O'Mara joins panel on manufacturing at today's 'NY Open for Business' conference at the Capitol

Albany, N.Y., September 26—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R-C, Big Flats) will participate on a panel examining the future of manufacturing in New York State at today’s statewide “NY Open for Business” conference being convened in Albany by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Former President Bill Clinton will kick off tomorrow’s conference with a keynote address at noon.  The conference is expected to bring together more than 1,000 leading policymakers, economic experts, labor representatives, academics and others for a daylong examination of the future of New York State’s economy.

Tomorrow’s conference will also feature a series of individual panels being convened to examine key sectors of the state’s economy in detail, from agribusiness development to workforce development.

O’Mara has been invited to help lead a panel discussion titled “Success Stories: Manufacturing.”  According to conference organizers, the goal of the panel will be to “identify strategies for retaining and attracting sustainable manufacturing industries in New York.” 

O’Mara said, “Those of us who have spent a lifetime living and working in upstate New York have witnessed manufacturing’s decline.  But we also know that a strong manufacturing sector remains productive, successful and hard at work.  We need to stay focused on ways to build on these strengths and recognize the opportunities that exist for a 21st Century manufacturing foundation in New York State.” 

The panel on manufacturing is expected to be attended by approximately 150 regional council members, state legislators and members of the public.

Its meeting is scheduled to get underway at 2:00 p.m. in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany.

Tomorrow’s conference will also mark the first time that all of the members from the state’s 10 Regional Economic Development Councils will come together to explore local solutions and share new ideas on private-sector economic growth and job creation.  The councils were established as part of the 2011-2012 state budget and are currently at work in regions across the state, including the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, developing local economic strategies that will compete for upwards of $1 billion in state economic development aid.