Ribbon cutting and ground-breaking ceremonies are very exciting and certainly get the attention of the press. However, at TDC our mission of creating a global community of choice means that we do a lot of work behind the scenes – including providing seed money or partnership support to raise the level of consciousness about economic development opportunities, best practices and supporting an array of worthy workforce development initiatives. Here are several examples of the types of initiatives whichTDC was involved in 2011 that you probably won’t read about on the front page of the business section:
In November 2009, TDC’s Institute for Development and Economic Analysis (IDEA) hosted the first in a series of community forums aimed at developing a sustainable economic vision for the next 30 years. In November 2010, TDC’s IDEA published a report of the group’s collective findings which became the blueprint for a Sustainable Regional Economic Development Plan. In September 2011 the Partnership for Community Redevelopment (PCD) committee was created to provide guidance and administrative support to the Vision 2040 initiatives. Now called "Vision 2 Action", the transition from concept to action is complete. The community is now poised to affect positive change.
TDC launched its second annual community-wide effort to help combat litter at the North Country Chamber of Commerce Business Expo in June 2011– the largest business-to-business show in northern New York. The campaign was intended to energize local community members to join together and clean-up the litter that is, unfortunately, evident in many areas of the County. The Development Corporation distributed oxo-biodegradable litter bags to help with clean-up efforts. The bags were printed with various messages such as “Pick of the Litter’, ‘Plattsburgh Proud’, ‘Instructions: Place Eyesores Here’, ‘You Can’t Count on the Wind’, and ‘How to Improve Your Commute’. All bags were imprinted with the same tagline, “I care – we can make a difference’. TDC won an Excellence in Economic Development award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for this campaign in 2011.
TDC is proud to support The North Country Cultural Center of the Arts and hosts traveling exhibits for the Center throughout the year at its administrative office facility at the Banker Road Industrial Park.
For the fourth consecutive year, The Development Corporation sponsored the CVSRF hosted by SUNY Plattsburgh and Clinton Community College in April 2011. CVSRF is open to students and their teachers in grades 7-12 in Clinton, Essex, and Franklin County and to all schools within the Champlain Valley Educational Services district. The goals of the Champlain Valley Regional Science Fair (CVRSF) are not only to promote inquiry based scientific investigation at the high school level, but also to encourage junior level students to become more engaged in the process of scientific reasoning and investigation with continued interest through high school and beyond.
CCEC is coordinated by The Development Corporation and was created as a way to improve communication and enhance opportunities to collaborate in order to benefit county-wide economic development efforts. The CCEC is committed to:
Clinton County Public Transit (CCPT) in cooperation with CCEC have been working together to study the transportation needs of Clinton County. This effort has included numerous surveys, public meetings, presentations to local businesses and working with many other transportation providers in Clinton County and the North Country region. The results will help CCEC in its efforts to highlight cost effective transportation alternatives for area residents, businesses and employees.
The primary goal of CV-TEC’s National Work Readiness Summer Institute was to bring together educators and business leaders to develop a strategic plan to help answer the question, “What does an integrated business and education initiative look like?” Educators from throughout New York as well as local area educators attended the three-day event at Clinton Community College. TDC hosted a Business/Education Networking reception as part of the National Work Readiness Summer Institute. This event offered business leaders the opportunity to learn more about NWRC in our community, network with other business leaders who support the credential, and most importantly, meet educators committed to working with workforce development and business professionals to create a strong workforce in the North Country.
In February 2011, the Clinton Community College Foundation (CCC), in conjunction with TDC, launched a series of guest lecture events focused on key community and economic development topics important to sustaining the regional economy. The 2011 Economic Development Lecture Series provided businesses executives, economic development professionals, community leaders, educators and students the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking dialogue regarding best practices, workforce development, job creation and community development. The series was also designed to provide local college students the opportunity to network with the region's experienced business leaders and government officials.
The Distinguished Canadian Address recognizes select individuals who have made a profoundly positive contribution to Canadian public life. This initiative provides a forum that showcases professors, business leaders, and government officials who offer public lectures on a wide range of Canadian and Canada-U.S. issues. TDC is the sole sponsor of SUNY Plattsburgh’s Center for the Study of Canada annual address and gala dinner. This year’s event featured John Murray, Deputy Governor, Bank of Canada.
