ALBANY, NY — Joseph Hernandez, Republican candidate for New York State Comptroller, today blasted Albany Democrats after reports that Nvidia is investing $500 million into Corning Incorporated to expand fiber optic manufacturing for AI infrastructure in Texas and North Carolina instead of New York.
For more than 170 years, Corning has helped build the Southern Tier economy and establish New York as a global manufacturing and technology leader. Hernandez said the fact that new facilities are now being built outside New York is a direct consequence of years of failed leadership from Governor Kathy Hochul, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, and Albany’s one-party rule.
“Corning has been a cornerstone in New York. The Southern Tier helped build this company and America’s industrial economy,” Hernandez said. “Now the next generation of manufacturing jobs tied to AI are going to Texas and North Carolina because Albany Democrats have made New York too expensive, overregulated, and hostile to business investment.”
According to recent reports, Corning and Nvidia are partnering to expand production of fiber optic technology critical to powering AI infrastructure and next-generation data centers. Hernandez said the announcement should serve as a warning that New York is losing the industries of the future while other states aggressively compete to attract investment and jobs.
“Texas and North Carolina are rolling out the red carpet for manufacturers and technology companies while Hochul continues with crushing taxes, runaway spending, energy mandates, and endless bureaucracy,” Hernandez said. “This isn’t surprising that companies are expanding elsewhere.”
Hernandez also criticized DiNapoli for failing to strategically invest New York pension resources into rebuilding the state’s industrial economy.
“DiNapoli is the sole trustee of nearly $300 billion in pension assets, yet instead of aggressively investing in New York’s future, he has allowed billions intended for economic development to sit idle while our manufacturing base continues to erode,” Hernandez said. “At the same time, pension money has flowed into real estate and projects in states like Texas and Florida while New York communities continue losing jobs and population.”
Hernandez pointed to his proposed $10 billion “Empire Opportunity Fund” as a solution to help reverse decades of economic decline caused by one-party rule in Albany.
“The Empire Opportunity Fund is designed specifically to stop this kind of economic surrender,” Hernandez said. “We should be investing in advanced manufacturing, fiber optics, semiconductor supply chains, AI infrastructure, and industrial expansion right here in upstate New York, not watching other states reap the benefits while Albany politicians make excuses.”
Under Hernandez’s proposal, pension-backed investments would target industries with deep roots in New York.
“For decades, one-party rule has hollowed out upstate New York and treated regions like the Southern Tier as an afterthought,” Hernandez said. “As Comptroller, I will fight to put New York’s money to work for New Yorkers and make this state competitive again before even more companies and jobs leave for good.”