ESFPA E-News

Last Chance to Register for Forestry Awareness Day 2024

This year's Forestry Awareness Day will be held Tuesday, March 5th, 2024. The event will be in person for the first time since 2019 in the Well at the Legislative Office Building in Albany. As many of you already know, Forestry Awareness Day gives ESFPA members the opportunity to put a face on our forests and wood product manufacturing sector; educating legislators and policy makers on the importance of forests and harvested wood products, and the contribution we have in New York's economy, environment, and the quality of life of all New Yorkers. 

Your voice is needed to help make a difference! Register today!

Preliminary information:

• All meetings will have an assigned leader
• Meetings will be in 30-minute time slots  
• See our 2024 Legislative Priorities here
• Registration is required
• If you will be purchasing breakfast/lunch through ESFPA, the cost is $25 and can be paid through the registration form 

Click the link below to register for Forestry Awareness Day 2024:

New York DEC Com­mis­sioner Basil Seggos to Step Down

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos has decided to step down from his position.

Seggos has led the DEC since October 2015, the longest tenure a commissioner has served in that department.

“For nearly a decade, Commissioner Seggos has led the Department of Conservation through a pivotal moment in our climate fight. His leadership has been instrumental in safeguarding our land and water, combatting climate change, protecting New Yorkers during extreme storms, and supporting the incredible outdoor recreation programs across the state," said Katy Zielinski, a spokeswoman for Gov. Hochul, in a statement. "Governor Hochul is grateful for Commissioner Seggos' dedication to protecting New Yorkers and our environment." 

Prior to his work as commissioner, Seggos served as deputy secretary for the environment for the governor’s office.

Seggos will remain in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration into the spring to see the completion of negotiations in this year’s state budget, which is due April 1.

Hochul will appoint Seggos’ successor, who will then have to be confirmed by the state Senate.

 $25m Available in 2024 Timber for Transit Program

The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) is pleased to announce preliminary details of the Timber for Transit Program. The Timber for Transit Program is designed to advance the use of domestic forest products in transportation infrastructure projects across Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont to showcase the capabilities of wood in these applications. Highly competitive projects will demonstrate and widely promote the utility of high-value forest products (e.g. glued laminated timber, cross laminated timber, composite materials, etc.) in transportation infrastructure and commit to enhancing climate resilience in rural communities.

“Some of our region’s most iconic and historic transportation structures, such as covered bridges, were constructed with wood. The Commission seeks to build on this legacy by harnessing the innovation of the forest products industry to support the construction of modern infrastructure that incorporates wood materials. This sector represents both a market opportunity for the industry as well as a means to utilize more climate friendly materials in building community centered projects that serve travelers and passengers,” said NBRC Federal Co-Chair Chris Saunders.

Information sessions have been recorded and can be found here.

These federal resources will be competitively awarded through two funding rounds with a minimum of $25m available across both rounds in 2024. Applicants are required to express interest through a pre-application, which must be submitted using NBRC’s online Grants Management System. Questions about eligibility and the pre-application or application should be directed to the NBRC’s Timber for Transit Program Manager, Marina Bowie at mbowie@nbrc.gov or (603) 369-3001.

Spring 2024 Timeline and Key Dates:

• Pre-Application (Required) Due on March 15, 2024, 5:00 pm EST
• Application (By Invitation) Due on May 3, 2024, 5:00 pm EST

Fall 2024 Timeline and Key Dates:

• Pre-Application (Required) Due on September 6, 2024, 5:00 pm EST
• Application (By Invitation) Due on October 18, 2024, 5:00 pm EST

Additional information can be found through the link below:

NY Business Community Budget Requests Letter to Legislature 

Last week, ESFPA and other New York organizations signed onto a letter requesting that the Senate and Assembly allocate funding in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget to address the Unemployment Insurance (UI) debt, as well as support the Governor’s proposals to sunset the state’s outdated COVID Sick Leave law, address the eruption of lawsuits over frequency of pay claims for manual workers, and combat the rise in retail theft.

Businesses drive New York’s economy, provide essential tax revenue, create, and maintain jobs for New Yorkers, and support local charities and communities. New York businesses cannot afford additional regulations and a high tax environment, while also seeing sensible policies rejected and ignored. The state must focus on working with the business community to help improve the business climate to achieve an economy in the Empire State that is prosperous, fair, and accessible for all New Yorkers. That goal starts with supporting policy to advance the interests of the business community, the jobs they create, and the communities they sustain.

Click the link below to read the full letter: