Gov. Andrew Cuomo said 2016 is going to be a big year for upstate New York. Cuomo made an appearance at the implosion of the Grandstand at the New York State Fairgrounds on Saturday. He said he wants to continue to "focus like a laser" on upstate New York this year.
“It’s a beginning of a new year," Cuomo said. "It’s a beginning of a new environment, a new economy in upstate New York.”
The governor announced a new proposal to invest $200 million in upstate airports. Several northern and central New York airports would be eligible for grants.
“To make them state-of-the-art so we get more flights, more business coming into upstate New York,” Cuomo said.
Last week, the governor announced he wants to cut taxes including lowering the tax rate for small businesses from 6 percent down to 4.5 percent and he wants to keep the tolls on the thruway at the current level and include no tolls for agriculture vehicles.
Cuomo is scheduled to unveil his state budget proposal in his State of the State speech on Wednesday.