POPULATION: 19,490,297 (July 1, 2008)

LABOR FORCE: 9,679,600 (2008 annual average)

RIGHT TO WORK: No

TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES: Manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, tourism

EXPANDING INDUSTRIES: Biomedical/biotech; green/clean tech; communications and media services; distribution; fashion, apparel, and textiles; food processing; industrial machinery and systems; information hardware and software; materials processing; optics and imaging; wood products

COLLEGE GRADUATES: (Age 25 and over) 31.7% (2007)

BASIC BUSINESS TAXES:
Corporate Income Tax: Principal tax is the greater of 7.1 percent (6.5 percent for qualified New York manufacturers) of allocated net income, or 1.5 mills per dollar of investment capital allocated to New York (maximum for manufacturers: $350,000; maximum for nonmanufacturers: $10 million for tax years beginning on/after Jan. 1, 2008 but before Jan. 1, 2011; $1 million for tax years beginning on/after Jan. 1, 2011); or 1.5 percent on the allocated minimum taxable base; or a minimum flat rate ranging from $25 to $5,000, based on New York receipts

Sales and Use Tax: The state rate is 4 percent; in New York City and other communities in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District, an additional 0.375 percent state rate applies; some counties and municipalities impose additional rates ranging from 3 to 4.75 percent; the combined state and local sales tax rate in New York City is currently 8.875 percent; numerous exemptions exist, including for most equipment and energy used in production or in research and development

Property Tax: Based on full value of real property including special franchises; equalization rate in each locality is determined by the State Office of Real Property Services; personal property is not taxed

BUSINESS INCENTIVES:
New York State Economic Development Fund
Manufacturing Assistance Program
Environmental Investment Program
Linked Deposit Program
Minority- and women-owned
business development
Film and TV production tax credits