PLATTSBURGH — The North Country Regional Economic Development Council will present its Draft Strategic Plan on Friday at SUNY Potsdam.
The Draft Strategic Plan can be seen at northcountryopenforbusiness.com.
The plan includes seven vision statements, with strategies to realize those goals.
INDUSTRY GROWTH
One vision statement calls for energization of the region's micropolitan cities and continued growth in the aerospace, transit equipment, defense, biotech and manufacturing industries.
That would be achieved by creation of a stronger workforce development system, expansion of the vendor base for manufacturing facilities, investment in the dynamic biotechnology cluster in the Saranac Lake/Lake Placid area, attraction of other biotech companies to the region and maximization of distribution and supply-chain activities.
ENTREPRENEURS
Another vision seeks support of entrepreneurial pioneers to create innovative clusters in the region's rural communities.
The strategy calls for development of small businesses and entrepreneurial activities that add value to local businesses.
EDUCATION
The plan would better utilize the skills of graduates of the higher-education institutions in the region. It calls for more collaboration between those schools on research and entrepreneurial activity, reduction of obstacles to area residents' return to school and elevation of residents' access to arts and culture.
REGIONAL BRANDING
It also seeks to elevate recognition of the region as a special place to visit, live, work and study.
That would be done by creation and management of a regional "brand" that focuses on the unique identity and resources of the people, places and products of the North Country, but also by encouragement of regional and sub-regional plans and marketing to discover opportunities for economic development.
TOURISM
Tourism is seen as a way to diversify regional economies. It could be done by creation of tools to attract private investment to revitalize communities and create a climate that allows entrepreneurs to flourish.
AGRICULTURE
The plan also calls for an agricultural revolution to help feed the region and the world. It calls for increased numbers of storage, processing and distribution facilities to promote sale of regional agricultural products locally and worldwide.
There would also be increased direct marketing sales of locally produced foods. Farmers and agri-businesses could receive an increased array of technical assistance, education service and cost-sharing incentives.
GREEN ECONOMY
The final strategy seeks creation of the greenest economy in New York. That calls for establishment of a cleaner, greener regional sustainability planning program.
Work should be done with existing power distribution companies to plan and build energy networks to bring clean energy to the grid. Smart Growth should be promoted by better re-use of existing facilities and new residential construction near villages and hamlets.
The region should also invest in large and small clean-energy technology businesses.
PARTNERS
Additional strategies want an increased economic development relationship with Ontario and Quebec and support for state and regional efforts and initiatives for long-term federal projects, such as the "rooftop highway" and improved international border crossings.
Email Dan Heath at: dheath@pressrepublican.com
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