Jobs are at the center of efforts to support the growing Industrial Hemp industry in New York State.

Governor Andrew Cuomo says the state’s first industrial hemp research forum will be held February 28 at Cornell University as the state makes investments to support research and expansion in the farming and manufacturing sectors.

The meeting is part of the Democrat’s 2018 State of the State proposal to seal New York as a leader in industrial hemp development.

State Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo has been an avid supporter of the hemp ag-industry from the beginning.  The Endwell Democrat says over the past year, the State has been listed as one of the top five growers in the country and the leader in the Northeast.  She says the February 28 forum will allow the sharing of information that will help build the industry.

Southern Tier Hemp in Broome County became one of the first companies in the state and has been working with Binghamton University to research the production and use for industrial hemp.  Southern Tier Hemp Co-Founder and CEO Michael Falcone says the company is opening their northeast regional processing facility in Binghamton this fall and is expanding capabilities to process hemp for fiber, plastic, superfoods and wellness products this year.

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