New York State Economic Development Board

The predecessor to this Board, the Council of Economic Advisers, was created by executive order in 1968 to advise the Governor on economic and fiscal policy matters affecting the state, to study and report on economic trends in the state, to prepare an annual state economic report, and to make special economic and fiscal studies as deemed appropriate.

The Council consisted of seven members appointed by the Governor, and was instructed not to duplicate the functions of existing agencies (Executive Order 30, November 1968).

The Council functioned until March 1975, when it was abolished and replaced by the Economic Development Board. This Board continued the functions and duties of the previous Council, served as the state's economic planning agency pursuant to the federal Public Works and Economic Development Act, and received and disbursed funds made available to the state under this act. The composition of the Board has changed twice since 1975 and now consists of the heads of the Division of the Budget and departments of Agriculture and Markets, Commerce, Environmental Conservation, Labor, State, and Transportation, and other members appointed by the Governor (E.O. 7, March 1975).

The Board was technically abolished by an executive order in 1978 which transferred to the Department of Commerce the responsibility to oversee economic planning, research, and distribution of funds pursuant to the federal Economic Development Act. Simultaneously, however, a new Board was reestablished within the Executive Department to act as a cabinet-level economic advisory group, and the members of the abolished board were continued as members of the reestablished board (E.O. 73, July 1978).

From the description of Economic Development Board Agency History Record. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 82756671

In 1966 Governor Rockefeller directed the Office of Planning Coordination to conduct a natural resource inventory of New York State. The result was the Land Use and Natural Resources (LUNR) Inventory.

Between 1967 and 1970, a contractor completed aerial photography of the entire state. The state also contracted with Cornell University's Center for Aerial Photographic Studies to design the inventory, conduct the photointerpretation (coding), and produce overlay maps showing land use over the entire state.

The inventory used standard 7.5' United States Geological Survey/New York State Department of Transportation quadrangle maps as the base maps for the overlays. For each quadrangle, two overlays were produced. "Area land use" overlays showed general land use such as agricultural, forest, water, transportation and utilities, residential, recreational, commercial, and industrial. "Point data" overlays showed more specific features such as farm and non-farm rural residences, mobile homes, farm headquarters, miles of shoreline, and types of transportation and communication facilities.

Coded data from the overlays was entered into a computer and was retrievable through two computer programs designed by Cornell. DATALIST provided statistical and tabular data retrieval useful for quantitative analysis. PLANMAP was a graphics program used to produce land use and planning maps of the state, regions, counties, and individual communities. The state contracted with Cornell University to provide a LUNR User Service to the general public, including selling map overlays and providing computer products and related assistance. The Office of Planning Coordination and its successors provided assistance to state agencies.

In the early 1970s, plans were made to update the LUNR Inventory. In 1974 an update was done in Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster, and Albany (part) counties. The Office of Planning Services (successor to Office of Planning Coordination) then made plans to refine and update the entire LUNR Inventory. A pilot project for this program, called Land Related Information System (LRIS), was carried out from 1974-1977 in cooperation with the United States Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), resulting in photography and mapping of Broome and Tioga counties. LRIS land use categories refined the LUNR classification, reflecting more accurately the variety of land uses to better meet users' needs.

Starting in 1976 the program was administered by the Economic Development Board. Although planning continued into 1978, no further work was done on LRIS. Thereafter, the Department of Commerce, later Department of Economic Development, continued to service the records of LUNR and LRIS, assist users, and occasionally update the computer data.

From the description of Land Use and Natural Resources Inventory and Land Related Information System research, planning, and use files, 1966-1982. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 81544041

In 1966 Governor Rockefeller directed the Office of Planning Coordination to conduct a natural resource inventory of New York State. The result was the Land Use and Natural Resources (LUNR) Inventory.

Between 1967 and 1968 a contractor completed aerial photography of Upstate New York; New York City and Long Island were photographed in 1969-1970. The state also contracted with Cornell University's Center for Aerial Photographic Studies to design the inventory, conduct the photointerpretation (coding), and produce overlay maps from the coded aerial photographs showing land use over the entire state. The inventory used standard 7.5' United States Geological Survey/New York State Department of Transportation quadrangle maps as the base maps for the overlays.

In 1974, the LUNR Inventory was updated for Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster and Albany (part) counties. The Office of Planning Services (successor to the Office of Planning Coordination) then made plans to refine and update the entire LUNR Inventory. A pilot project for this program, called Land Related Information System (LRIS), was carried out from 1974-1977, resulting in photography and mapping of Broome and Tioga counties.

Starting in 1976, the program was administered by the Economic Development Board. Although planning continued into 1978, no further work was done on LRIS.

From the description of Land Use and Natural Resources Inventory and Land Related Information System land use overlay maps, 1968-1977. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 122469234

The predecessor to this Board, the Council of Economic Advisers, was created by executive order in 1968 to advise the Governor on economic and fiscal policy matters affecting the state, to study and report on economic trends in the state, to prepare an annual state economic report, and to make special economic and fiscal studies as deemed appropriate.

The Council consisted of seven members appointed by the Governor, and was instructed not to duplicate the functions of existing agencies (Executive Order 30, November 1968).

The Council functioned until March 1975, when it was abolished and replaced by the Economic Development Board. This Board continued the functions and duties of the previous Council, served as the state's economic planning agency pursuant to the federal Public Works and Economic Development Act, and received and disbursed funds made available to the state under this act. The composition of the Board has changed twice since 1975 and now consists of the heads of the Division of the Budget and departments of Agriculture and Markets, Commerce, Environmental Conservation, Labor, State, and Transportation, and other members appointed by the Governor (E.O. 7, March 1975).

The Board was technically abolished by an executive order in 1978 which transferred to the Department of Commerce the responsibility to oversee economic planning, research, and distribution of funds pursuant to the federal Economic Development Act. Simultaneously, however, a new Board was reestablished within the Executive Department to act as a cabinet-level economic advisory group, and the members of the abolished board were continued as members of the reestablished board (E.O. 73, July 1978).

From the New York State Archives, Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY. Agency record NYSV86-A325