JOHNSTOWN - Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Thursday announced the state has launched The New New York Works For Business advertisements campaign and website, which features a commercial for the Johnstown Industrial Park's Fage USA yogurt facility.
In an Albany news conference, the governor said the campaign - featuring 30-second commercials to run nationally - was launched to show the nation why New York state is the place for businesses to grow, thrive and expand. The state also launched a new website, www.thenewNY.com.
"By sending the message that New York is the place for businesses to come and thrive, we can deliver on our number one priority: creating jobs, jobs, jobs," Cuomo said.
Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce Interim President Mark Kilmer said today the Fage USA ad will be "inspiring."
"I think advertising is good," he said. "I was elated to see one of our local businesses featured in a local ad. I think it was an exciting moment for the county."
A news release stated the ads were designed and produced by BBDO New York, in partnership with the Empire State Development Corp., and they were voiced by actor Robert DeNiro. The spots feature the song "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.
Six ads will run across the country. The New New York Works for Business initiative is part of New York Open for Business and represents a $50 million business-marketing campaign. Four businesses are featured - Fage USA, Smith Electric Vehicles, the Global 450 Consortium and BAE Systems.
Filming for the campaign began in April, and BBDO worked in concert with movie maker Spike Lee, who was at the Fage plant April 11. The TV ads will run in all New York state markets and on national networks.
The Fage commercial tells how the company came to the United States from Greece and set up as a small dairy producer in upstate New York but quickly grew as Greek yogurt became more popular.
Fage also was in the national spotlight Monday when U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer visited the plant. He used the yogurt plant as a backdrop to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to revise federal School Lunch and Breakfast Program guidelines to make Greek yogurt a more affordable and nutritious option for schools.