By Rod Bacon
The economic development professionals in Washington County are committed to providing myriad areas of support for the variety of enterprises that call the region home.
“We now offer a wide range of services designed to make the county competitive in the marketplace,” said Laura Oswald, director of economic development.
To help her achieve this goal she has brought Pam Landi on board as a planner and Amy Hoffer as tourism director.
“We have no hotels in the county,” said Oswald, “but the small bed-and-breakfast inns and short-term rentals were negatively affected during COVID. In the years since we’ve had a very high success rate in reawakening interest in tourism here.”
Social media was extremely important in achieving this result. According to Oswald, there are now 9,300 subscribers to the county’s social media platforms, a 35 percent increase year-over-year.
One of the most important issues, according to Oswald, is resolving Broadband and cell issues in the largely rural county.
“My goal is to increase Broadband speeds and cell access for every resident in the county,” said Oswald.
The county’s website states the following: Washington County remains committed to achieving new connections in a timely manner and will apply for funding directly from other sources as well as partner with providers to foster new connections in advance of upcoming state funded programs whenever possible. We recognize that access to Broadband is essential for all of our residents and businesses and will continue to work to ensure that the County is at or near 100% served.
Another project she’s working on is the completion of the Canalside Energy Park in Fort Edward. Formerly the General Electric dewatering facility, the 80-acre site is undergoing renovations to make it shovel-ready. The LDC is working to attract tenants.
“It could be sold outright, developed in a leasehold situation, or sold lot by lot,” noted Oswald.
Equally important, according to Oswald, is to “grow what is here.” The county is home to a variety of large employers such as Irving Tissue, Telescope Casual Furniture, Hollingsworth and Vose, Adirondack Scenic Inc., Cambridge Valley Machining, Champlain Stone, and Fort Hudson Health System, to name just a few.
“Manufacturing is the number one employment sector in the county,” noted Oswald. “It offers stable, well-paying jobs.”
A dark cloud in this picture, however, is the potential closure of the Great Meadow Correctional Facility at Comstock, one of five prisons in New York state slated for possible closure. Gov. Kathy Hochul has sent the state Legislature a resolution requesting permission to close the prisons within 90 days of their approval.
Whitehall Mayor Julie Egan said it will be a “devastating blow to her community.”
The facility is a major employer for residents of the village and town.
Oswald echoes that sentiment. “Comstock is the largest employer in Washington County,” she said. “This will definitely be devastating for our economy.”
Oswald works with officials in 17 towns and villages in the county as well as numerous chambers of commerce.