Ulster County's Planning Board, Industrial Development Agency and Ulster County Development Corporation are in the final stages of approval for a "sustainable" economic development strategy two years in the making. Involving an estimated 150 volunteers who drilled down into economic development services, industry cluster opportunities, and more, the plan is about to be presented to the Legislature for adoption as part of the comprehensive plan. View the plan here:

http://www.ulsterny.com/ulst_tomorrow/index.htm

Public comments are being accepted until August 15, 2008 and should be addressed to:

Dennis Doyle, Director
Ulster County Planning Board
Ulster County Transportation Council
PO Box 1800
Kingston, NY 12402
Tel: 845-340-3339
Fax: 845--340-3429

Here is the statement submitted by SHV:

The Ulster Tomorrow economic development plan represents a significant advance for the county by identifying clear strategies and priorities for development. Incorporation of this framework into the County’s comprehensive plan has our complete support.

Aspects of the plan are visionary. While many rural communities fail to recognize that agriculture is an economic sector, UT has chosen food and farming as a priority sector. Focusing on local food and energy industries positions the county’s economic activity well to meet local needs and build export industries.

Industry selection has short lifespan – the research on which this plan is based was done 2 years ago. While the four key industry cluster strategies still make sense, it would be wise to take a fresh look at the economic census and recent trends to be sure that major emerging areas of opportunity are not missed. For example, the growth in education and training, and in services related to health care, might be in the next wave of industry clusters to work with.

Sustainable Hudson Valley was most centrally involved in framing the green technology strategy, with our Executive Director coordinating the team and two board members participating. Taking the County’s financial situation seriously, our effort proposed a workplan for one staff position, with the specific budget to be determined by the responsible agency. The “outcomes matrix” that has been in circulation in connection with this plan contains a substantially larger figure for green technologies. If additional funds do become available for investment in the cluster, we strongly urge a focus on the energy-efficiency industry since it is poised for major growth, has many opportunities with modest capital requirements, and can do so much right now to preserve quality of life for Ulster County’s residents and businesses.

The plan was identified as “sustainable” at the outset, through its title. While the County’s commitment in this direction is honorable, what makes an economic strategy sustainable is the way it is implemented, and its outcomes in economic, human and environmental terms. The committee charged with “measured accountability” took an unorthodox approach – instead of establishing performance goals or metrics for the plan as a whole, the committee recommended working with SUNY faculty to create a repository for economic data that could benefit the entire county and create knowledge-based jobs. The value of this idea is obvious, but until there is linkage between specific outcome measures and the workplans for county economic development agencies, the goal of measured accountability will not be achieved.

The Ulster Tomorrow policy framework can support thriving local microeconomies in healthy landscapes, appropriately scaled to meet human needs while preserving natural resources. It could also be interpreted to support oversized resorts, with solar McMansions scattered around the hillsides – depending on the way it is translated into action. Smart growth principles were discussed during the process, but not brought to closure in terms of objective guiding principles. The County’s overall planning efforts, including open space and transportation plans, certainly help to provide a guiding context. The Ulster Tomorrow Consortium could increase the likelihood of more truly sustainable outcomes if it keeps working to set goals and measures of success that guide economic activity in keeping with community values and environmental realities.

Beyond the text of the plan, what will ensure a more prosperous and environmentally sensitive economy for Ulster County is the skill, judgment, creativity, ethics and commitment of the professionals charged with implementation. Through our experience with Ulster Tomorrow, we have developed the highest respect for county staff and volunteers involved in this process. This above all is the reason for our endorsement of the plan.