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Facsimile: 212.644.9201
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Volume I, Issue 29 - Week of July 20th, 2009
The New York State stimulus spending has come under scrutiny before, and now Governor Paterson responded by assigning an independent "watchdog" panel to monitor the spending and to ensure the correct distribution of funds, deterring fraudulent and wasteful practices. One of the panel members is Galen Kirkland, commissioner of the state Division of Human Rights, whose specific goal is to ascertain compliance with federal and state laws, requiring provisions for MWBEs.
In the beginning of the year there was an uneasiness about the current state of the construction industry in New York, as the value of construction projects fell about 80%. Now comes the optimistic news that the Building Congress release May's numbers, showing a triple increase in new construction starts. It's no question that the industry has been hit hard, but as the stimulus spending goes into full effect for New York State there is the possibility of a climb back toward stability. It remains to be seen whether the situation continues to improve.
More next week...
Renee
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Renée Sacks, Ph.D.
Editor
rsacks@wbcnyc.org
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GET CERTIFIED
WBC can help you get certified with New York City Small Business Services. It's an important first step to navigating procurement opportunities with the city and other public agencies. Contact WBC at 212.367.2130 or email rsacks@wbcnyc.org for more information. |
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Stimulus Watch: No-Bid Contracts Mean Higher Costs
7/17/2009 - Source: New York Post
The Defense Department frequently awards no-bid work to small contractors for repairs at military bases under the new economic stimulus law, costing taxpayers millions of dollars more than when businesses compete for the work, according to an Associated Press analysis of 570 such contracts. |
Panel to Monitor NY's Stimulus Spending
7/13/2009 - Source: The Business Review
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New York Gov. David Paterson has created a panel of four state officials to monitor and regulate the state’s stimulus spending. Paterson billed the panel as independent and a watchdog that will track federal stimulus money as it is delegated and spent in the state. New York is expected to receive $26.7 billion of federal stimulus money through early 2011. |
State Stimulus Cash Sits Idle
7/17/2009 - Source: New York Post
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Even as New York rushes to spend hundreds of millions in federal stimulus money for roads and bridges, billions more for education, energy conservation and criminal justice remain untouched, according to federal officials. |
Obama Attacks on Economy and Seeks Billions for Community Colleges
7/15/2009 - Source: New York Times
President Obama came to a struggling auto industry town Tuesday to urge patience for his economic policies, to thunder at his newly emboldened critics in Washington and to introduce an education plan intended to help displaced workers find jobs. After spending last week abroad, Mr. Obama made clear that he was renewing his focus on his domestic agenda, delivering a campaign-style speech that sought to beat back Republican efforts to capitalize on the public uneasiness with the economy.
White House to Push Forward on National Urban Policy Agenda
7/12/2009 - Source: The Washington Post
After remaining out of the public eye since its creation in February, the White House Office of Urban Affairs plans on Monday to launch a public conversation to create a national urban policy agenda, said Adolfo Carrión Jr., its director. The White House will host a daylong urban policy discussion including mayors, county executives, governors, urban policy experts, and heads of various agencies, Carrión said in a telephone interview yesterday .
Port Authority Plucks Bloomberg Foe from MSG
7/14/2009 - Source: The New York Observer
As Port Authority’s executive director, Chris Ward, spars with Mayor Bloomberg over World Trade Center financing, he’s plucking a top aide who has some experience in opposing City Hall. Mr. Ward has hired Andrew Lynn, an experienced planner at Madison Square Garden who helped battle back the mayor’s West Side stadium plans. |
Ground Zero Financing Spat May Cost $2.7 Billion
7/16/2009 - Source: Bloomberg.com
A stalemate between developer Larry Silverstein and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey over financing new skyscrapers at Manhattan’s World Trade Center site may cost the agency as much as $2.7 billion, two people familiar with matter said.
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Construction Activity Falls Into a Deep Hole
7/8/2009 - Source: Crain's New York
The value of new construction projects in New York City plunged 80% to $2.05 billion in the first four months of the year as the recession and credit crunch crippled demand for everything from office towers to residential buildings. However, May's number provided a glimmer of hope as the value of new construction starts almost tripled to $2.04 billion, according to a report by the New York Building Congress, a trade group which analyzed data from McGraw-Hill. May's bounty was largely the result of three major projects including the construction of Extell Development Co.'s tower in the diamond district. |
House Appropriators Give SBA $69M More than Obama Requested
7/8/2009 - Source: Washington Business Journal
House appropriators propose giving the Small Business Administration $848 million in funding next fiscal year -- nearly $69 million more than the Obama administration requested.
Breaking Down Broadband: What's at Stake for New York
7/14/2009 - Source: New York Future Initiative
July 14, marks the beginning of a grant application process for broadband funding under the federal stimulus bill. Here's a little bit about what's at stake. The stimulus is providing a total of $7.2 billion in broadband funds to be allocated by various agencies through various programs aimed alternately at rural and urban areas. The program that matters most to New York City right now is the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), which, with $4.7 billion, is designed to support broadband infrastructure in underserved areas. The city wants to get a slice of a roughly $450 million subset of these funds to create in-home broadband adoption programs and make technology upgrades at public computing centers.
Make the Connection. The World Trade Center Business Resource Center is where M/W/SBEs can access an array of valuable business services, including critical information on upcoming contract opportunities with WTC redevelopment projects.
WHEN:
Monday through Friday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm |
WHERE:
115 Broadway, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10006 |
See Current Bid Opportunities from DASNY |
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