Upstate NY Coalition Promotes TBED

While Albany securing Sematech North has captured national attention in the TBED community for the past week, area leaders have been working for more than a year to forge a partnership toward regional technology-based economic development. That effort came to fruition in June when leaders of the Albany-Colonie Regional, Rensselaer County Regional and Schenectady County Chambers of Commerce announced the formation of the Tech Valley Chamber Coalition. Combined, the three chambers have nearly 5,000 members employing more than 174,000 individuals in the region.

The Coalition will focus its efforts in three areas: promotion of the region as Tech Valley; development of programs that will enhance the business climate for members of all three chambers; and advocacy on issues of importance to each organization, as well as the greater business community. Each of the chambers is taking the lead on one of the three focus areas.

The promotion of the region as Tech Valley will involve a number of initiatives, all of which revolve around marketing the 17-county region as a location with prime business opportunities and a superior quality of life. The effort will begin immediately with each chamber agreeing to use the Tech Valley logo and the positioning statement "Serving New York's Tech Valley" on its collateral materials.

The marketing effort also includes a promotional campaign and supporting materials explaining the advantages and opportunities available in the Tech Valley region; support of complementary regional events, such as the Summit in Tech Valley; and website links between each chamber and related Tech Valley websites, among others. The Albany-Colonie Chamber will spearhead this portion of the collaborative effort.

The development of programs designed to promote increased cooperation and networking between the three chambers – in the process, boosting the region's business climate – was kicked off with a first-ever luncheon bringing together the boards of directors of each chamber. In addition, the Coalition announced plans for a joint conference for January 2003. The Rensselaer County Chamber will coordinate the program portion of the initiative.

The joint advocacy effort, to be led by the Schenectady County Chamber, will allow the three chambers to speak in a unified voice on issues of importance to the business community. It is expected to entertain concerns over the rising cost of health care and health insurance will be the first issue to be addressed by the Coalition.

For more information, visit: http://www.techvalley.org/