Eight things you need to know on topics related to Saratoga County's economy.

1. Saratoga Partnership to Develop Economic Development Plan for Town of Malta

The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership,a Saratoga County-based economic development organization, will work with the Town of Malta to create a customized, town-wide economic development plan designed to broaden the town’s economic base and ensure its long-term prosperity. The collaboration is part of the Saratoga Partnership’s Next Wave Communities initiative, which assists towns within Saratoga County in developing economic development plans tailored to their particular strengths, needs and aspirations. The process of developing the plan will involve a series of phases, beginning on Tuesday, September 17, when an economic development workshop is held at 6:30pm at Malta Town Hall, 2540 Route 9, Malta.  Click here to read more.

2.  Preparing for Tech's 'Next Wave' a Topic at Stefanik Economic Roundtable in Corinth

Job growth, dated infrastructure and poor cellular service were among the top concerns U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik heard from local business and government leaders at a lightly attended economic roundtable Thursday.

The event was largely optimistic, with an overall theme of preparing for the "next wave" of technology and business opportunities across Saratoga County and neighboring areas. Read more about the issues and discussions had by top local economic development stakeholders at the roundtable.

3. No bridge too hard for Edinburg supervisor - Longest-serving female Supervisor persevered for over 18 years to rebuild Batchellerville Bridge

"That's my life's work," said Raymond who was elected in 1987. "My second year in office I realized we had a bridge that was not going to last a lot longer and needed to be replaced. It took 18 years of persistence, of annoying people, getting to know people and, finally, success. I describe myself as being very committed. Other people might describe me a bit of a pain in the neck." The bridge cost $46 million and without the bridge, there would be a 35-mile long detour, splitting the small town in two and duplicating services. The project was 80 percent federally-funded, with the remaining 20 percent investment coming from the state. It was finished a year ahead of schedule in 2012. Click here to read more from the Times Union.

4. CEG Hosting Trade Mission to the United Arab Emiriates

The Center for Economic Growth and the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council are co-leading a trade mission to the United Arab Emirates October 5-10, 2019 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The delegation will consist of regional leaders in business, education and local elected officials. The mission will take place . The visit will occur in conjunction with GITEX 2019, one of the world’s largest tech trade shows which occurs every year in Dubai.

The focus of this mission is for the Capital Region's business, education, and political leadership to expand the already strong relationship between the U.A.E. and the community. Delegates will be able to develop new contacts and explore new opportunities to sell their products abroad in an emerging technology market like the UAE, home of the primary investor of GLOBALFOUNDRIES. Click here to learn more.

5. Three Capital Region Counties Among NY’s Top 10 for Growing Young Adults

The Capital Region is one of only three state economic development regions that has maintained its ranks of young adults grow over the last five years – and New York City is not one of them. In fact, out of New York’s 62 counties, only 17 grew their young adult populations between 2014 and 2018 – and five of them were in the Capital Region, according to a Center for Economic Growth (CEG) analysis of new U.S. Census Bureau data. At 4.4 percent between 2014 and 2018, Saratoga County had the state’s fastest-growing young adult population. Also among the state’s top 10 fastest-growing counties for young adults were Greene County, ranking eighth at 0.9 percent, and Albany County, ranking 10th at 0.7 percent.

6. Capital District Cost of Living Index

The Capital District Regional Planning Commission, in partnership with the   Center for Economic Growth  and the  Capital Region Chamber  are pleased to provide the ACCRA Cost of Living Index created by C2ER, the Council for Community and Economic Research. The ACCRA Cost of Living Index is the most reliable source of region to region quarterly comparisons of key consumer costs and is referenced in the Census Bureau’s Statistical Abstract of the United States. The data for the Capital Region is collected quarterly by graduate students enrolled in the  Department of Geography and Planning at the University at Albany . The methodology, data requirements and parameters of the data collected are consistent nationwide in order to assure comparability among the participating regions.

7. A Strategist's Guide to Upskilling

Imagine that you’re one of millions of people whose job is threatened by digital technology. The industrialized world is facing a skills crisis. On the one hand, automation is threatening many existing jobs. Hundreds of millions of young people around the world are coming of age and finding themselves unemployed and unemployable, while many older, long-established employees are discovering their jobs are becoming obsolete.

Many people in the current workforce were educated between 1970 and 2000, when technologies that are ubiquitous today did not exist. The Internet was in its infancy. A college degree was enough to put just about anyone on a good career path. It was assumed that people would be able to easily acquire new skills through vocational or on-the-job training in the future. Those assumptions no longer hold true. As the digital transformation of the global economy continues, high-tech skills will become a passport to a secure job.The term  upskilling refers to the expansion of people’s capabilities and employability to fulfill the talent needs of a rapidly changing economy. An upskilling initiative can take place at the level of a company, an industry, or a community. Read more about upskilling here.

8. SUNY Adirondack's Office of Continuing Education - Wilton Campus Courses

SUNY Adirondack Saratoga in Wilton is positioned to offer  higher education and workforce development support to the growing businesses in Saratoga County. Pre-registration required; call 518.743.2238 or email  conted@sunyacc.edu  to register today.

EVENTS

9.17.19 - FREE MARKETING WORKSHOP - Tuesday, September 17 from 7:45 am – 9:30 am, Hilton Garden Inn, 30 Clifton Country Road, Clifton Park. Click here for details.

9.17.19 - MALTA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING - NEXT WAVE COMMUNITIES KICK-OFF MEETING - Tuesday, September 17 from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Malta Town Hall, 2540 Route 9, Malta. Click here for details.

9.19.19 - BUILDING A BRAND - SUNY ADK SOCIAL MEDIA SERIES - Thursday, September 19 from 7:30 am – 9:00 am, SUNY ADK, Wilton Campus, 696 US 9 Wilton. Click here to register.

9.20.19 - SINGLECUT BREWERY GRAND OPENING - Friday, September 20, 3:00 PM SingleCut North, 6 Fairchild Square, Clifton Park. Click here for details.

11.13.19 - SARATOGA COUNTY HOSPITALITY + TOURISM ECONOMIC INDEX - Wednesday, November 13 from 11:30 - 1:00pm at Excelsior Springs Event Center, 47 Excelsior Avenue, Saratoga Springs. Contact Shelby Schneider for sponsorship opportunities.