February 8, 2021 — GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES OVER 2.1 MILLION VACCINE DOSES ADMINISTERED  

As of 11AM today, New York's Health Care Distribution Sites Have Administered 87% of the Total First Doses Received from Federal Government  

Vaccine Dashboard Will Update Daily to Provide Updates on the State's Vaccine Program; Go to ny.gov/vaccinetracker; Dashboard Now Includes Demographic Data

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the state has administered over 2,136,209 vaccine doses through the state's vaccination program. The total week 8 federal allocation of vaccine delivery to providers will be complete today. As of 11AM today, New York's health care distribution sites have received 1,874,975 first doses and already administered 87 percent 1,627,191 first dose vaccinations and 76 percent of first and second doses. Delivery of the week 9 allocation from the federal government begins mid-week.

"Our singular focus right now is getting vaccines into arms and the daily numbers continue to demonstrate we are doing that job quickly and effectively, as we have administered over 2.1 million doses so far," Governor Cuomo said. "We have the operational capacity to do much more and the only limiting factor is lack of supply. But I am hopeful because we now have a partner in the White House who is working to increase supply to states, and we will continue to work hand in glove with them to get every single New Yorker vaccinated as fast as possible."

Approximately 7 million New Yorkers are currently eligible to receive the vaccine. The federal government has increased the weekly supply by more than 20 percent over the next three weeks, but New York's vast distribution network and large population of eligible individuals still far exceed the supply coming from the federal government. Due to limited supply, New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment.

A breakdown of New York State vaccine administrations through the federal government's Long Term Care Facility program as of 11:00 AM today is as follows.

Vaccination program numbers below are for doses distributed and delivered to New York for the state's vaccination program, and do not include those reserved for the federal government's Long Term Care Facility program. A breakdown of the data based on numbers reported to New York State as of 11:00 AM today is as follows. The allocation totals below include 100 percent of the week 8 allocation which will finish being distributed to New York provider sites today.

STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN

• First Doses Received - 1,874,975

• First Doses Administered - 1,627,191; 87%

• Second Doses Received - 933,850

• Second Doses Administered - 509,018

To date, New York's health care distribution sites have administered 87 percent of week first doses received from the federal government but due to the federal government's limited allocation, appointments have filled up quickly. New Yorkers seeking to determine eligibility and schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site, can visit the 'Am I Eligible' website. New Yorkers may also call their local health department, pharmacy, doctor, or hospital for additional information and to schedule appointments where vaccines are available.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker Dashboard is available to update New Yorkers on the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. The New York State Department of Health requires vaccinating facilities to report all COVID-19 vaccine administration data within 24 hours; the vaccine administration data on the dashboard is updated daily to reflect the most up-to-date metrics in the state's vaccination effort.

New Yorkers who suspect fraud in the vaccine distribution process can now call 833-VAX-SCAM (833-829-7226) toll-free or email the state Department of Health at STOPVAXFRAUD@health.ny.gov. Hotline staff will route complaints to the appropriate investigative agencies to ensure New Yorkers are not being taken advantage of as the State works to vaccinate the entire eligible population.

February 2, 2021 — GOVERNOR CUOMO UPDATES NEW YORKERS ON STATE'S PROGRESS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC     

8,067 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide

1,503 Patients in the ICU; 1,004 Intubated

Statewide Positivity Rate is 5.47% - 7-Day Average Positivity 4.95%, Below 5% for First Time Since December 6

146 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday     

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"New Yorker's hard work and commitment to defeating this virus is reflected in the numbers more and more every day," Governor Cuomo said. "While we are not out of the woods yet, we are on a promising trajectory and we need to maintain that progress. Remember - this is a footrace we are in and winning it means we have to continue driving down the infection rate, while vaccinating as many people as possible. New York has already established a wide-reaching distribution network that is getting thousands of shots in arms every day and with another increase in supply from the federal government on its way, we will be able to do even more. We just need to continue this momentum on all fronts, so we can put this beast to rest once and for all."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 150,199

• Total Positive - 8,215

• Percent Positive - 5.47%

• 7-Day Average Positivity - 4.95% (lowest since 12/6)

