Ulster County Legislature, Ulster County Development Corporation (UCDC), Ulster County Industrial Development Agency (UCIDA), and Ulster County Planning Board (UCPB) are collaborating on the creation of a new strategic economic development vision and plan for Ulster County. This effort will identify and prioritize desired outcomes for a vibrant Ulster County economy and provide a blueprint for economic development, including business growth and community revitalization.

Hector S. Rodriguez, Chair of the Legislature’s Economic Development, Planning, Housing and Transit said, “ the new administration of the legislature has been calling for a game plan or map for economic direction for our future development since day one. I’m very pleased that our partnership with UCDC and the UCIDA will help give some direction for our future development. This strategy will be innovative in its approach and gain local buy-in for what type of development we want in Ulster County.”

“The American economy has undergone a transformation driven by entrepreneurs who create opportunity for change and build new industries based upon innovation and global markets. Ulster County must embrace the new economy, support innovation and entrepreneurship, create an atmosphere that nurtures new business start-ups, and maintain a family-friendly environment and high quality of life,” said Chester J. Straub, Jr. President of UCDC.

Straub further said that “our economic development strategy will allow Ulster to come together as a county to help create a new agenda for opportunity, while maintaining the vitality of our cities, towns, villages and hamlets, and fostering collaborative business development among all of our communities and shared growth for all of our citizens.”

March S. Gallagher, Chair of the UCIDA said, “the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency is changing its Uniform Tax Exemption Policy so that projects reflecting countywide economic development goals can be awarded greater benefits. Accordingly, Ulster County must develop a countywide economic development strategy. The UCIDA, County government, and UCDC working together presents an exciting step forward in this process.”

To aid the effort, UCDC has retained the consulting firms of Cope & Associates, Inc. (www.ConsultCope.com) and Economic & Policy Resources, Inc. (www.EPReconomics.com). This team has extensive experience with community engagement processes and the development of strategic economic plans.

The planning process will include a comprehensive assessment of the Ulster County economy, affirm a mission and vision for its future, identify and prioritize broadly supported outcomes for a vibrant economy, and create strategies that will guide implementation.

Project information, a schedule of upcoming events, a resource guide and public survey can be accessed at the project Website found at www.ulsterplanning.info.

Included in the process will be consultation with public and private interest groups, elected and appointed public officials, and community and business leaders. A three-day “Collaborative Jury” will be held October 12th through 13th in Kingston. The Jury will be comprised of county stakeholders groups that mirror Ulster County’s demographics and varied business and community interests. While the members of the Jury will be identified in advance, the public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

Members of the Jury will be divided into six stakeholder groups: Natural Capital, Economic Capital, Physical Capital, Social Capital, Culture Capital, and Human Capital. These groups will review economic data, hear presentations on opposing views, discuss the data and issues within the group, and formulate desired outcomes that successfully accomplish Ulster County’s economic mission and vision. They will also intermingle with other stakeholder members to discuss systemic impacts of each other’s outcomes. Finally, they will identify and prioritize common ground outcomes.

A Task Force of representatives of UCDC, the UCIDA, the UCPB, and the Jury Process Stakeholder Groups will be assigned the responsibility of taking the vision and prioritized outcomes and developing specific strategies, tasks and action items. These in turn will be compiled into a final comprehensive strategic economic plan to be completed by January 1997.

Additional information on the planning effort can be obtained by visiting www.ulsterplanning.info or contacting UCDC at 845-338-8840 or develop@ulsterny.com.