Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) was a panelist yesterday during the keynote at the New York State Economic Development Council conference at the Albany Capital Center. The topic of the session was Economic Development and Market Ready/Shovel Ready, and focused on investing in people, in sites, and infrastructure to form strategic partnerships. Jones discussed his Strategic Site Readiness Fund bill (A9114) and the need to support broadband and childcare to support economic development in the North Country and across the state.

“Creating a Strategic Site Readiness Fund will help communities across the state create shovel ready sites to attract new businesses,” said Assemblyman Jones. “This is especially great for the North Country that has great potential for economic development but often lacks the infrastructure needed for companies to start building right away. Providing grants to localities to prepare sites for business development will expand the work of the local transportation manufacturing sector and create more good-paying jobs in the North Country.”

“We cannot have economic development in the North Country and upstate New York until we address the persistent problems we are experiencing due to lack of broadband and childcare availability,” Jones continued. “Despite the promise to deliver broadband access to all, 5 percent of residents across the North Country still do not have access to broadband and this must be rectified. New York is starting to provide important resources and support to help those interested in opening childcare centers, but there is a real need for a childcare pipeline in my district. I am working with community and state leaders to establish a childcare pipeline and continue to advocate to include funding for this program in the final state budget.”

The NYSEDC conference is a two-day event that focuses on economic development across the state. Assemblyman Jones joined his colleagues Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, and Senators Jeremy Cooney and Anna Kaplan for the keynote session.”