• Patient Hospitalization - 8,067 (+64)

• Net Change Patient Hospitalization Past Week - -764

• Patients Newly Admitted - 748

• Hospital Counties - 57

• Number ICU - 1,503 (+3)

• Number ICU with Intubation - 1,004 (+17)

• Total Discharges - 128,889 (+535)

• Deaths - 146

• Total Deaths - 35,466

February 2, 2021 — GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES FEDERAL VACCINE SUPPLY TO INCREASE TO 20 PERCENT FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS

Total of 2 Million Vaccines Administered To Date  

Private Pharmacies Will Receive an Additional 10% Directly from the Federal Government to Supplement the Doses Allocated to Them by the State  

As of Noon today, New York's Health Care Distribution Sites Have Administered 91% of First Doses Received from Federal Government  

Vaccine Dashboard Will Update Daily to Provide Updates on the State's Vaccine Program; Go to ny.gov/vaccinetracker  

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's vaccination program. As of noon today, New York's health care distribution sites have received 1,554,450 first doses and already administered 91 percent or 1,414,241 first dose vaccinations and 76 percent of first and second doses. Delivery of the week 8 allocation from the federal government begins mid-week.

Following a call with the White House, Governor Cuomo who chairs the National Governors Association, announced that the federal supply to the states will increase to 20 percent for the next three weeks, up from the initial 16 percent bump. Private pharmacies in the state who are charged with prioritizing the 65-plus population will now receive an additional 10 percent, or about 30,000 doses, directly from the federal government to supplement the doses allocated to them by the State. Given the overall increase to the State's supply, the Governor is granting localities the flexibility to add restaurant workers, taxi drivers, and developmentally disabled facilities to the 1B vaccine prioritization group.

"We're in a footrace to vaccinate the entire eligible population while continuing to keep the infection rate low," Governor Cuomo said. "We're moving heaven and earth to administer as many doses as possible, but on a global level we are experiencing high demand and scarce amounts of the vaccine. We have much more distribution in place than we have supply, and as soon as we have more doses from the federal government we can get those shots in the arms of New Yorkers as quickly and fairly, while continuing to make sure the communities hardest hit have access to and trust in the vaccine. In the meantime, I urge New Yorkers to be smart and take measures we know work to keep the infection rate low - wear a mask, wash your hands and socially distance."

State demographic data of hospital workers in the 1A eligibility group who were offered and accepted the vaccine provides insight into the vaccine hesitancy/acceptance rate among New Yorkers. The demographic breakdown of the eligible 1A population is 70 percent white; 17 percent African American; 8 percent Hispanic or Latino; and 11 percent Asian hospital workers. Of the total 1A eligible population, 63 percent of vaccine recipients were white, 10 percent of vaccine recipients were African American; 10 percent of vaccine recipients were Hispanic or Latino, and 16 percent of vaccine recipients were Asian.

Approximately 7.1 million New Yorkers are currently eligible to receive the vaccine. The federal government has increased the weekly supply by 20 percent over the next three weeks, but New York's vast distribution network and large population of eligible individuals still far exceed the supply coming from the federal government. Due to limited supply, New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment.

Vaccination program numbers are for doses distributed and delivered to New York for the state's vaccination program, and do not include those reserved for the federal government's Long Term Care Facility program. A breakdown of the data based on numbers reported to New York State as of 12:00 PM today is as follows:

STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN

• First Doses Received - 1,554,450

• First Doses Administered - 1,414,241, 91%

• Second Doses Received - 725,050

• Second Doses Administered - 321,204

To date, New York's health care distribution sites have administered 91 percent of first doses received from the federal government but due to the federal government's limited allocation, appointments have filled up quickly. New Yorkers seeking to determine eligibility and schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site, can visit the 'Am I Eligible' website. New Yorkers may also call their local health department, pharmacy, doctor, or hospital for additional information and to schedule appointments where vaccines are available.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker Dashboard is available to update New Yorkers on the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. The New York State Department of Health requires vaccinating facilities to report all COVID-19 vaccine administration data within 24 hours; the vaccine administration data on the dashboard is updated daily to reflect the most up-to-date metrics in the state's vaccination effort.

