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Business views county's new marketing tool

By Deborah Clemans

COXSACKIE-Business leaders gathered Thursday afternoon to learn of new economic development tools that they hope will draw high-tech manufacturing to Greene County.

The Greene County Leaders Luncheon, held at Red's Restaurant, was sponsored and organized by the Greene County Industrial Development Agency.

The luncheon was an opportunity for business leaders to learn that the region, state, nation and even the world are beginning to turn their eyes to Greene County.

Those in attendance were also introduced to Kelly Lovell, president and CEO of the not-for-profit Center for Economic Growth.

The Center for Economic Growth has been working to create a "tech valley" in the Capital Region through vast marketing strategies.

Greene County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Zetterlund said Greene County is becoming a hot spot for economic development.

The IDA's creation of a business and technology park in Coxsackie with a second park in the planning stages, has opened up shovel-ready land that the county is hoping will entice corporations to build in Greene County and create jobs.

It has already attracted Save-A-Lot and a branch of the Bank of Greene County.

Zetterlund is one of several in the county who have put together the county's newest marketing tools to attract business.

County marketing began with the Greene logo and a Web site that was launched exactly a year ago.

Since then there have been some 90,000 hits on the site and Zetterlund said her office fields calls every day from interested parties checking into Greene County.

Business leaders are convinced that Greene County's economic iron is hot and now is the time to strike.

"Greene County is on the move," said Legislature Chairman Frank Stabile Jr., R-Palenville. "Greene County can no longer be viewed in a local context. Our county is now judged against all other regional, national and global communities, all seeking economic growth and success."

Noting the businesses that are moving into the county, including the Save-A-Lot warehouse at the Business and Technology Park, and Home Depot in Catskill, Stabile pointed out that for the past several years Greene County has been experiencing a renaissance on its Main Streets with several municipalities receiving grants from various avenues to rehabilitate infrastructure and facades.

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