Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Delivers Remarks on Launch of $765 Million Kodak Pharmaceuticals Project

Press Conference

Earlier today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo delivered remarks via video at the Eastman Kodak Company's announcement launching Kodak Pharmaceuticals, a $765 million project that will create hundreds of new jobs by modernizing and transforming parts of the campus to manufacture chemical ingredients used to make medicine in the fight against COVID-19.

A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is below:

Good afternoon, all. Today is an exciting day for Kodak, New York State and for America. Kodak has a long, storied history in New York State and we've been working with them to develop an even brighter future.

Chairman Jim Continenza's vision is to restore Kodak's role as an American innovator and a formidable force in the chemical industry. The $765 million announcement today will be used to do just that. It will create 300 new jobs and over $430 million in capital funds to build new and modernized current facilities at Eastman Business Park. All of these efforts for the manufacturing of critical drug components.

The Eastman Business Park is an amazing 1,200-acre economic platform. We've already invested over $160 million in the park and many years of hard work. Today's announcement can help revitalize the entire park, as well as create spinoff enterprises and more jobs. It's very exciting and New York State will continue to be a full partner in this venture.

Today's announcement does even more. Today's announcement also addresses a critical need for this country. We have learned many lessons through this painful COVID pandemic crisis. One of the most pressing lessons is how much America needs to be better prepared for future public health emergencies. In this COVID crisis we didn't have the basic medical essentials we needed: The masks, the gowns, the gloves, the testing re-agents, equipment and the medicines.

Basic supply chain issues exploded and all too often we heard that these materials were made in China or made in India. America could not provide for our own needs. That just can't happen again. It's not just a public health issue - it is a basic national security issue. We need the leadership and resources of the federal government to make sure we can manufacture these essential supplies right here at home in the United States of America.

The federal government should be doing just what they are doing today: Using the Defense Production Act to increase America's manufacturing capacity to create new jobs and to keep America safe. With this investment, Kodak will make necessary ingredients so our country can make our own medications. That's so smart.

We can now do the same for all public health needs and New York stands ready to partner in those efforts. In New York we've already identified companies that can make masks and gowns and all PPE and we're eager to follow this model. It's a very positive step in the right direction and we should keep going.

Today's can-do spirit is what got our country through World War II, when Kodak manufactured aircraft equipment and ammunition. It's the spirit that got us through these last difficult 150 days and that is the spirit that is going to keep us moving forward.

I want to thank President Trump, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation CEO, Adam Boehler. I want thank Admiral John Polovchak. By the way, all native New Yorkers. I also want to thank Director Peter Navarro, Deputy Secretary David Norquist, Kodak Chairman Jim Continenza and New York State's own Empire State Development Corporation Howard Zemsky.

Great day. Let's create jobs. Let's keep America safe. Let's do it together. Thank you.

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