New Yorkers who suspect fraud in the vaccine distribution process can now call 833-VAX-SCAM (833-829-7226) toll-free or email the state Department of Health at STOPVAXFRAUD@health.ny.gov. Hotline staff will route complaints to the appropriate investigative agencies to ensure New Yorkers are not being taken advantage of as the State works to vaccinate the entire eligible population.

January 31, 2021 — As of 11AM today, New York's Health Care Distribution Sites Have Administered 88% of First Doses Received from Federal Government  

New Statewide Demographic Data of Hospital Workers: 63% of Vaccine Recipients Were White (70% of Eligible Population); 10% of Vaccine Recipients Were African American (17% of Eligible Population); 10% of Vaccine Recipients Were Hispanic or Latino (8% of Eligible Population); and 16% of Vaccine Recipients Were Asian (11% of Eligible Population)  

Vaccine Dashboard Will Update Daily to Provide Updates on the State's Vaccine Program; Go to ny.gov/vaccinetracker  

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's vaccination program. The total week 7 federal allocation of vaccine delivery to providers will be complete today. As of 11:00 AM today, New York's health care distribution sites have received 1,554,450 first doses and already administered 88 percent or 1,361,212 first dose vaccinations and 73 percent of first and second doses. Delivery of the week 8 allocation from the federal government does not begin until the middle of this week.

In addition, the Governor announced new demographic data of hospital workers in the 1A eligibility group who were offered and accepted the vaccine. The demographic breakdown of the eligible 1A population is 70 percent white; 17 percent African American; 8 percent Hispanic or Latino; and 11 percent Asian hospital workers. Of the total 1A eligible population, 63 percent of vaccine recipients were white, 10 percent of vaccine recipients were African American; 10 percent of vaccine recipients were Hispanic or Latino, and 16 percent of vaccine recipients were Asian.

"We know the vaccine is the weapon that ends the COVID war, but in order for it to be truly effective, we must ensure it is being distributed fairly and equitably, and that people actually trust it," Governor Cuomo said. "Through one of the nation's most expansive vaccination networks, we have been able to administer 1.9 million dosages while continuing to prioritize social equity, access and public trust in those communities hardest hit. However, the issue we're continuing to see, and is now supported by new demographic data on health care workers, is that there continues to be a hesitancy towards the vaccine in the Black community. No matter the reason, this is a problem that needs to be addressed because after all, the vaccine only works if everyone is on board. As we move forward, New York remains hyper focused on continuing to build trust in the vaccine and will use every tool we have to get that done."

Approximately 7.1 million New Yorkers are currently eligible to receive the vaccine. The federal government has increased the weekly supply by 16 percent over the next three weeks, but New York's vast distribution network and large population of eligible individuals still far exceed the supply coming from the federal government. Due to limited supply, New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment.

Vaccination program numbers are for doses distributed and delivered to New York for the state's vaccination program, and do not include those reserved for the federal government's Long Term Care Facility program. A breakdown of the data based on numbers reported to New York State as of 11:00 AM today is as follows. The allocation totals below include 100 percent of the week 7 allocation which will finish being distributed to New York provider sites on today.

STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN

• First Doses Received - 1,554,450

• First Doses Administered - 1,361,212; 88%

• Second Doses Received - 725,050

• Second Doses Administered - 299,007

To date, New York's health care distribution sites have administered 88 percent of first doses received from the federal government but due to the federal government's limited allocation, appointments have filled up quickly. New Yorkers seeking to determine eligibility and schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site, can visit the 'Am I Eligible' website. New Yorkers may also call their local health department, pharmacy, doctor, or hospital for additional information and to schedule appointments where vaccines are available.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker Dashboard is available to update New Yorkers on the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. The New York State Department of Health requires vaccinating facilities to report all COVID-19 vaccine administration data within 24 hours; the vaccine administration data on the dashboard is updated daily to reflect the most up-to-date metrics in the state's vaccination effort.

