SYRACUSE — CenterState CEO’s Economic Forecast predicts modest but steady growth for Central New York in 2013.
The business leadership and economic-development organization presented those findings at its 2013 Economic Forecast Breakfast this morning in Syracuse. More than 540 people attended the breakfast at the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center at Oncenter, according to CenterState CEO.
Its economic forecast was generated by 168 community participants and executives who are CenterState CEO members. They represented 12 counties.
“Many of our members have experienced some growth or expect continued slow growth for the coming year,” CenterState CEO President Robert Simpson said in a news release. “While growth indicates we are moving in the right direction, slow growth is also indicative of larger economic trends that have persisted in the region for the last 30 years.”
The 2013 forecast contains several bright spots. They include businesses expecting to increase exports, coming growth in the education and health-care sectors, funding from New York’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative, and consumers supporting a range of industries through buy-local efforts.
Storm clouds in the forecast ranged from rising health-care, energy, and tax expenses to economic and regulatory uncertainty. A local workforce with skills misaligned for education and health care was another challenge cited.
The forecast also took a look back at 2012. It was a year marked by uncertainty stemming from federal policy and state budget deficits, flat capital expenditures, and a focus on doing business locally, it found.
Destiny USA Executive David Aitken also provided a look at the shopping mall’s growth.
“More than 4,500 permanent full-time positions now exist at Destiny USA, and the facility continues to generate increased traffic [and] sales-tax revenue, and we continue to promote Syracuse as a tourism destination,” he said. “We look forward to a successful 2013 with more construction and onsite jobs, new, exciting venues, and growing recognition in the tourism industry.”
Contact Seltzer at rseltzer@cnybj.com