Morning News Brief

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.19, up four cents from last week. The New York State average is $3.28 – up five cents from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.30. The price at the pump in Batavia according to AAA is up a penny. Buffalo has climbed 7 cents while Rochester is up 8 cents.  AAA says it expected a jump in gas prices following the storm and taking into account the demand surrounding the holiday weekend; motorists are expected to pay the most expensive gas prices since 2014.

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) Board of Directors will consider resolutions advancing projects with a combined capital investment of approximately $19.9 million at its board meeting tomorrow. The Board will consider a final application for incentives from Liberty Pumps for its proposed $13.7 million expansion at its operations in the town of Bergen at the Apple Tree Acres industrial park. The company plans on constructing a materials center, creating 30 new jobs. The Board also will consider accepting an initial application from Valiant Real Estate USA, Inc. (New York Bus Sales.)  Valiant is proposing a $4.5 million capital investment to construct a 20,000 sq. ft. facility in the town of Batavia. The project would create 24 new jobs. Finally, the Board will consider accepting an initial application from J & R Fancher Property Holdings LLC which is proposing to construct a two-story mixed-use building on 2.6 acres at Buffalo East Tech Park in the town of Pembroke. This is the first of three phases of development that Fancher is proposing at the Tech Park. The $1.7 million investment would include six market-rate 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments on the second floor and a first floor comprised of a 7,000 sq. ft. interior intended to attract commercial tenants.

Thousands of people enjoy the annual butter sculpture at the New York State Fair every year. But after the fair ends, there comes a time where that artwork must be deconstructed. That’s where Noblehurst Farms comes in. The Pavilion farm has made it a tradition to help recycle the butter used in the sculpture. The butter will be converted into renewable energy for the community, and to help develop liquid fertilizer. The 800 pounds of butter that came to the farm in plastic bags will be put into a digestor that creates what Chris Noble calls a “bio-gas” from organic materials.

The 18-day long 2021 Great New York State Fair has wrapped up and even with the fair being an extra five days long, attendance numbers were much lower than years past. Over half a million more people attended The Fair in 2019 than this year’s extra-long event. This year’s opening day of the fair saw just over 37,000 guests, where the first day in 2019 had over 74,000.

NY Governor Kathy Hochul has announced $6 million is now available over three years to support 150 Climate Justice Fellowship opportunities for individuals across the state currently residing in historically disadvantaged communities or from priority populations. This announcement, in advance of New York’s upcoming celebration of Climate Week from September 20 to September 26, helps support New York State’s commitment to ensure an equitable clean energy transition for all New Yorkers as required by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

New York State has pushed back the date that employees working from home have to be back in the office and the date some state employees have to get vaccinated. Both dates have been moved to October 12. Face masks must also be worn by state employees, except when they are in a room or office by themselves, at their desk or workstation, and while eating or drinking. State healthcare workers have until September 27 to get their first shot of coronavirus vaccine.