New Yorkers who suspect fraud in the vaccine distribution process can now call 833-VAX-SCAM (833-829-7226) toll-free or email the state Department of Health at STOPVAXFRAUD@health.ny.gov. Hotline staff will route complaints to the appropriate investigative agencies to ensure New Yorkers are not being taken advantage of as the State works to vaccinate the entire eligible population.

January 31, 2021 — GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES NEW YORK'S COVID-19 POSITIVITY RATE HAS DECLINED FOR 23 STRAIGHT DAYS

7,976 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide  

1,534 Patients in the ICU; 1,008 Intubated

Statewide Positivity Rate is 4.44%

138 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York's State's 7-day average COVID-19 positivity rate has declined for 23 straight days.

"We've dealt with a holiday surge driven by increased social activity, the surge is reducing, and the state's 7-day average positivity rate has declined for 23 straight days, which is a significant trend," Governor Cuomo said. "As we continue to vaccinate as many New Yorkers as supply will allow, with our expansive distribution network ready to vaccinate significantly more people, it's critical that New Yorkers stay safe. All the models show a continued reduction, and so we've been able to loosen restrictions with micro-clusters, the orange zones, and New York City indoor dining. In the here and now, the news is very good, but keep an eye on the U.K. variants and the other variants because all of them suggest more diligence will be needed."  

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

·         Test Results Reported - 243,066

·         Total Positive - 10,793

·         Percent Positive - 4.44%

·         Patient Hospitalization - 7,976 (-200)

·         Patients Newly Admitted - 877

·         Hospital Counties - 57

·         Number ICU - 1,534 (-17)

·         Number ICU with Intubation - 1,008 (-9)

·         Total Discharges - 127,798 (+956)

·         Deaths - 138

·         Total Deaths - 35,178

January 30, 2021 — GOVERNOR CUOMO UPDATES NEW YORKERS ON STATE'S PROGRESS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC  

8,176 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide

1,551 Patients in the ICU; 1,017 Intubated

Statewide Positivity Rate is 4.75%  

140 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"We've gotten past the post-holiday spike and thanks to the hard work of New Yorkers, our infection rate continues to decline. In fact, if this current trajectory holds, we can open up indoor dining in New York City by Valentine's Day, but actually getting to that point will be a consequence of our actions," Governor Cuomo said. "We must continue taking steps to reopen our economy, but we have to do it smartly and safely. As New York continues to build out one of the nation's most expansive vaccination networks to get as many shots in arms as possible, we must all remember to take responsibility at an individual level also and do what's necessary for stamping out virus once and for all. The light at the end of the tunnel is within sight, it's just going to take all of us staying tough and united to get there."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

·         Test Results Reported - 269,350

·         Total Positive - 12,804

·         Percent Positive - 4.75%

·         Patient Hospitalization - 8,176 (-181)

·         Patients Newly Admitted - 889

·         Hospital Counties - 57

·         Number ICU - 1,551 (+8)

·         Number ICU with Intubation - 1,017 (+5)

·         Total Discharges - 126,842 (+933)

·         Deaths - 140

·         Total Deaths - 35,036

January 30, 2021 — As of 11AM today, New York's Health Care Distribution Sites Have Administered 91% of First Doses Received from Federal Government

Vaccine Dashboard Will Update Daily to Provide Updates on the State's Vaccine Program; Go to ny.gov/vaccinetracker

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's vaccination program. As of 11:00 AM today, New York's health care distribution sites have received 1,471,145 first doses and already administered 91 percent or 1,343,729 first dose vaccinations and 76 percent of first and second doses. The week 7 allocation from the federal government continues being delivered to providers for administration.

“New York's vast distribution network is capable of handling more than 100,000 vaccinations per day, but to actually do it, we need more doses from the federal government," Governor Cuomo said. "While the 16 percent bump in weekly vaccine supply over the next three weeks is a welcome increase, the reality is that we simply need more supply. As we get through this next phase of the war, I urge New Yorker's to continue to wear a mask, socially distance, and stay New York Tough."

Approximately 7.1 million New Yorkers are currently eligible to receive the vaccine. The federal government has increased the weekly supply by 16 percent over the next three weeks, but New York's vast distribution network and large population of eligible individuals still far exceed the supply coming from the federal government. Due to limited supply, New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment.

