Cleantech Strategy seen as a blueprint for Southern Tier

It’s viewed as a “blueprint” for how the Southern Tier can “cement its role” in upstate New York’s clean-energy and high-tech future. Southern Tier regional economic-development leaders on April 29 announced the release of the New York Southern Tier Cleantech Strategy. The report highlights key industries the region can attract business growth by pairing existing resources and research capabilities with additional infrastructure expansion and workforce-development programs. The key industries include renewable-energy storage development, clean-transportation manufacturing, and semiconductor packaging. The effort seeks to create a wide range of jobs and economic opportunities that will “provide upward mobility for current and future residents for years to come.” New York City–based Newmark Group (NASDAQ: NMRK), a global development consulting firm, produced the report. The study was commissioned by industrial development agencies, or IDAs, that make up the eight-county Southern Tier, as defined by the state’s regional economic-development boundaries. A summary of the New York Southern Tier Cleantech Strategy is available at https://theagency-ny.com/economic-development-resources “Upstate New York is experiencing a high-tech renaissance that will redefine the state’s economy and help lead the nation’s tech boom for decades to come — and the Southern Tier deserves a place in that transformational growth,” Stacey Duncan, CEO of the Leadership Alliance, said in the announcement. “I have put down roots here, raising my family in this region because I believe in our potential to generate new opportunities for future generations. With this blueprint, we have a clear path to follow to ensure that the Southern Tier soars.” Leadership Alliance is a partnership between Broome County Industrial Development Agency/Local Development Corporation and the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce. The New York Southern Tier Cleantech Strategy builds on the region’s “growing reputation” as a hub for energy-storage research, development and manufacturing, while also positioning it as a key future supply-chain location for semiconductor and other high-tech businesses that are rapidly growing along the Thruway corridor to the north.

Site development

The Newmark study underscores the importance of developing a range of sites that can host new industries, from repurposing existing manufacturing and logistics facilities to developing untapped locations that can be tailored to companies’ needs. Experts gave high marks to key sites that include the Broome Technology Park, a proposal that is aimed at creating a new sustainably focused technology park that attracts businesses in advanced electronics, semiconductors, test packaging, and related supply chains, as well as life sciences and agricultural processing. Another site, the Cornell Business & Technology Park in Tompkins County, is a “prime flagship location for leading-edge businesses,” with access to one of the state's and nation’s top research universities and a highly educated graduating workforce that “high-tech businesses need.” Other sites include Wayland Business Park in Steuben County, Southern Tier Logistics in Chemung County, and the former Matco building in Tioga County. The next steps for strategy implementation include ongoing coordination with higher-education institutions like Binghamton University and Cornell University; NYSEG, the region’s utility provider; workforce practitioners; and other stakeholders on matters pertaining to necessary site and infrastructure upgrades, as well as development of a marketing plan to promote regional strengths. “Economic development is very competitive and fast paced. While the region as a whole has a strong manufacturing, engineering, sales and R&D base to support and further develop the cleantech supply chain, we need to continue to move forward to remain competitive,” Joe Roman, executive director of the Chemung County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), said. “Addressing the shortage of sites and buildings that have the proper infrastructure and other amenities that companies desire is extremely important to our region and our growth in the cleantech space. Cleantech will be one of the pillars of economic development efforts in the future and will provide more opportunities for employment which will help keep younger generations here.” Roman also serves as president of Southern Tier Economic Growth (STEG). The strategy looks to build off recent investment through programs like the Upstate NY Energy Storage Engine, Federal Tech Hub designation, and New Energy New York program. Recent private-sector announcements demonstrate the region’s ability to attract new investment in the clean-technology sector. They include the expansion of BAE Systems in Endicott to combine the latest energy storage technologies with critical aircraft electronics and plans for Siemens Mobility to locate in Elmira to manufacture high-speed rail.