New York State Economic Development Board Executive Director's Subject and Correspondence Files

These files were created by Economic Development Board Executive Directors Richard W. Richardson and William E. Redmond. Richardson became executive director upon the board's inception in March of 1975 and served until 1977. Redmond, who was already serving as industrial coordinator in the cabinet of Governor Hugh Carey, succeeded Richardson while retaining his existing cabinet post. Richardson served as executive director until August of 1979, at which time he became executive deputy commissioner in the State Commerce Department.

These records document the day-to-day management of the Economic Development Board and reflect every aspect of the board's mandate to oversee and coordinate economic development planning and research activities in the state and advise the governor on matters relating to the state's economy. A significant quantity of the records document the board's role as the state agency responsible for administering federal economic development planning grants (known as 302 Program grants). Relevant records include grant applications and background research materials, grant project progress reports, and contract agreements with private service providers.

Numerous legislative files document the board's role as adviser to the governor on economic issues. Records include requests from the executive chamber for comments on specific bills pending in the legislature, economic impact assessments prepared by board staff, correspondence from interested business and labor organizations, detailed studies of the economic impacts of the governor's legislative program, and drafts of governor's messages submitted to the board for comment.

Conference materials, correspondence, and published reports in the series also illustrate the board's leadership in coordinating economic recovery efforts among states in the northeastern region of the country. Additional topics considered by the board and documented in the files include sales taxes on producers, tax exemptions for property owners, workmen's compensation laws, purchasing of locally produced and/or American made products, coastal zone management, urban revitalization, role of local governments in the state's economic future, impact of plant closures, impact of illegal aliens in the job market, and role of environmental and other regulatory programs in economic development.

B1415Series B1415, St. Lawrence Seaway-Welland Canal subject file, contains related information which pre-dates this series.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.