Vaccination program numbers are for doses distributed and delivered to New York for the state's vaccination program, and do not include those reserved for the federal government's Long Term Care Facility program. A breakdown of the data based on numbers reported to New York State as of 11:00 AM today is as follows. The allocation totals below include 67 percent of the week 7 allocation which will finish being distributed to New York provider sites on Sunday.

STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN

• First Doses Received - 1,471,145

• First Doses Administered - 1,343,729; 91%

• Second Doses Received - 671,585

• Second Doses Administered - 282,513

To date, New York's health care distribution sites have administered 91 percent of first doses received from the federal government but due to the federal government's limited allocation, appointments have filled up quickly. New Yorkers seeking to determine eligibility and schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site, can visit the 'Am I Eligible' website. New Yorkers may also call their local health department, pharmacy, doctor, or hospital for additional information and to schedule appointments where vaccines are available.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker Dashboard is available to update New Yorkers on the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. The New York State Department of Health requires vaccinating facilities to report all COVID-19 vaccine administration data within 24 hours; the vaccine administration data on the dashboard is updated daily to reflect the most up-to-date metrics in the state's vaccination effort.

New Yorkers who suspect fraud in the vaccine distribution process can now call 833-VAX-SCAM (833-829-7226) toll-free or email the state Department of Health at STOPVAXFRAUD@health.ny.gov. Hotline staff will route complaints to the appropriate investigative agencies to ensure New Yorkers are not being taken advantage of as the State works to vaccinate the entire eligible population.

January 18, 2021 — GOVERNOR CUOMO ISSUES LETTER TO PFIZER CHAIRMAN AND CEO ALBERT BOURLA ASKING TO DIRECTLY PURCHASE COVID-19 VACCINES FOR NEW YORK STATE  

Vaccine Demand Dramatically Outpaces Supply from Federal Government  

CDC Dramatically Expanded Eligibility for the Vaccine; More Than 7 Million New Yorkers Are Now Eligible for Small Number of Available Vaccines  

Click Here to View the Letter

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today issued a letter to Pfizer Chairman and CEO Dr. Albert Bourla asking for the ability to purchase COVID-19 vaccines directly from Pfizer, as the company is not bound by commitments that Moderna made under Operation Warp Speed.

The full text of the letter is available below:

Monday, January 18, 2021

Dear Dr. Bourla:

On behalf of all New Yorkers, I want to thank you and the teams at Pfizer and BioNTech for your hard work to develop a safe, effective vaccine for COVID-19. The last ten months have been exceptionally dark — but your efforts have provided a bright light at the end of the tunnel and hope for a better future. It is abundantly clear that these vaccines are the weapons that will finally win the war against COVID-19. But with hospitalizations and deaths increasing across the country this winter, we are in a footrace with the virus, and we will lose unless we dramatically increase the number of doses getting to New Yorkers. After myself and seven other governors called on the Trump Administration to release more doses, HHS Secretary Alex Azar said that relief was on the way. To date, however, the federal government has not acted on that promise — in fact, New York will receive just 250,000 doses this week, 50,000 fewer than the week prior.

Because you are not bound by commitments that Moderna made as part of Operation Warp Speed, I am requesting that the State of New York be permitted to directly purchase doses from you. The distribution of any doses obtained directly from Pfizer will follow the rigorous guidance the State has established, while enabling us to fill the dosage gap created this week by the outgoing federal administration. All of this will further our goal to vaccinate 70 to 90 percent of New Yorkers as soon as possible and reach herd immunity.

You no doubt understand the challenges New York and other states face. Shifting guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention drove the number of New Yorkers eligible and prioritized for the vaccine from 5 million to 7 million practically overnight. The federal administration essentially opened up a floodgate while cutting our supply — leading to confusion, frustration, and dashed hopes.

Pfizer is a New York company - something I am greatly proud of. The company's decision to opt out of Operation Warp Speed, which the Biden administration plans to overhaul, puts it in a unique situation that could help us save lives right here in New York. I am happy to discuss this matter further with you.

