Category Archives: Economical Development

By Paul Post

Eurasian milfoil, a harmful aquatic invasive species, might have a new use as compost or an ingredient in fertilizer.

Trucks could be modified with a device that works with brine and rock salt to reduce the amount of salt on highways that impacts lakes and streams.

These are just two examples of potential business opportunities that would support ongoing efforts to protect the North Country’s natural resources.

“We should launch companies here that know how to do those things,” said Jim Siplon, president of the Warren County Economic Development Corporation. “You’ll never site an Amazon distribution center in the Adirondack Park. What we have to do is, beyond tourism, what are things we can invest in that will bring economic value and be aligned with the values of the park. Launching industry around protecting natural resources and having it based here is one of those things.”

The EDC is collaborating with other entities such as RPI, the Darrin Fresh Water Institute and the Lake George Association to develop ideas that could be presented to the state for economic development.

At present, there are 16 different clusters, such as financial services, green energy and chip manufacturing, that the state has identified for investment and to attract companies to launch and conduct business in those fields.

By Paul Post

Saratoga Economic Development Corporation leveraged its million-dollar budget to help bring $177 million worth of new investment to Saratoga County, create 651 new full-time jobs and retain 214 more, last year alone.

The roughly 250-member, non-profit entity strives to attract and support large and small business alike in all sectors of the local economy.

Vibrant downtowns and a high quality of life with diverse recreational and cultural offerings continue to attract employers. But SEDC President Greg Connors says assets such as Saratoga County’s rich history, the Hudson and Mohawk rivers on its borders, and proximity to the Adirondack Park have considerable potential, too, for boosting the local economy.

“We really run the gamut of being able to support economic sectors that are familiar to Saratoga County and some of the ones that may not be as familiar such as life sciences, industries that support thoroughbred breeding, farming and agriculture,” he said. “Renewable energy has emerged, too, and of course the 21st century advanced manufacturing supply chain.”

By Jill Nagy

The Saratoga County Economic Development Corporation will soon cut the ribbon at their new quarters at 517 Broadway, in the heart of Saratoga Springs. 

Already, “we’re a very busy office here. . . .Very excited to be in the center of Saratoga Springs,” J. Gregory Connors, president and CEO, said.

Prominent on his agenda is dealing with the coming closure of Quad Graphics and helping to find new jobs for the company’s 400 employees. The EDC sponsored a job fair for Quad Graphics employees in February, along with Workforce  Development for Saratoga County. He said that Jen McCloskey, the director of Workforce Development, contacted some 105 businesses to invite them to attend. He didn’t know how many responded, but observed that “It certainly was crowded and there was a lot of interest.”

Further job fairs are planned, including one at the City Center in Saratoga Springs and at least one in the southern part of the county, perhaps in Clifton Park.

Fortuitously, the Quad Graphics announcement came almost at the same time as Global Foundries’ announcement of its plans to expand its Malta facility and add another building. That company reached out to Quad employees, he said, and have already interviewed several of them. He noted that many of the skills needed at Quad Graphics can transfer to the Global Foundries operation.

By Christine Graf

When Jim Siplon was hired as president and CEO of Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Warren County in early 2021, the country was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“When I stepped into the job, I thought it was about attracting and supporting business,” said Siplon. “That’s kind of the traditional view of economic development. But, COVID helped clarify that there are a lot of dynamics going on in the greater economy and the greater population.”

During the pandemic, the EDC began working to bring high-speed broadband internet service to rural communities throughout the region.

“It’s not something I would have predicted we would get involved in, but we discovered it to be a huge, glaring need during COVID,” he said. “We had school kids that needed to stay connected. We had people with health care issues that were attempting to access health care but couldn’t hold a tele-health session. We had businesses that were trying to operate remotely. The ability for everyone to be able to connect became almost a universal need.”

Although a considerable amount of money had already been spent to bring broadband internet to rural areas, pockets within Warren Country remained unserved.

In order to address what was considered an urgent need, the EDC established an informal group to tackle the issue. The makeup of the group–one that continues to meet weekly–varies from week to week. It typically includes elected officials, members of community organizations, and representatives from broadband companies. 

By Rod Bacon

By R.J. DeLuke

The Saratoga Economic Development Corp. (SEDC) has been a driving force in the economic development in the area for more than four decades.

Functioning as an independent, nonprofit group, its purpose is to create jobs and diversify the tax base. It is always examining what business or industry might be a good fit for the community and how to entice them to the area.

To that end it has helped attract companies like QUAD/Graphics, SYSCO Food Service, Ball Metal Corp., the Ace Hardware and Target distribution centers, Arnoff Global Logistics, Greenfield Manufacturing, AgroChem and many more to the area.

It was also a key player in the development of the $200 million Luther Forest Technology Campus.

Business retention is also important. SEDC works with state and regional officials on economic development programs available to encourage continued growth of existing industries.

Funding from the organization comes from businesses who pay memberships and thereby help the SEDC continue to work for a stronger economy that benefits all businesses. It also receives some funding from Saratoga County (though SEDC remains politically neutral).

Those that pay the SEDC fees are called “stakeholders.” And to retain and grow those entities, having tangible benefits is important. Retaining stakeholders (and growing them) is on a par with keeping Saratoga County’s existing businesses within the thriving business community.

By Jim Siplon

It is certainly not news to say that the last two years of COVID have reshaped our area economy and the work we do to support it. 

One of the often acknowledged aspects of the COVID era is the observation that the pandemic often exposed and accelerated shifts that were already underway but perhaps not yet fully understood. Our economy and its dynamic elements , things like an aging workforce and a lack of new housing, are perhaps the greatest example of this. Constructing the framework that will underpin the post-COVID economy requires us all to lean into this together-to understand and retool around the “Economy of Now.”

EDC Warren County has long been focused on the strategic work required to attracting, growing and retaining business for our community. Classically, this was a process built around enticing new business to locate here and utilize our workforce to run them. Our programs, incentives and resources were deployed primarily in ways designed to capture transitory or relocating business ventures. 

While that work continues, it is transitioning before our eyes to a model that flips the traditional approach on its head. We are now in a competition for workforce, and those areas that have it will attract and grow the most successful business and economic entities while those that do not will struggle to build a sustainable economy. 

This need for workforce is not new, in fact it has been building slowly in the demographics for years. Baby boomers are aging out, birth rates have declined and flight of our young has been going on for some time. But today this problem is not limited to the North Country or other less populated areas but is now almost universal.