Greater Rochester Chamber Issues Statement on FY2025-26 New York State Enacted Budget
ROCHESTER, NY (May 9, 2025)—New York State passed its $254 billion FY2026 budget on Friday, May 9th. This budget encompasses crucial allocations for infrastructure development, healthcare initiatives, economic stimulus measures, and more, all of which hold significant implications for our region's growth and prosperity.
Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Duffy said, “Greater Rochester Chamber thanks Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie, and Leader Stewart-Cousins, and our Greater Rochester delegation for their persistence and leadership to pass a budget that addresses many of our State’s most pressing issues. The decision to invest $8 billion to pay off our unemployment insurance debt and raise benefits is a massive win for all New Yorkers, and we look forward to seeing its full economic impact. We are additionally grateful for investments to address the Benefits Cliff in Monroe County, support economic development and business attraction, expand childcare availability, strengthen our workforce pipeline, modernize and support infrastructure including $59.6 million for our Rochester Riverside Convention Center, and more. We will continue to work with our partners in government to support policies that make New York State a better place to live, work, and play.”
As the primary advocate for the Greater Rochester business community, Greater Rochester Chamber plays a crucial role in interpreting the potential impact of proposed policies and initiatives on our local businesses, as well as articulating perspectives, concerns, and support for specific proposals to ensure that the economic interests of the Greater Rochester region are well-represented. We were proud to have a voice in key conversations during budget negotiations this year to advocate for our members and their concerns.
We will continue to share resources with our members in the coming days, showcasing the impact of this budget on businesses in our community. For more information, please contact Director of Advocacy, Intergovernmental Relations, and Public Policy Joe Leathersich at Joe.Leathersich@GreaterRochesterChamber.com.