Upstate Economic Development Under "The Gun"

Daniel Gundersen, the new Empire State Development Corporation Upstate Co-Chair, was hired by Governor Spitzer to jumpstart the economies of Upstate and Western New York, including the Finger Lakes and the City of Geneva. This “new set of eyes on the problem” approach seems sensible to us.

At the winter meeting of the New York Conference on Mayors (NYCOM), Gundersen articulated his bold vision for economic change. He said the old days of “deal making” in New York State are over. Those deals were not only wrong, but they didn’t work! Instead, he said Upstate communities must join forces with the State to develop a ‘total environment’ conducive to business and the creation of jobs.

Since that NYCOM meeting in February, we have been urging our Mayor, City Manager, and Economic Development staff to bring Gundersen to Geneva. We want him to listen to our concerns and see our challenges and opportunities as he shapes the new economic development agenda for Upstate.

We even proposed an “economic summit,” to be hosted by Geneva, bringing together leaders in the public and private sector, including Gundersen, and citizens. Instead, we learned that Gundersen was in Geneva last week, brought by the Technology Farm, but the City hasn’t been successful in brokering a broader discussion of the regional economic development needs, most specifically, property tax relief.

In the mean time, Gundersen is pushing on with his work and developing his agenda. Sandra Parker of The Rochester Business Journal (June 15, 2007) has outlined Gundersen’s vision, framed by “eight key actions for successful and lasting economic development”:

(1) Helping existing companies grow.
(2) Identify and benchmark growth industries.
(3) Understand the power of universities and research.
(4) Fill capital gaps with private resources and wise public investments.
(5) Attacking without mercy the cost of doing business.
(6) Helping give workers new skills.
(7) Improving infrastructure.
(8) Revitalizing communities.

These sound like a prescription for success. Now if we could just get an appointment with the doctor!