Sincerely,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

January 12, 2021 — GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES STATE VACCINATION SITES TO BEGIN OPENING TOMORROW  

Vaccination Sites at Jacob K. Javits Center, Westchester County Center, and New York State Fair Expo Center Open January 13, With Jones Beach Opening on January 14 and SUNY Albany Opening on January 15

Appointments Could Take Up to 14 Weeks Due to Limited Federal Allocation

All Vaccines Are By Appointment Only  

Click Here to Determine Eligibility and Schedule Appointments with Administrating Providers

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced five state-run vaccination sites have begun accepting appointments and are scheduled to open this week. The sites - the Jacob K. Javits Center, Westchester County Center and New York State Fair Expo Center - will all open on January 13 at 8 a.m. Sites at Jones Beach and SUNY Albany will also open on January 14 and 15, respectively, with more vaccination sites to be announced in the coming days.

Since federal supply severely limits the ability to distribute vaccine, New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment. New York's vast distribution network and large population of eligible individuals far exceed the vaccine supply coming from the federal government, which is arriving at a rate of approximately 300,000 doses per week. As such, eligible New Yorkers should be prepared to receive an appointment date as far as 14 weeks or further in the future.

"New York State is rapidly expanding our networks and capabilities to get as many New Yorkers vaccinated as fast as our supply allows," Governor Cuomo said. "The new vaccine sites across the State will expedite our distribution to get our most vulnerable New Yorkers vaccinated efficiently. Our greatest hindrance continues to be federal inaction. We have come too far to be held back in our efforts by the inadequate vaccine supply from the federal government. I encourage New Yorkers to be patient throughout this process and urge our federal government to increase the supply to states."  

To further accelerate the vaccination rate of priority health care workers, and begin the vaccination of newly eligible New Yorkers. New York has established a network of distribution sites that will supplement the work being done in hospitals to prevent any one hospital from becoming overburdened. This network includes the five state-run sites opening this week, as well as 15 more which will be announced in the coming days. This new network will also utilize doctors' offices, Federally-Qualified Health Centers, county health departments, ambulatory centers and pharmacies to get doses in the arms of eligible New Yorkers. More than 1,200 pharmacies have already committed to participating in this network, with nearly 400 scheduled to come on-line this week. Pharmacies will be provided vaccines for New Yorkers aged 65 and older, while hospitals will continue vaccinating 1a healthcare workers, and local health departments and union-organized efforts will serve essential workers in 1b. 

January 12, 2021 — GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES PROPOSAL TO CREATE A PATHWAYS PLEDGE FOR NEW YORK STATE EMPLOYERS AS PART OF 2021 STATE OF THE STATE  

Companies Would Pledge to Create More Inclusive Workforces and Provide More Workforce Development Opportunities  

Builds on Governor Cuomo's Historic $175 Million Workforce Development Initiative

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the blue-ribbon Reimagine New York Commission today announced a proposal to create a Pathways Pledge for New York State employers to create more inclusive workforces and provide more workforce development opportunities as part of the 2021 State of the State. The pledge commits both public and private-sector employers to reforming their talent recruitment, investment, and promotion policies to foster more equitable workforces after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"COVID-19 has exacerbated existing inequalities across our society, and the economy is no exception. Historic numbers of New Yorkers are out of work, and lower and middle-income households are being hit the hardest. Public and private employers have critical roles to play closing that gap," Governor Cuomo said. "We need to expand who they employ, invest in training and retraining and work with workforce development partners to get jobs to the jobless. That's why we are asking employers across the state to take the Pathways Pledge to help provide opportunity to all New Yorkers, not just those who are already well off."

To date, 16 companies have made the pledge, affecting over 120,000 workers in New York, and the state aims to triple those commitments in the next year. The Pledge builds on Governor Cuomo's progress advancing workforce development in New York State, including the $175 million Workforce Development Initiative, the first Governor's Office of Workforce Development, and ensuring that a majority of New York State civil service positions hire based on skills, not degrees.  

