SEDC redoubles partnership with local university to grow regional workforce
On-going SUNY work gets Governor-approval.
After being appointed to the SUNY Empire University Council, SEDC president and CEO J. Gregory Connors will help Empire State University more closely integrate the university into the local economic development ecosystem and grow our regional workforce.
Since the appointment was announced Oct. 7, Connors has promised to promote “high-quality, affordable and flexible education.” “More specifically, we are helping with the transition and development of their West Avenue Campus facility into an in-person, university wide event center supporting community events and military affiliated partnerships,” says the former longtime senior government relations executive for GlobalFoundries U.S. in Malta.
Under Connors’ leadership, SEDC plans to grow in size and community presence.
Empire State University became an SEDC member last year. The university owns seven buildings in Saratoga and is in the process of repurposing the one on West Ave to better suit the institution’s needs.
Connors and the other members of the 4-member council for SUNY Empire will be working closely with President Lisa Vollendorf. Connors provided a litany of items on the council’s agenda, which will be to assist and support her and her team with recruiting, retaining and upskilling students, as well as building AI capacity across the university and expanding the university’s workforce development programs and enrollment driven partnerships.
Each SUNY school has a designated council, which the governor appoints to work with the university president and their administration on things such as university programs, budgets, enrollments, facilities and student housing.
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