Supporting Our Economy

For our communities to thrive, we must focus on strengthening and growing our local economies. Improving economic conditions in Northern New York is a complex challenge that will require a complex solution.  Ultimately, a strong economy will support our residents, empower local governments, and create opportunities for future generations. To accomplish this, we need to pursue a comprehensive strategy that includes the following priorities:

Expanding Affordable Housing Options
No economy can thrive and grow without a strong workforce, which depends on access to affordable housing. Therefore, policies focused on increasing affordable housing must be a top priority. For too long, our communities have faced limited affordable inventory, rising costs that outpace wage growth and aging units that don't meet modern standards. Without addressing the affordable housing crisis, other efforts to boost our economies will be less effective. To learn more about our approach to solving this issue, please see our Affordable Housing position paper.

Aligning Education and Training with Local Workforce Needs
Northern New York’s universities, community colleges and trade schools are invaluable assets to our communities and must be leveraged to grow our local economies. Strengthening the relationships between these institutions and local employers can help ensure that educational programs and learning tracks align with local needs. Additionally, expanding apprenticeships and internships can help residents remain within our communities. We must also work to support and increase financial resources available to residents who wish to participate in education and job training programs.

Building Vibrant Communities That Attract and Retain Young Workers
To attract and retain new residents and families, we must continue developing vibrant communities that incorporate parks, recreational facilities, reliable healthcare, and diverse arts, cultural, and entertainment options, alongside thriving businesses and community amenities.  We must ensure that Northern New York communities remain highly sought-after homes for workforce residents.

Ensuring Childcare & Eldercare Solutions
A significant issue facing residents in the workforce is the lack of childcare and eldercare solutions in our communities. Many residents struggle to find care for young children and aging seniors, which often forces them to move elsewhere in order to balance their jobs with caregiving responsibilities. Additionally, the insufficient availability of childcare and eldercare solutions makes it difficult to attract young families to our communities. To effectively develop and strengthen our workforce, it is crucial that we provide access to the necessary care for family members and loved ones within our communities. 

Rebuilding Trust & Partnership with Canada
Our neighbors in Canada have always played a crucial role in the economy of Northern New York. Unfortunately, the policies of the current administration have damaged this long-standing friendship and have significantly hurt our local businesses and communities. It is essential for us to rebuild trust with our Northern neighbors and restore the partnership that has mutually benefited both sides for so long.

Supporting Farms & Agriculture
Northern New York is the second-largest agricultural region in the state, generating approximately $1.8 billion in combined farm product and indirect sales revenue and employing nearly 10,000 residents. Our agricultural products not only nourish our local communities but are also sold outside of Northern New York, bringing additional revenue to our area. Moreover, agricultural enterprises benefit not only farmers but also a variety of other businesses and industries that are vital to our local economies, including agricultural product retailers, equipment suppliers, veterinarians, farm supply stores and agritourism ventures.

Supporting Tourism & Recreation
Many communities in Northern New York, including my hometown of Lake Placid, rely on tourism to support their economies. While it's important to develop diverse economic opportunities in our areas, we must continue to support tourism and recreation in Northern New York. By doing so, our communities can generate significant revenue from outside the region, which can be used to promote community and economic growth.

Supporting Minority & Women-Owned Businesses

We must ensure that everyone has the opportunity to translate their talent and ideas into entrepreneurship. We must ensure equal opportunities for historically marginalized groups, including minorities and women, so they can turn their business dreams into reality through access to funding and support.

Supporting Intelligent Immigration Policy

Immigration policy is not merely about moral imperatives but is also about strengthening our economy. We must ensure we have an immigration policy that provides for a reliable and sustainable workforce by supporting visas and immigration policies that promote immigration to our communities that reflect industry needs.  You can learn more about our immigration policy here.

Leveraging State & Federal Funding and Assisting with Grant Writing

We must continue to enhance the way we allocate federal and state funding to support economic growth initiatives. That said, there are already numerous grant and loan opportunities available through New York state and federal agencies, such as the SBA, USDA, EDA, HUD, and DOT. However, many potential recipients struggle with the application process. To address this, we need to provide municipalities and prospective applicants with resources to educate them about available programs and guide them through the application process successfully.

Supporting Regional Collaboration

We should encourage our municipalities to combine resources in order to market Northern New York more effectively. By working together, they can take advantage of collective bargaining power and economies of scale whenever possible. Collaboration allows municipalities to learn from each other’s successes and challenges, leading to a more efficient use of funds.

Supporting Chambers of Commerce, Creating Business & Technology Hubs and Building Business Support Networks

Our government should continue to collaborate with Chambers of Commerce to deliver funding, training, and educational opportunities that are designed to meet the needs of local communities, utilizing agencies such as the SBA and EDA. Furthermore, we should focus on incentivizing and supporting shared business and technology hubs, incubators, and facilities that provide space for community members to work remotely, develop business ideas and collaborate.

Investing in the Three “Quiet Multipliers”: Broadband, Energy and Infrastructure
Reliable broadband, modern energy systems and upgraded infrastructure not only create real jobs in our communities, but investing in these areas also provides additional economic benefits. Expanding rural broadband enables remote work, allows businesses to operate effectively, facilitates online education and improves the affordable housing market. Investing in clean and modern energy generates new jobs, lowers utility costs for our communities and enhances grid reliability. Furthermore, investing in roads, bridges, water systems and public transportation establishes the infrastructure necessary to support business and housing growth.

Incentivize Growth in Tradable Industries & Sectors
Northern New York should prioritize diversifying its economy by attracting industries that produce goods and services for regional, national, and global markets. Many communities can benefit from transitioning away from single or limited-economy markets. Investing in a variety of tradable industries and sectors can help stabilize local revenue and create lasting jobs for residents. To support these efforts, tax incentives, partnerships with educational institutions and the establishment of development zones can all play a vital role.

Improving Access to Transportation

We should prioritize expanding access to public transit to give residents more housing options and increase their opportunities for employment and education. Reliable public transportation also enhances job mobility, allowing residents to advance their careers and earn higher wages.

Focusing on Trade Jobs
Our economy cannot grow without skilled trade labor. We must continue to support apprenticeships and programs like those offered at BOCES, ensuring we train community youth with the necessary skills for valuable and rewarding trade careers.

Intelligent Tax Policy

We must establish a smart tax policy that minimizes administrative burdens for small businesses, encourages employment growth, reduces payroll tax burdens, lowers the cost of capital investments and offers tax incentives for research and development.

Expanding Access to Capital for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs
We must continue to support state and federal grants, community investment funds and private investments that enhance small business growth and entrepreneurship.

Restructuring Zoning and Municipal Regulations
Streamlining permitting processes and aligning zoning regulations that encourage development and investment while preserving the character of our towns and conservation efforts.