Participating employers will agree to report quarterly on their progress in implementing their Pledge commitments. They will agree to take actions including:

• Invest in current worker retraining or skills development for promotions and/or higher wages, including providing college financial support or supporting new skills training on the job;

• Create new apprenticeship programs to provide pathways for underrepresented populations;

• Commit to exploring additional workforce supports for low-income workers or trainees, e.g., childcare and transportation subsidies;

• Commit to exploring skills-based hiring models by removing, as appropriate, high school or post-secondary degree requirements for new hires;

• Scale relationships with existing nontraditional workforce development partners by providing funding and/or expanded staff volunteer time to facilitate recruiting, interviews, and mentorship opportunities for new prospective employees; and/or

• Develop new relationships with New York State workforce development providers serving underserved communities, including State University of New York, City University of New York, Boards of Cooperative Educational Services, and/or nontraditional workforce development organizations.

The 16 founding employers participating in the Pathways Pledge are IBM, Chobani, Con Edison, Google, JPMorgan Chase, Mastercard, AIG, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Montefiore, Globalfoundries, TEKsystems, Loretto, Cognizant, Clarkson University, Berkeley College, and Athenex. 

In addition to new commitments from New York's leading employers, Governor Cuomo will also take the following State actions through his $175 million Workforce Development Initiative, inspired by the work of the Reimagine New York Commission. The COVID-19 health emergency has pushed a tremendous number of New Yorkers out of work. The crisis has also magnified inequalities, with lower- and middle-income households experiencing the greatest economic losses. The following actions will seek to expand job pathways and opportunities:

• Launch NYS Workforce Scholarships to allow low-income New Yorkers to attend high-quality training programs free-of-cost to gain skills leading to well-paid jobs. This initiative builds on Governor Cuomo's leadership to make college free for middle class New York families by creating non-college pathways vital to help New Yorkers move up the ladder.

• Expand SUNY For All Free Online Training so New Yorkers can enroll in additional employment certification programs for quality jobs in high-demand areas like IT, cyber, and healthcare, building on the success of hybrid learning models.

• Expand the Employment Training Incentive Program retraining tax credit to further incentivize New York businesses to train and upskill employees and interns. This tax incentive will support training and wraparound services to help employees who are furloughed or out-of-work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will also provide internship opportunities to young New Yorkers.

Reimagine New York Commission Working Group Co-Chair and Former IBM Chair, President and CEO Ginni Rometty said, "Jump-starting New York's economic recovery depends on creating new career opportunities for those hit hardest by the pandemic, especially New Yorkers without a college degree. That's why I'm encouraging all New York companies to adopt the Pathways Pledge, which commits employers to hire people based on their skills, not just their degrees. The pledge also calls for retraining programs to help workers build the skills that matter most in a fast-changing digital economy. Committing to the Pathways Pledge is a way for companies to expand opportunity, make the workforce more inclusive, and put skills first in rebuilding New York's economy."
 
Reimagine New York Commission Working Group Co-Chair and Former Infor Chairman and CEO Charles Phillips said, "In a rapidly evolving digital economy, it is now more important than ever for New Yorkers to be able to acquire new skills. Having spent my career in the technology industry, I have seen first-hand how innovation can require individuals to acquire new skills to succeed in the workplace. We must provide New Yorkers with increased access to job training and the financial support needed to pursue it; we must ensure that training programs in the state are high-quality and equip workers to succeed in their careers; and we must help workers to access the digital tools required to both receive training and participate in the workplace. The Reimagine New York Commission has advanced new policies and programs designed to help New Yorkers in each of these ways."
 
Reimagine New York Commission Member and Per Scholas President and CEO Plinio Ayala said, "Per Scholas has been so honored and excited to participate in the Reimagine New York Commission to help New York build a successful economic recovery plan following the COVID-19 pandemic. We are encouraged by so many New York companies that are making a Pathways Pledge commitment to a more equitable and diverse workforce through worker upskilling and pre-employment training to ensure our labor force is prepared for in-demand jobs."
 

Reimagine New York Commission Member and Founder and CEO of Chobani Hamdi Ulukaya said, "As a founding member of the Pathways Pledge, Chobani has been creating opportunities for all New Yorkers no matter where they come from or their experience. The promises we're making today formalize an important mission—not just for this state but for the country. We must continue to do everything we can to break down the barriers to achieving the American Dream."