Economy and Jobs

The key to a strong economy is a strong middle class.  We must continue focusing on strengthening the middle class to ensure that all Central New Yorkers have a fair shot at the American Dream.
  • Small Business
Since taking office in 2013, I hosted roundtable discussions on ways to create jobs in all four counties throughout the 24th Congressional district.  I met with nearly 200 local business owners and economic development leaders and listened to their thoughts and ideas about how to create more jobs and grow Central New York’s economy.  Following these discussions and my own background working at my grandfather’s small business on the East Side of Syracuse, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges facing today’s small businesses in the region.
 
Small businesses are the drivers of economic growth in Central New York. In order to get our economy back on track, we must give small business owners the tools they need to create new jobs. Small businesses serve as incubators for ideas and innovation, and they promote growth of goods and services.
 
Regulations are choking many of our region’s small businesses, and it is critical that we cut the bureaucratic red tape and provide incentives for small business owners to grow and create jobs.   
 
In April 2013, I announced a new plan to create jobs and grow Central New York’s economy at a press conference at the Central New York Philanthropy Center.  I was joined by dozens of Central New York business leaders, small business owners, and economic leaders.
 
As part of my jobs plan, I introduced the Cutting Red Tape, Green-Lighting Small Business Act of 2013 based on input from Central New York business owners during my district-wide listening tour. This bill creates jobs by 1) providing tax incentives for small businesses to hire new employees and 2) eliminating unnecessary, bureaucratic paperwork. Specifically, the Cutting Red Tape, Green-Lighting Small Business Act of 2013 provides a one year payroll tax credit on the first five new employees for small businesses who start or expand. A “small business” is defined as 150 or fewer employees. The payroll tax credit would apply to businesses immediately after it is enacted and would expire at the end of 2015. To eliminate bureaucratic red tape, the Cutting Red Tape, Green-Lighting Small Business Act of 2013 also requires the Small Business Administration to determine what paperwork is not essential to file for new small businesses and issue rules that waive these requirements.
 
I also introduced the Incentivize Growth Now In Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs (IGNITE) Act, a bill to help Central New York small business owners grow and create new jobs. The IGNITE Act will enable individuals to create tax-free savings accounts to start a small business. The accounts would function similar to Roth IRA retirement savings accounts, allowing individuals to save money to start a small business on a tax-free basis. 
 
In February 2014, I announced the creation of my Small Business Advisory Council, which is composed of 29 members who represent a broad cross-section of small business from across Central New York. This council provides a way to have a dialogue with leaders in Central New York about the challenges facing small businesses and discuss ways I can continue working to assist small businesses grow and succeed.
  • Tourism
Central New York’s rich history, beautiful landscape and natural resources, and abundance of culture make it an attractive and growing center for tourism.  Our many farms, orchards, and vineyards make Central New York an ideal tourist destination. Dollars spent by tourists have brought increased revenue to local retail and the services industry.  We need to enhance efforts to advertise our rich tourist attractions, and increase the visitors to our communities who will support local businesses, and boost our local economy by bringing additional revenue to the area.
  • Infrastructure and Transportation
If we want businesses in Central New York to grow, hire new workers, and create more jobs, we need to give them the infrastructure and transportation options they need to do it.  We need to make smart infrastructure investments that will pay off for our economy over the long term.  Our communities need 21st Century transportation options like high speed rail, upgrades to our crumbling roads and bridges, and an expansion of service at Syracuse-Hancock International Airport so businesses can compete in new markets, talented professionals can market their skills to the world, and Central New York can become an even more attractive place for companies to invest and grow their workforce.
 
Central New York also has a number of important waterways and ports, like the Port of Oswego, that support jobs, trade, and economic development.  We must continue to make the right investments in local water infrastructure, which is so important to our economy and businesses in Central New York.  That is why I joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 2273, the Great Lakes Navigation System Sustainability Act, a bill that would facilitate greater development of the Great Lakes waterways.  This bill was included in the larger Water Resources Development Act.
 
In the early months of 2014, I started hosting roundtables to bring together local stakeholders to discuss ways we can work together to strengthen the structural framework that supports our communities in Central New York. I sent an infrastructure survey to people and businesses across Central New York soliciting their input on the challenges facing local infrastructure and ideas to improve the infrastructure that supports our local communities. 
Related Content
03-Dec-14 Press Releases Schumer, Gillibrand, Maffei Announce Provision to Create Harriet Tubman National Historical Park Included in National Defense Authorization Bill Unveiled Today
15-Oct-14 Press Releases After Schumer, Gillibrand & Maffei Push, International Trade Commission Reached Final Determination That Will Help Protect Nucor Steel and Other New York Steel Manufacturers Against Dumping of Cheap Foreign Steel
10-Oct-14 Press Releases Media Advisory for Tomorrow: Rep. Maffei to Visit King Ferry Winery As Part Of "Made in Central New York" Jobs Tour
03-Oct-14 Press Releases Rep. Maffei to Visit Local Businesses as Part of "Made in Central New York" Jobs Tour
30-Sep-14 In the News Onondaga Community College gets $2.5 million job-training

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    repName Dan Maffei  
    helpWithFedAgencyAddress Attn: Constituent Services
    422 Cannon House Office Building
    Washington, DC 20515    		  
    district 24th District of New York  
    academyUSCitizenDate July 1, 2012  
    academyAgeDate July 1, 2012  
    academyApplicationDueDate October 20, 2012  
    repStateABBR NY  
    repDistrict 24  
    repState New York  
    repDistrictText 1st  
    repPhoto  
    SponsoredBills Sponsored Bills  
    CoSponsoredBills Co-Sponsored Bills  
         
         
         
         
         

  • Office Locations

    Office Name Location Image Map URL
    Washington DC 422 Cannon H.O.B.
    Washington, DC 20515
    phone: (202) 225-3701
    fax: (315) 423-5604
    hours: M-F 9-5:30pm    		 https://goo.gl/maps/f9a5E
    Syracuse Office 100 North Salina Street
    1 Clinton Square
    Syracuse, NY 13202
    phone: (315) 423-5657
    fax: (315) 423-5604    		 https://goo.gl/maps/T5YLr
    Auburn Office 30 Dill Street
    Auburn, NY 13021
    phone:     (315) 423-5657
    fax: (315) 423-5604    		 https://goo.gl/maps/0qOQX
    Oswego Office 13 West Oneida Street
    2nd floor
    Oswego, NY 13126
    Phone: (315) 423-5657
    Fax: (315) 423-5604    		 https://goo.gl/maps/5LvOv