New York”™s Excelsior Program, proposed and implemented under former Gov. David Paterson, is not cutting it for economic development corporations in the mid-Hudson Valley region. To date, no region of the state has come forward to tout how it”™s helped bring in business the way the now-defunct Empire Zone program did.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has proposed creating regional economic development councils to build a “competitive atmosphere” by rewarding those councils that come up with the best business plan.
Here are some comments from Hudson Valley economic chiefs on the plan, which so far has no real specifics:
- Ron Hicks, REDC
“Me and my counterparts in the Hudson Valley have been thinking and acting regionally for years. The Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation under Michael Oates is essentially a regional council, so I”™m looking forward to working with Lieutenant Governor Duffy on this plan. I”™m not concerned about the competition for funding ”“ a regional council would know better than someone sitting in Albany if an economic development project is worthy or not. What’s most important is that Cuomo”™s plan will hopefully once and for all end the upstate-downstate divide. It was always relative anyway. New York is made up of a number of diverse and fabulous regions that make it the Empire State ”“ it”™s not two geographic areas with a floating border.”
”“ Ron Hicks, president and CEO, Rockland County Economic Development Corp. in Pearl River
“We”™re in a crisis mode in New York. If Governor Cuomo”™s plan is going to work, he needs seamless, quick-strike teams to prove we are really ”˜open for business.”™Â I would love to see the Empire Zone program brought back. It was a fabulous program; without it, we are back to behind the eight ball. I”™d be happy to be part of any regional coalition the governor puts together, we”™ve already been working as a team, so teamwork is not the problem. Getting incentives for business to come in or grow ”“ that”™s become the problem that needs fixing.”
”“ Maureen Halahan, president and CEO, Orange County Partnership in Goshen
“Having a regional strategic focus is a great idea, and we”™ve been working like that here in the Hudson Valley. If this can be a tool to streamline strategic projects forward in region, we welcome it. I just hope the reality matches the rhetoric when it comes to these councils and they do not become another layer of time-consuming bureaucracy for special projects. I note that in a sense only 30 percent of funding will be channeled through councils but they will have strategic planning importance.
“I”™m assuming is that we will not create another EDC with its own staff, but will be staffed by our own EDC offices; that makes sense. The Empire State Development regional office for the Hudson Valley is unfairly shortchanged compared to the rest of offices in the state. At some point, some plain fairness and common sense to rectify this situation.”
”“ Lance Matteson, president, Ulster County Economic Development Corp. in Kingston
“I”™m happy that Andrew Cuomo was elected and I”™m excited about his economic plan. As long as it has teeth in it and as long as the HVEDC is involved and plays a major role, I”™m sure it will be a boost. Michael Oates knows more about the ”˜lay of the land,”™ the stakeholders and what”™s going on in the overall area. I don”™t want to see this turn into another agency being developed. I”™m hopeful Govrnor Cuomo”™s plan will work. What he said is great ”“ I am ready to do what I can do to support and work with him ”“ but we need an economic strategy that makes bringing and building business in New York an incentive.”
”“ Kevin Bailey, president and CEO, Putnam County Development Corp. in
Carmel
John MacEnroe, president and CEO of the Dutchess County Economic Development Corp., was not available for comment.
