Following is a press release some of you might be interested in for an event promoting business in upstate New York… seems to be mostly pertaining to the Buffalo area, but all of New York is desperate for some good ideas. Streaming on YNN website tomorrow.
Accelerate Upstate 2.0
Accelerate Upstate 2.0, an economic development summit, is slated to be held tomorrow in Buffalo and webcast across the state via YNN. This is the second event in the Accelerate Upstate series, and follows the 2011 conference which was produced by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership as Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Councils were being formed. The Partnership is inviting all Upstate stakeholders to watch online and participate in the discussion via social media.
Accelerate Upstate is designed to be inclusive of all stakeholders and focus on solutions rather than problems. Following the 2011 summit, 300 collaborators worked to develop the Accelerate Upstate Action Agenda, which served as a starting point for several of the Regional Economic Development Councils and has continued to have an impact as more REDC-sponsored projects come to fruition.
At Accelerate Upstate 2.0, the Partnership will revisit the progress of the last two years, and ask participants, ‘what’s working, and what’s not?’ Internationally-known political pollster (and Utica native) John Zogby was commissioned to poll several hundred employers from across Upstate on their perceptions of where NYS stands in 2013, and will present his findings at the conference.
Lieutenant Governor (and Rochester native) Bob Duffy will also be on hand and provide his take on the state of Upstate through an interview with YNN. James McConeghy, chief financial officer of Chenango County-headquartered and Upstate success story Chobani, Inc. will detail his organization’s experiences doing business in New York State. And to keep participants thinking forward, Joan Snyder Kuhl, expert on millennials in the workplace (and NYC resident), will present on the future of Upstate’s workforce.
The speakers will be interspersed with panel discussions on opportunities unique to Upstate New York:
· Accelerate Upstate Meets the Regional Councils will focus on the impact of the locally-vetted growth plans of the Regional Economic Development Councils, and see what the future holds for each REDC.
· One Day’s Trip: How can Upstate take advantage of its enviable market location? Will look at Upstate’s competitive advantages including freshwater, its border location, and proximity to major economic centers including Montreal, Toronto, and New York City.
Panel speakers include leaders from private companies, government agencies, the SUNY Levin and Manhattan Institutes, and the Canadian Consulate.
Participating in Accelerate Upstate 2.0 is easy. A real time stream will be available on YNN.com, and Partnership staff will be monitoring their facebook and twitter accounts throughout the day to accept questions and input. Be sure to use hashtag #Accelerate.
