Living in a “post Kodak world” is what University of Rochester president Joel Seligman says he's focusing on for the region.
Seligman is co-chair of the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council. He says his goal is to talk with people around area for ideas on how to more effectively work with the state in leveraging funds for economic development. Seligman says even with a smaller Kodak, the Greater Rochester area has promise for job growth.
"What we have going for us in the Finger Lakes and the City of Rochester is a knowledge-based community that is thriving," Seligman says. "We're doing better in the state in terms of employment. We're doing better in terms of the unemployment rate, job creation. And the question that we focused on in our strategic plan was to accelerate that growth, and we're going to keep focusing on that in the years to come."
With the governor's announcement of a second round of economic development competition money this year, Seligman say he's playing to win.
Seligman says he felt Rochester received an unfair shake in state funding as Buffalo was awarded $1 billion in state aid to develop its city. The economic council co-chair says he believes Rochester continues to be overlooked because its approach has been too modest. But Seligman says that could all change overtime with a little perseverance.
The governor awarded nearly $70 million this past December to help develop 93 projects recommended by the regional council. The New York Battery Energy and Storage Technology, NY-BEST, slated for Eastman Business Park, received $3.5 million.
Seligman spoke at the REALTORS, Home Builders and Lenders Economic Outlook breakfast at the Locust Hill Country Club.