EDC President & CEO Jim Siplon joined JoDee Kenney on Spectrum News 1’s In Focus this past weekend for a wide-ranging discussion about the forces shaping our regional economy.
The conversation touched on the nearly $150 million in investment transforming downtown Glens Falls, the importance of helping existing businesses grow while attracting new investment, and the enormous role Lake George and the visitor economy continue to play across Warren County.
But one of the bigger stories is how those pieces increasingly connect.
Tourism brings people here. Great downtowns, arts, culture, recreation and year-round experiences give them more reasons to come. Strong communities, housing, infrastructure and quality of life give some of those visitors reasons to imagine living here. And a growing entrepreneurial and business environment gives people reasons to build careers and companies here.
That is increasingly how we think about economic development.
Our Experiential Economy, Community Services Economy and Productive Economy aren’t separate strategies. They reinforce one another.
And extending the tourism season is an important part of that equation. Events, recreation, culture and other year-round experiences help turn a traditionally seasonal economy into one that creates economic activity throughout more of the year.
Thanks to Spectrum News 1 and JoDee Kenney for giving Warren County an opportunity to be part of a broader conversation about what is driving local economies across Upstate New York.
Watch Jim’s interview and the full In Focus program here: https://lnkd.in/gUqgEdFi