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Responsible Office:

Policy Title:
START-UP NY Program Participation Policy

Document Number:
6800

Effective Date:
February 10, 2014


This policy item applies to:
Community Colleges
State-Operated Campuses
Table of Contents
Summary

Policy
Definitions
Other Related Information
Procedures
Forms
Authority
History
Appendices


Summary

START-UP NY is a state economic development program that positions SUNY campuses as magnets for entrepreneurs and businesses from around the globe. START-UP NY aligns with SUNY's mission of teaching, research and public service; enabling engagement with industry, knowledge acceleration, translation of research into practical applications, and delivering the 21st century workforce businesses need to grow and thrive. START-UP NY will transform university communities to deliver unprecedented economic benefits to New York. To participate in the program, all campuses must comply with this policy and any applicable rules and regulations issued by the NYS Commissioner of Economic Development.

This policy governs the review process that all participating campuses must follow to secure SUNY's approval and/or review of the plans, applications, and other documents required by the NYS Commissioner of Economic Development to participate in the START-UP NY program. It also prescribes special requirements for the disclosure and management of actual or potential conflicts of interest in matters pertaining to the campus' START-UP NY program. Any conflict between this policy and any other applicable Conflict of Interest policy shall be resolved in favor of disclosure of any potential, actual, or perceived conflict of interest relating to the campus' START-UP NY program to the President or Chief Executive Officer of the sponsoring campus.


Policy

  1. Campus Plans for Designation of Tax-Free Area(s): Any campus intending to submit a Campus Plan for Designation of Tax-Free Area(s) ("Campus Plan") to the NYS Commissioner of Economic Development must first have it reviewed and approved by the Chancellor or designee. The Chancellor or designee shall approve or reject all Campus Plans within fifteen (15) business days of receipt. Any rejected Campus Plan shall be accompanied by an explanation of the basis for rejection. Once approved by the Chancellor or designee a campus may submit its Campus Plan to the NYS Commissioner of Economic Development in accordance with the Commissioner's rules and regulations. Any Campus Plan that is rejected can be resubmitted for Chancellor or designee approval and will be reviewed in accordance with this policy and related procedures. Any amendments to approved Campus Plans must be submitted for Chancellor or designee approval and will be reviewed in accordance with this policy and related procedures.
     
  2. Sponsoring University or College Applications for Business Participation: After a campus is notified by the Commissioner of Economic Development that its Campus Plan or any amendment(s) to an approved Campus Plan has been approved, it may submit a Sponsoring University or College Application for Business Participation ("Sponsor Application") to the NYS Commissioner of Economic Development and to the Chancellor or designee for concurrent review and approval.  Only Commissioner of Economic Development approval is required.
     
  3. Delegations: The Chancellor or designee may charge a group of individuals, collectively called the SUNY START-UP NY Proposal Review Team, to evaluate all submitted Campus Plans and Sponsor Applications prior to accepting or rejecting them.
     
  4. Conflicts of Interest: Service as an Official shall not be used as a means for private benefit or inurement for any Official, a Relative thereof, or any entity in which the Official or Relative thereof has a Business Interest. A conflict of interest exists whenever an Official has a Business Interest or other interest or activity outside of the university that has the possibility, whether potential, actual, or perceived, of (a) compromising the Official's judgment, (b) influencing the Official's decision or behavior with respect to the START-UP NY Program, or (c) resulting in personal or a Relative's gain or advancement. Any Official who is an owner or employee of an entity that is the subject of any matter pertaining to the university's START-UP NY Program, or who has a Business Interest in any entity that is the subject of any matter pertaining to the university's START-UP NY Program, or whose Relative has such a Business Interest, shall not vote on or otherwise participate in the administration by the university of any START-UP NY matter involving such entity. Any Official or other campus representative who becomes aware of a potential, actual or apparent conflict of interest, either their own or that of another Official, related to a sponsoring university or college's START-UP NY program must disclose that interest to the President or Chief Executive Officer of the sponsoring college or university. Each such President or Chief Executive Officer shall maintain a written record of all disclosures of actual or potential conflicts of interest made pursuant to this policy, and shall report such disclosures on a calendar year basis, by January 31st of each year, to the University Auditor or to the Chancellor's designee, in which case the University Auditor shall be copied on the correspondence to such designee. SUNY shall then forward such reports to the Commissioner of Economic Development for the State of New York, who shall make public such reports.
     
  5. Exceptions: There are no exceptions to this policy.


Definitions

Business Interest means that an individual (1) owns or controls 10% or more of the stock of an entity (or 1% in the case of an entity the stock of which is regularly traded on an established securities exchange); or (2) serves as an officer, director or partner of an entity.

Official means an employee at the level of dean and above as well as any other person with decision-making authority over a campus' START-UP NY Program, including any member of any panel or committee that recommends businesses for acceptance into the START-UP NY program.

Relative means any person living in the same household as another individual and any person who is a direct descendant of that individual's grandparents or the spouse of such descendant.

Sponsoring College or University means any entity defined or described in NYS Education Law Sec. 352 and Article 126.

START-UP NY Program means the SUNY Tax-free Areas to Revitalize and Transform Upstate New York Program established by Article 21 of the Economic Development Law.

Tax-Free NY Area means vacant land or space designated by the Commissioner of Economic Development Article 21 of the Economic Development Law that is eligible to receive benefits under the START-UP NY program.


Other Related Information

Start-Up NY Regulations: available at the Start-Up NY Website.

At least thirty days before submitting the Campus Plan to the Commissioner of Economic Development the campus must provide a copy of the Plan to the chief executive officer of the municipality or municipalities in which the proposed Tax-free NY Area is located, local economic development entities, the applicable university or college faculty senate, union representatives and the campus student government. The campus shall include in their submission to the Commissioner of Economic Development certification of such notification, as well as a copy of any written response from chief executive officer of the municipality or municipalities in which the proposed Tax-free NY Area is located, local economic development entities, the applicable campus or college faculty senate, union representatives and the campus student government.

StartUp-NY.gov website and program  information.




Procedures

START-UP NY Program Participation, Procedures for


Forms

SUNY START-UP NY Campus Plan for Designation of Tax-Free Area(s) Memorandum

SUNY START-UP NY Campus Plan for Designation of Tax-Free Area(s) Template

ESD START-UP NY Sponsoring University or College Application for Business Participation

ESD START-UP NY Business Application Instructions

ESD START-UP Business Application


Authority

State University of New York Board of Trustees Resolution 2014-12 , START-UP New York Program Administration, adopted January 14, 2014.

Law, New York Economic Development Law Article 21 (Start-Up NY Program) and other Statutes pertaining to the Start-Up New York Program.

Start-Up NY Regulations


History

Enacted into law in June 2013, START-UP NY is a groundbreaking new initiative from Governor Andrew M. Cuomo that provides major incentives for businesses to relocate, start up or significantly expand in New York State through affiliations with public and private universities, colleges and community colleges. Businesses will have the opportunity to operate state and local tax-free on or near academic campuses, and their employees will pay no state or local personal income taxes.


Appendices

There are no appendices relevant to this policy.