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Clifford M. Miller
Chair
Patricia Brooks
1st Vice Chair
Robert J. Ryan, Jr.
2nd Vice Chair
Ward Todd
Secretary
Glenn Sutherland
Treasurer
Michael Berardi
John F. Butler
Brendan Conlan
Dan Cooper
Claire Costantino
James F. Davenport
Thomas A. Dee
Alfred J. Ford, Jr.
Ira Fusfeld
John Galanti
Richard A. Gerentine
Wayne Harris
Herbert Hekler
Johann Huleatt
Donald C. Katt
Robert Keathly
Julie Krieger
Joan Lawrence-Bauer
Dorothy Martin
Veit Mueller
Frank Ostrander III
Dean N. Palen
James M. Sottile
Michael L. Stock
John Valk, Jr.
Robyn M. Williams
Chester J. Straub, Jr.
President
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Special Commission on the Economic Future of Ulster County
This summer the Ulster County Development Corporation (UCDC) announced the formation of a Special Commission on the Economic Future of Ulster County. The purpose of the Commission is to gather information on the essentials for and impediments to business attraction and economic growth in Ulster County, identify community development priorities, and formulate programs to assist in strengthening the economy of Ulster County.
The first action to be taken by the Commission will be to host a one-day public hearing on October 5, 2004 at the SUNY Ulster campus in Stone Ridge, New York. Leaders in business, government, real estate, public policy, academia, and the non-profit sector have been invited to share perspectives on, and suggest steps that will improve, the prospects for Ulster County’s economic future.
A Blueprint for the Future
“We believe that by working collaboratively through a broad based partnership of county and municipal leaders and concerned entrepreneurs and citizens we can identify the County’s needs and use our collective knowledge and expertise to develop the solutions to building a stronger economy and brighter future for Ulster County,” stated Chester J. Straub, Jr., president of UCDC. “With the formation of the Commission we are one step closer to providing innovative solutions that respond to external and internal change and support quality development throughout the county.”
The Commission will be led by Clifford M. Miller, Chairman of the Ulster County Development Corporation and CEO and President of Ulster Savings Bank. Other members of the Commission include: Patricia Brooks, President of Brooks & Brooks Surveyors; Dan Cooper, President of Active Learning Technologies; Ira Fusfeld, Publisher of the Daily Freeman; and, John Galanti; President of Hudson Valley DataNet.
“The Ulster County Development Corporation, as the leader for economic and business development in Ulster County, has the responsibility through collaborative approaches to lay a foundation for success. By bringing a combination of knowledge, solid experience, and innovative thinking together, we can mutually identify issues that require our highest priority of attention as we move toward our future,” stated Mr. Miller.
Mr. Miller added, “I am reminded of an old adage, that ‘if you don’t think about the future…you cannot have one’ which means that we need to define our own growth agenda for the future. Our hope is that this special commission will be a positive step forward.”
The Hearing Agenda
Presenters and participants in this daylong commission all share a common goal to keep Ulster County unique and economically prosperous. They will include representatives from regional and local economic development organizations, county and municipal elected officials, community development professionals, businesses and community leaders.
The agenda and presenters for the Public Hearing include:
8:30 AM Clifford Miller – Welcoming Remarks
8:45 AM Panel I – Economic Development Professionals
- Anthony Campagiorni, President and CEO, Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation
- Ronald Coan, President and CEO, Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation
- Stephen M. Finkle, Director of Economic Development, City of Kingston
- Ronald Hicks, Hudson Valley Regional Director, Empire State Development Corporation
- Vincent Tamagna, Hudson River Navigator
- Michael Triolo, Economic Development Director, Catskill Watershed Corporation
10:15 AM Break
10:30 AM Panel 2 – Business Leaders
- Thomas A. Collins, Commercial Associates Realty, Inc.
- Thomas A. Dee, President and CEO, Benedictine Hospital
- Frank Falatyn, President and CEO, Fala Technologies, Inc.
- Abel Garraghan, President, Heritagenergy
- Charles Genck, Thylan Associates
- Victoria Langling, Director, The Markertek Fund
- Thomas Lindgren, Chairman, Chamber of Commerce of Ulster County
- Ronald Marquette, Executive Artistic Director, Ulster Performing Arts Center
- Joyce Minard, Executive Director, New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce
12:00 Noon Lunch
1:00 PM Panel 3 – Public Officials
- Elliot Auerbach, Manager, Village of Ellenville
- Richard A. Gerentine, Chairman, Ulster County Legislature
- Martin Ruglis, District Superintendent, Ulster County BOCES
- Robert Shepard, Supervisor, Town of Lloyd
- John Valk, Supervisor, Town of Shawangunk
2:30 PM Break
2:45 PM Panel 4 – Community Leaders
- Barbara Budick, Chairperson, Town of Saugerties Economic Development Committee
- Jay Burgess, Director of Communications, Scenic Hudson, Inc.
- Dennis Doyle, Director, Ulster County Planning Department
- Thomas H. Jackson, Chairman, Marbletown Community Development Committee
- Constance Synder, Chairperson, Rural Ulster Preservation Company
- Lydia M. Reidy, Executive Director, Ulster County Cornell Cooperative Extension
4:15 PM Public Comment
Each presenter will provide opening comments that will be followed by questions from the Commission. Following the panel presentations, the public will also have an opportunity to make comments.
In addition, the Commission will be accepting written comments for a period of two weeks after the Public Hearing. All written comments should be mailed to UCDC at 5 Development Court, Kingston, New York 12401 and are due no later than 5:00 PM on October 19, 2004.
Since seating is limited advance reservations are requested. For reservations contact Linda Clark at 845-338-8840 ext. 10 or via email at lclark@ulsterny.com
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]
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