The Governor’s message today was one of change, coming together, and hope for a prosperous economic future for the Empire State. During his State of the State, Governor Cuomo mentioned his idea of creating 10 Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC’s) throughout the state which will be chaired by Lt. Governor Bob Duffy.
Steve Hyde, President and CEO of the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC), was impressed with the Governor’s message. “I’m optimistic that the REDC’s will help foster job growth and benefit Genesee County. The private industry uses pay for performance and competition to drive success and I think that our state will succeed through rewarding performance.”
He continued “… if done right the REDC’s have potential to better integrate the GCEDC’s regional partners including Greater Rochester Enterprise and Buffalo Niagara Enterprise with the development communities, local governments, and the State’s Economic Development Agency. These ongoing partnerships will lead to more efficiency and development for all of Western New York.”
Genesee County has continued to grow and strategically invest to develop shovel ready industry specific sites for medical device, food processing, distribution logistics and high-tech advanced manufacturing companies. A mega site, Western New York Science, Technology, Advanced Manufacturing Park (WNY STAMP), is under development in Genesee County, Alabama, NY and has the ability to transform Western New York.
Hyde is convinced that STAMP will be a contender in the competitive funding pool that the Governor announced. Funds will be allocated to the most innovative and creative regional job creating initiatives. The WNY STAMP project and the Buffalo East Tech Park in Pembroke, NY have the potential to bring 11,000 jobs directly into Genesee County and add an additional 27,000 jobs through the supply chain impact between Buffalo and Rochester. Potentially, the REDC will assist to promote WNY STAMP and bring the project to a reality for Western New York.