By Todd L. Shimkus

Instead of a prognostication of what might happen, I’m going to focus on what I am reasonably certain will happen that will help our local economy to continue to succeed, grow and thrive in 2019.

In other words, here’s a few specific ACTIONS we look forward to taking in 2019:

• Cutting a ribbon to open Intrada Saratoga, a mixed-use housing development that will provide 158 units of affordable housing, near the junction of Washington Street and West Avenue in Saratoga Springs. We need workforce housing in Saratoga Springs so local employers can retain and attract employees who want to live and work in the same community.

• Breaking ground on the Flat Rock Centre project that will provide badly needed parking for the Saratoga Springs City Center, as well as downtown businesses. Beyond parking, Flat Rock Centre will include a section of the Saratoga Greenbelt Trail as well as a significant park and open space for a range of activities.

By Stephen Kyne

The year 2018 was an interesting year in the financial markets, to say the least. Characterized by all-time highs in stock indices, two whipsaw corrections, and a nearly 20 percent decline to cap the year off, the year was anything but boring. As it stood at close of business on Dec. 27, it looks like we’re going to end the year down, barring any last-minute surprises.

So, what happened, and where do we think the economy is headed?

First, to be absolutely clear, we do not think a recession is imminent, or even likely for at least another 12-18 months. That may seem contrary to what you are seeing on the news, but the news exists more for ratings than it does to inform Remember, nobody watches the news to see the house that didn’t burn down.

The economy is exceedingly strong, and most factors point to continued strength going into the new year.

With quarterly GDP growth in the 3-4 percent real (inflation-adjusted) range, it is generally accepted that a portion of this growth could be attributed to the effects of tax cuts, but no serious economist would attribute it all to that factor. We expect growth in 2019 sustainably in the 3 percent range. While that may not seem very high, consider that it is 50 percent higher than the roughly 2 percent annual growth we experienced from 2009-2016. The U.S. economy is strong.

By Dennis Brobston

The year 2018 marked Saratoga Economic Development Corp.’s (SEDC) 40th year as the premier economic development organization in the region. Thoughtful collaboration is how SEDC and its partners stimulated over $2.5 billion of new investment, nearly 1,700 new and retained jobs and $50 million in employee payroll since 2014.

In 2018 SEDC produced $44 million of investment retaining and growing 139 jobs. These jobs will add almost $5 million of annual wages to area communities. SEDC continually researches and keeps its fingers on the pulse of market demands enabling us to position Saratoga County’s strengths. We have several strong projects in the pipeline for 2019.

Promoting Saratoga, retaining, and growing jobs and wages remain SEDC’s mission. Our investor members, partners at the Saratoga County IDA, Clifton Park IDA, and Mechanicville-Stillwater IDA, plus strategic engagement with local, regional and state stakeholders remain key ingredients to success. Local communities’ policies and competitive tax rates continue setting a baseline for success.

Other assets have been relatively competitive property costs, an educated workforce, and proximity to 54 percent of North American consumers. Results evident to most are the $1.25 billion in local multifamily and hospitality construction in recent years.

BY PETE BARDUNIAS

The recent ups and downs of the stock market and the national political discourse are, in my opinion, a symbol of the battle for our communal soul going on at every level of our society, and our economy. For example, is the “think local” or “shop local” mantra a real thing in today’s world, or is it simply a feel good mirage in the era of huge online retailers and others, such as Amazon, Etsy and eBay?

Is our society a community of neighbors, or simply a collection of disparate groups and interests all going about their business, each with a different set of needs, wants and mutually incompatible agendas?

Finally, what should our business community look like. Is the Capital Region monolithic, where a “one size fits all” approach would most efficiently serve the needs of our regional economy? Or are we still a collection of relatively small, independent neighborhoods with diverse personalities, cultures, and interests requiring a customized array of localized services and individual attention in order to reach their full potential?

Count me squarely in the latter camp. My entire career in business has focused on the way individual communities operate, and one cannot find more diversity or splendid uniqueness than in comparing places like Clifton Park, Halfmoon, Mechanicville, Charlton, Ballston, Malta, Stillwater, Schuylerville, Waterford, and Saratoga, just to name a few.