Ogdensburg, Massena, and Plattsburgh are among the communities that Site Selection magazine is recognizing as “top micropolitan areas for corporate-facility investment in 2014.” Empire State Development (ESD), New York’s primary economic-development agency, announced their ranking in a news release issued March 4. Site Selection, a corporate real estate and economic-development publication, has all three communities […]
Ogdensburg, Massena, and Plattsburgh are among the communities that Site Selection magazine is recognizing as “top micropolitan areas for corporate-facility investment in 2014.”
Empire State Development (ESD), New York’s primary economic-development agency, announced their ranking in a news release issued March 4.
Site Selection, a corporate real estate and economic-development publication, has all three communities tied for eighth place for the number of projects in the communities that have led to additional investment or job creation.
The magazine also ranked Batavia in Western New York in fourth place.
The magazine’s ranking of top micropolitan areas included areas with a population of 10,000 to 50,000 that cover at least one county, using U.S. Census data, ESD said.
Site Selection’s new-plant database provides the basis for the rankings, which are focused on new corporate-facility projects or expansions with “significant impact.”
The projects must meet at least one of three criteria, which include a capital investment of at least $1 million, create a minimum of 20 new jobs, or add at least 20,000 square feet of new floor area.
New York’s North Country is establishing itself as a business-development location where the communities, colleges, developers, and state “understand how to work together” to help both existing companies and those firms that are looking for new facilities, Patrick Kelly, CEO of the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency in Canton, said in the ESD news release.
“Looking forward, we expect this trend will continue with the new low-cost power and specialized economic-development resources made available for St. Lawrence County through the New York Power Authority’s power-proceeds allocation program. With our border location, quality workforce, available facilities, aggressive programs and coordinated approach to development, there’s never been a better time to look at St. Lawrence County,” said Kelly.
The ranking “recognizes success” over the last year, which is “very gratifying” for the area economic-development team, Garry Douglas, president of the North Country Chamber of Commerce in Plattsburgh, and co-chair of the North Country regional economic-development council, said in the news release.
“But even more importantly, it is the latest confirmation that our economic-development strategies are on the right track and need to be carried forward, especially the continued deepening and broadening of our special economic connections with Quebec. And with Ogdensburg and Massena in the top group along with Plattsburgh, I believe it provides confirmation that Gov. Cuomo’s regional approach to economic development is truly working in the North Country,” said Douglas.
He also contends “this sort of national spotlight” will reinforce the region’s marketing efforts and “attract fresh interest.”
About Site Selection
Site Selection, the 61-year-old Atlanta, Georgia–based magazine that Conway, Inc. publishes, is a corporate real estate and economic-development publication.
The magazine’s circulation base consists of 48,000 subscribers, most of whom are involved in corporate site-selection decisions at the CEO/president/COO level, according to the description in the ESD news release.