By Pete Bardunias
As 2013 dawns, we are coming off of a
year of great promise for our county and
Tech Valley as a whole but one of substantial
uncertainty in other areas of the state
and nationwide. For this reason we are
wise to count our blessings and be mindful
of the hard work and dedication needed to
stay at the peak of our economic potential.
Success is no accident. Hard-working
business owners, corporations, civic and
political leaders, and concerned citizens
are all part of a tapestry that together
makes Saratoga County one of the fastest growing
counties with one of the lowest
unemployment rates in the entire state.
Southern Saratoga County, where I make my home, is a very unique place, one that its residents and leaders are justifiably proud of. Where else can you speak of farms, canals, high tech manufacturing, national historic sites, office complexes and retail shopping in the same sentence?
Every day something new happens around here which is simply amazing, and it’s a privilege to be in a position to bring various groups together with out-of-thebox thinking.
For example, this past year the Saratoga Academy in Halfmoon needed a place to put its new private middle school and the Capital Region Maritime Center in Alplaus needed a new major tenant. In chatting about the center with Academy President Mike Christensen (at the Saratoga County Fair of all places) he decided to look into the possibilities of a waterfront school. A few months later, the Saratoga Academy for Leadership and Maritime Programs was born, adding another exciting option to a region already blessed with some great educational institutions both public and private.
At the other end of the spectrum, being a Shenendehowa parent it’s reassuring to know that our children can receive a high quality public education alongside newcomers from literally all over the globe.
The link between education and business is more necessary than ever before, and in order to address this reality our chamber has embarked on an ambitious new initiative called the Community Development Program. The program is designed to bring together the best and brightest in the business world along with education leaders, students from grade school through college, community leaders, elected officials, local residents and civic-minded people.
It’s volunteerism with an economic development purpose, to improve our quality of life while adding entrepreneurial opportunities, and sustainable preservation of our historic landmarks. As such we’ll be working at places like Historic Lock 19 in Vischer Ferry, the Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa, and the historic Mechanicville Train Station to make a tangible difference in our hometowns, while giving great learning opportunities to local students as they work alongside local professionals from both large and small businesses. This marks a tremendous departure from the traditional networking role of a chamber of commerce, one made possible by the collective strength and diversity of our roughly 1030 members.
With a growing economy, businesses large and small need more resources to operate, so infrastructure questions will be more prevalent in 2013 and the years ahead. Some might be big-picture concerns like improved rail service, more flights from or easier highway access to Albany International Airport, keeping roads like the Thruway maintained at reasonable cost to those who use it, and even the availability of barge transportation on our adjacent canals which is actually becoming a more economical option given the high cost of fuel and other overland shipping costs.
In our local communities are the questions that come up at town hall meetings all the time, such as how many roundabouts are prudent in a given neighborhood; how much green space to preserve; how to keep our farms and other venerable institutions not only intact but profitable; how to ensure that industrial development doesn’t overly infringe on the quality of life for nearby residents, where to add things like sewers and town water; and how to give entrepreneurs a fair shake at starting or relocating a business while navigating the often-tricky waters of local boards and environmental regulators.
We as leaders will likely be judged on how we balance these various concerns over an extended period of time. It’s a daunting and sobering task, given the fact that we inherit such a wonderful gem that our forefathers have painstakingly developed on our behalf since 1777.
Getting out the message of Tech Valley is also very important, and for this reason the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County now administers the information center at Exit 9 on the Northway (I-87). Businesses and organizations now have an outlet to distribute literature which is being administered by a local organization. This gives our communities a direct link with thousands of travelers coming from downstate or south from Canada, and we can tell our region’s story in a unique and exciting way.
It’s such an exciting story, let’s work together to spread the word.