Southwestern New York State Economic Plan

About

Engagement

Background & SWOT

Action Plan

Evaluation

Conclusion

Data Visuals

Full PDF Plan

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  Human Capital

OBJECTIVES 1 & 2
Make talent attraction & retention campaigns a top priority to increase the region's working population,
and allocate more resources toward workforce development in specific sectors.​

Increase Talent Attraction

• ​Create marketing materials to emphasize the SWNY region as an affordable, beautiful residential option to those who have flexibility to work remotely; create relocation incentive packages​
• Equity lens: Support companies in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs to increase respect and inclusion for employees in the workplace and improve employee retention
• Distribute information about job and housing opportunities at visitor destinations, to market the region's outdoor recreation opportunities to those with active outdoor lifestyles
• Use social media to create positive discussion environment for those looking to return to the area, giving the information and support people need to "come home to SWNY"
• Create "welcome packages" for new residents and an online forum to support new residents

Workforce Lens: Develop & Retain Talent from Within the Region

• Support businesses and organizations in providing employees active support for continued education, certifications, and skills
• Develop training programs for workers looking to become managerial or supervisory staff, to support pipelines of potential promotion opportunities with strong people-management skills
• Create more opportunities for secondary and higher ed. students to intern and volunteer with businesses and nonprofits in their communities and to visualize their futures in the region. Equity lens: make sure opportunities are accessible and affordable.

Workforce Lens: Allocate Workforce Development Funds To Growing Sectors

• Start semiannual or quarterly meetings of industry working groups with stakeholders across the region
• Target workforce development funds toward sectors that are on the rise in the greater region or that expect an increase in need, including advanced manufacturing, research, and science, home caregiving for senior citizens, healthcare, construction, public works, and agriculture.

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OBJECTIVE 3
Ensure that high-quality care for both the young and the aging is readily available

Action Items

• ​Create a daycare mapping study and identify target areas of need. ​
• Invest in loans, grants, and trainings for both existing and start-up daycare businesses. Equity lens: get support and funding to underserved populations and marginalized communities.
• Workforce lens: Convene employer stakeholders to work collaboratively on caregiving support to benefit their employees
• Fund and support employers and higher education institutions in creating on-site child care and elder care programs
• Support employees who must provide eldercare at home in finding remote work

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OBJECTIVE 4
Strengthen and repair our region’s infrastructure, improve the current housing stock and create/expand public transit systems

Action Items

• Gather data on employee modes of transportation, both current and preferred
• Conduct regional public transit study. Resilience lens: plan for long-term transit solutions that can reduce the carbon emissions of rural travel
• Invest in new housing development near large employer centers
• Increase funding for homeowner repair and facade improvement loan and grant programs

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OBJECTIVE 5
Support the vitality of the region's higher education institutions’ ability to attract and retain staff and students in the region

Action Items

• Create more lodging for overnight visitors
• Identify the true costs of blight and support towns in addressing it
• Upgrade aging water and sewer infrastructure
• Improve the housing stock through incentive programs and home improvement loan funds
• Make NYS programs like StartUp NY and WFD grants more user-friendly for higher education
• Convene higher education, economic development, and business community regularly across the region

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Human Capital: Employee Health & Health Care Workforce