People news: Commerce Chenango hires Bunce as economic-development specialist

NORWICH, N.Y. — Commerce Chenango — Chenango County’s primary economic development, tourism, and chamber-of-commerce organization — announced it has hired Liz Bunce as economic-development specialist.

Her duties include the growth and implementation of economic-development plans (commercial and industrial), administration of grant and loan programs, monitoring current business activities, and working with local government, business, and other organizations. The goal is to encourage economic development in Chenango County in the areas of tourism, community revitalization, job retention and creation, infrastructure development, and workforce development, according to a Commerce Chenango news release.

“Liz Bunce brings a wide range of experience to Commerce Chenango Economic Development. Her training as an educator will make her an invaluable contributor in the area of workforce development,” Commerce Chenango President and CEO Steve Craig said in the release. “Furthermore, Liz’s background in dairy and hops production will allow our team to be even more effective in finding ways to help area farms.”

Bunce, a Chenango County native, holds a master’s degree in education from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in education from Elmira College.

She serves the community on the Planning Commission, the Chenango United Way Board, and the CDO Workforce Youth Council. Bunce lives in Norwich and is owner of Hillside Hops Farm in Oxford, according to the news release.

Bunce previously worked as an HR consultant at Preferred Mutual Insurance Co. and as an adult-education student advisor at DCMO (Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego) BOCES, according to her LinkedIn profile.