Albany, NY — Today in Albany Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D-119), Chair of the Assembly
Standing Committee on Small Business, joined Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-127), Chair of the Assembly Standing
Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce, and Industry, and Assemblyman William
Conrad (D-127), Chair of the Legislative Commission on Skills Development and Career Education, for a joint
public oversight hearing at the Legislative Office Building.
The hearing brought together lawmakers, agency leaders, and business voices from across the state to assess how
state-funded economic development initiatives are serving new and existing businesses, the workforce challenges
businesses face, and whether these programs are effectively preparing business owners and the workforce for the
rapidly changing technology landscape.
“As Chair of the Small Business Committee, I have heard from businesses in my district and around the
state that emphasize the need for continued investment in workforce development,” said
Assemblywoman Buttenschon. “They are struggling to fill their positions with qualified candidates.
Today’s hearing reinforced the need to listen to our businesses and engage in intentional, data-driven,
and community-informed economic growth.”
Starting the testimony today was Hope Knight, President and CEO of Empire State Development (ESD), the
agency that oversees economic development initiatives funded by the state, and Commissioner of the Department
of Economic Development. Her testimony focused on the actions and new initiatives taken by ESD to support and
strengthen New York’s economy, including a new Small Business Roadshow, which seeks to bring ESD’s nearly
30 programs focused on small businesses to communities across the state. She also noted the launching of a
Chambers of Commerce Outreach Initiative, designed to ensure that local partners have a full understanding of
ESD programs in order to best support their members.
“I was honored to partner with President Knight and her team at Empire State Development on an
MWBE Roundtable and Expo at SUNY Poly over the summer,” said Buttenschon. “This event helped to
bring attention to the great work done by minority- and women-owned businesses across the Mohawk
Valley, and to connect them to resources at ESD.”
Representatives from the Mohawk Valley played a key role in the discussion. Testifying jointly were Bruce
Hairston, Executive Director of the Rome Area Chamber of Commerce, and Kari Puleo, Executive Director of the
Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce. Their remarks emphasized the need for sustained investment in attracting
talent to New York State, expanded pathways for skilled careers, and including housing and other work supports
as part of workforce investments. Additionally, they stressed the need to make state assistance more accessible for
DISTRICT OFFICE: Room 401, State Office Building, 207 Genesee Street, Utica, New York 13501 • 315-732-1055, FAX: 315-732-1413
ALBANY OFFICE: Room 528, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 • 518-455-5454, FAX: 518-455-5928
EMAIL: buttenschonm@nyassembly.gov
small businesses and to help facilitate the connection of existing resources, such as employers, educational
institutions, and community organizations. Hairston and Puleo delivered a unified message that reflected the
shared needs of both urban and rural parts of the region.
Throughout the day, Assemblywoman Buttenschon engaged deeply with testifiers, asking thoughtful and
community-focused questions that reflected her commitment to lifting up small businesses across Oneida County.
She also spoke about the importance of supporting existing businesses in the community and raised concerns she
has frequently heard from local owners, such as the overwhelming amount of paperwork required to apply for
grants and the overly burdensome bureaucracy that often makes seeking government assistance more costly and
time-consuming than it’s worth.
“I want to thank Bruce Hairston and Kari Puleo for preparing testimony and testifying in Albany
today,” Buttenschon said. “The information they prepared was to support our small businesses and
provide practical solutions.”
About Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon
Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon represents the 119th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Utica
and Rome and surrounding towns in Oneida County. She serves as Chair of the Assembly Standing Committee on
Small Business and is a tireless advocate for rural equity, economic opportunity, and workforce development
across Central New York.
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