Courtesy CEG
The Center for Economic Growth (CEG) announced that Katie Newcombe was named its new chief economic development officer.
She comes to CEG with more than a decade of experience in economic development, spanning multiple states and public, private and nonprofit sectors. Since 2014, Newcombe has led economic development for National Grid in the Capital Region.
“Katie’s depth and breadth of economic development experience makes her an ideal fit for this newly created position. She will lead CEG’s business attraction and expansions activities, direct and implement strategies for innovation, entrepreneurship, business growth, workforce and talent,” said Mark Eagan, CEG president and CEO. “Katie has a strong history of collaborating with stakeholders to move high-impact projects forward and we are excited to welcome her to our organization.”
Newcombe’s selection marks one of the first major steps for CEG under its new affiliation with the Capital Region Chamber. CEG investors approved the affiliation on Oct. 6.
Newcombe begins her new job on Nov. 16.
“I am thrilled to join the CEG team and excited to work with investors and community stakeholders to move the Capital Region forward,” said Newcombe. “A global pandemic is not something any of us would have predicted a year ago, but as a region, we can come together and chart a path to grow back stronger and more resilient.
“With great change comes immense opportunity. The recent affiliation between CEG and the Capital Region Chamber brings together two dynamic organizations whose missions are to drive growth and development for the betterment of all who call our region home.”
Under the new affiliation model, Eagan will oversee CEG governance and business operations. Newcombe will lead the industry attraction and workforce development efforts of CEG. She will also oversee its Business Growth Solutions (BGS) and Chief Executives Network (CEN) initiatives that help fuel the growth of existing businesses.
Newcombe has been a resident of the Capital Region since 2013. She has worked at Capitalize Albany Corp. and National Grid.
In her most recent role, as senior economic developer, she led business attraction and expansion initiatives for National Grid in the Capital Region. In addition to helping develop statewide strategic, policy and program objectives, she generated a significant portfolio of grant projects that helped revitalize the region’s downtowns and grow its technology, manufacturing, agricultural and logistics sectors.
At Capitalize Albany Corp., she helped manage business development efforts and Downtown Albany’s Strategic Plan: Impact Downtown. Before moving to the Capital Region, Newcombe served as Northwest Region director for Pennsylvania’s Governor Action Team, where she led business attraction and expansion efforts on behalf of the Department of Community and Economic Development and the governor’s office in a 12-county region.
Prior to that, she was a project manager for the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Newcombe is active in the community and serves on multiple boards. She received dual B.S. degrees in economics and finance and an MBA from Penn State.
The CEG mission is to market the Capital Region to attract new business and encourage new investments, enable existing businesses to be more competitive in the global marketplace, and promote collaboration and enhance partnerships among the region’s stakeholders.
CEG is the Capital Region’s regional economic development organization, supported by hundreds of investors in business, government, education, and the nonprofit sectors. It is also a New York Empire State Development Division of Science, Technology and Innovation-designated Regional Technology Development Center and an affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).
CEG has been serving the Capital Region since 1988. For more information, visit www.ceg.org.