson tells us that the past year and a half has been a struggle.

Natalie Stetson: Things have been complicated the past year or two in the in the museum industry. So we shut down in mid March of 2020. Just a couple of days before we were ordered to shut down.

Miles Hood: The investment plan has two major parts, the first being worker recovery, and the second being the global marketing campaign. Now Natalie says that it’s nice to see the governor investing in the entire state, but says it may not help on the hiring side.

Natalie Stetson: Well, I’m not positive that the program will have an effect for us. The money that is allocated for rehiring I don’t I don’t know. I’m not sure it’s enough. Staffing personnel expenses are the bulk of our expenses. About I just finished drafting up by 22 budget and 80% of my expenses are personnel.

Miles Hood: The grant is set to offer businesses $5,000 for new full-time hires and $2,500 for new part-time hires as a way to help offset labor costs. The strategy is set to be signed into legislation at the start of the new year. Miles Hood. N-C-C News

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS)- On Nov. 8th, New York Governor Kathy Hochul launched the “Bring Back Tourism, Bring Back Jobs” Inclusive Recovery Package. The package is set to deliver over $400 million in support of workers, businesses, and marketing for an industry that lost over 50% of its direct sales in the past year.

The structure for the package has 4 allocation points:

  • $100 Million will go towards worker recovery. The New York State Department of Labor will issue one-time payments of $2,750 to as many as 36,000 qualified workers in tourism sector industries
  • $100 Million will go towards eligible tourism businesses, for grants of up to $5,000 per net new full-time employee, or $2,500 per net new part-time employee, hired to offset their labor costs
  • $25 Million in grants will go to help convention centers and conference spaces bring more events, traveler spending and jobs back to New York State.
  • $25 Million will go to a global marketing ” I LOVE NY” campaign

For local businesses like the Erie Canal Museum, the funds are supposed to help retain and hire new employees. Exec. Director of the museum, Natalie Stetson says the amount of money allocated for labor costs may not be enough.

“I’m not positive the program will have an effect for us. The money that is allocated for rehiring I don’t know. I’m not sure it’s enough. Staffing personnel expenses are the bulk of our expenses.” Stetson said, “I just finished drafting up my 2022 budget and 80% of my expenses are personnel.”

Stetson has been director of the museum for five years and told us that the museum had suffered significant losses during the COVID-19 pandemic and she appreciates the governor’s attempts at revitalizing the industry.  Stetson is excited to see how the marketing campaign will affect businesses going into their slower months.

For more information head to the governors website.  

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