On Friday, September 25 New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $135 million investment to advance affordable, high-performance, and energy-efficient housing across New York State. 

  •  Affordability & Equity: A strong focus is placed on low- to moderate-income housing, with specific allocations targeting disadvantaged communities to ensure lower utility and living costs.  
  • Sustainability: All supported projects emphasize full electrification, zero on-site fossil fuel combustion, extreme energy efficiency (Passive House standards), and integration of solar power. 
  • Broad Support: The initiative is backed by state legislators, municipal housing commissioners, and architecture groups who view it as a dual solution to New York’s housing crisis and climate goals. 

Administered by the New York State Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the initiative aims to lower upfront construction costs, reduce long-term utility bills, and support residential development from design to completion as part of the “Let Them Build” agenda.  


“The NRLA is hopeful that initiatives such as these will help alleviate the housing shortage and boost construction activity in residential areas. Residential construction and housing developments are needed throughout New York State. If these projects can move past the planning phases, then that will hopefully translate to a need for more supplies from our regional building material distributors,” said Dana Schnipper, chair of the NRLA-NY Legislative Committee.  
  
There is still a tremendous amount of work to be done and plenty of issues that are impacting our membership in New York State. We are advocates for tax relief for small businesses, increasing safety for people in the workplace, workforce development, among many other issues that small businesses and our membership face in the state.  The NRLA will continue to provide guidance on regulatory compliance, training, and education to decrease the burden of doing business in New York State.  

 Stay Engaged: NRLA and NRLA-NY will continue advocating for policies that strengthen the building materials industry and reduce the burden of doing business in New York. Learn more about our advocacy priorities and how you can get involved in shaping policies that impact your business.