Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced that six additional Empire State companies have received nearly $2.3 million in funding from New York State to produce needed supplies to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic. These grant funds will help alleviate product shortages due to supply chain issues that could lead to unfair pricing practices and delays. These companies will also increase the State's manufacturing capacity while creating new jobs and market opportunities. To date, New York State has awarded nearly $22 million in grants to 39 qualifying New York-based companies to retool their business lines and pivot to manufacturing vital supplies for ongoing response and recovery efforts.
"Part of building back better is building back smarter," Governor Cuomo said. "Making sure we are investing in New York companies that manufacture needed supplies is crucial to avoid supply-chain delays and relying on other states and countries during times of need. Not only do these investments support our needs as we strive to reach the light at the end of the COVID tunnel, but they also help ensure our future preparedness, while strengthening our economy."
In March of last year, Governor Cuomo asked companies with New York-based operations to retool production lines in order to manufacture approved COVID-19 critical supplies, such as ventilators, test kits and PPE, including N95 respirators, surgical masks, gowns and face shields.
"Our country was ill-prepared for a global pandemic when it arrived early last year, and our state was left to scour the earth in search of personal protective equipment," Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said. "We've learned from the lessons of the past. Supporting New York-based companies to pivot to manufacturing medical supplies will not only save lives, but also reduce our dependency on overseas products and retain local jobs."
Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, "Ensuring that future supplies of vital equipment and PPE are at the ready is an important lesson learned during the COVID-19 crisis. Not only are we investing in New York State companies and creating jobs, we are making we are prepared for the future."
New York City Region
Emelle Design, Inc.: $96,000 - Emelle Design Inc. is a womenswear designer located in New York City. In response to the pandemic, the company has added a PPE line and now designs and manufactures isolation gowns for healthcare providers and front-line workers. The company successfully applied for a COVID-19 grant to increase production to a capacity of 45,000 gowns per week, creating 43 jobs.
Notes to the Soul, Inc.: d/b/a Skilled Laborers Brigade: $184,000 - This New York City fashion industry conglomerate, including skilled tailors and designers, is keeping garment workers employed while helping at-risk communities. The group is making specialized transparent face coverings for Peoples Inc., the leading non-profit human services agency serving Western New York and Greater Rochester. The transparent coverings are essential for users reliant on lip reading for communication.
Long Island Region
A&Z Pharmaceutical Inc.: $700,000 - A&Z Pharmaceutical was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Hauppauge, New York. The company develops, manufactures and packages vitamins, sports supplements and pharmaceutical products. The company successfully applied for a COVID-19 grant to retool some of its operations to begin manufacturing N95 respirators, which will help contribute to save lives in New York State and across the country. This grant will complement the investment made by A&Z Pharma and will create 10 new jobs in one of its manufacturing facilities in Hauppauge, New York.
Banyan USA: $400,000 - Banyan USA began producing general use face masks in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 crisis. In order to expand their production and begin producing ASTM level 1,2, and 3 medical use masks they are investing more than $1,000,000 in new machinery and equipment, raw materials, and job training. A $400,000 grant will assist with this project, allowing Banyan to produce up to 750,000 masks a week and hire 16 new employees.
Mid-Hudson Region
Hudson Holdings Group LLC: $750,000 - Hudson Holdings Group has established NY Critical Materials at the New York Center for Innovation in Pearl River, Rockland County, to produce surgical N95 respirators. Once they have received NIOSH approval, the company will produce 870,000 respirators per week, with capacity to increase production in response to growth in demand. The approximately $4.9 million project is the first phase for this company, which is seeking to further expand its manufacturing to include other personal protective equipment and other products in the health and well-being sector.
Finger Lakes Region
BMP America: $150,000 - BMP America is a company that produces engineered nonwoven textile products for niche markets. BMP is also now producing washable, re-usable filtration face masks for adults and children. They will produce 135,000 adult size and 135,000 child size face masks per week. Total production of up to 13,500,000 face masks per year. BMP will invest $1,493,600 and maintain 66 employees at production site.
About Empire State Development
Empire State Development is New York's chief economic development agency. The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing Governor Cuomo's Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of "I LOVE NY," the State's iconic tourism brand. More information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, can be found here and here.