Leadership Alliance to host COVID-19 economic recovery town hall on Wednesday

DICKINSON, N.Y. — The Leadership Alliance says it will host a COVID-19 economic recovery town hall on Wednesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

The program will be virtual and is open to the community with no charge to attend, per a Monday news release.

The Leadership Alliance is the formal name of the collaboration between the Agency and the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce.

In April, the Leadership Alliance formed the COVID-19 economic response, recovery, and resiliency task force to address the “immediate, short-term and long-term needs” of businesses and community residents in dealing with the impacts of the coronavirus.

The task force includes an “economic recovery cabinet,” which includes representatives from federal, state, and local government, industry, education, and nonprofit organizations. The cabinet has held weekly calls since April.

Stacey Duncan — who leads both the Agency and the Chamber — formed the group to provide an opportunity for information sharing and deliberation on issues facing the community.

Duncan will moderate the town hall with discussion topics that include public health and business recovery, as well as targeted discussions on education, food scarcity, and mental-health needs in the community. It will also cover additional topic areas such as access to broadband and childcare.

The speakers include Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D–Endwell); Broome County Executive Jason Garnar; Binghamton Mayor Rich David; along with Lori Welch, executive director of the United Way of Broome County, and Kathy Connerton, president & CEO of Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital.

Those interested can register for the virtual event through this link.