County Articles

Ballston Spa, NY – Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Thomas N. Wood, III (R-Saratoga) and Supervisor Anita Daly (R-Clifton Park), Chair of the Board’s Economic Development Committee, announced today that Saratoga County will have an important voice on the new Capital Region Economic Development Council. This new Council is one of 10 throughout New York State created by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Governor Cuomo made a special announcement about the Capital Region Council today at Schenectady County Community College. According to the Governor’s Open for Business guidebook, the mission of these councils is to “create a new operating model for New York State government that will stimulate economic development in every region and improve the business climate statewide. The Regional Council approach will be community-driven, comprehensive, and holistic.”



Local government officials in each region will serve as ex-officio members of the Councils to participate in discussions and the planning process. As Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Wood has selected Supervisor Daly to act as Saratoga County’s representative at the table. Supervisor Daly said that she is honored to serve in this capacity and that “For many years, Saratoga County’s economic development leaders have been aware that the results of our efforts do not stop at the County’s borders. I look forward to working with the extremely qualified and dedicated members of the council to move our whole region forward.”



Each Regional Council will be chaired by Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy. The Capital Region’s Co-Chairs will be Michael J. Castellana, President and CEO of SEFCU and Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, President of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Other members of the Council will include Gary Dake, President of Stewarts Shops; Dennis Brobston, President of the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation; Peg Murphy, human resources director for Espey Manufacturing in Saratoga Springs; and Christine Edgerly, president of Adirondack Mechanical Services LLC in Wilton. The Councils are tasked with five major responsibilities which include developing a five-year Strategic Plan for long-term, sustainable growth and leveraging private and public resources.



 Chairman Wood said that “As an economic development leader in the Capital Region, it is critically important that Saratoga County be a strong voice at the regional table. With her vast array of experience and leadership, there was no question that Supervisor Daly was the right choice to provide this voice.”