Coalition Working to Attract High-Tech Businesses
Published Apr 15, 2007
Lawrence A. Bossidy, retired Chairman of the Board and CEO, Honeywell International Inc. and Chair, Board of Directors, Berkshire Hills Bancorp Inc., delivers keynote address at the 2006 Summit in Tech Valley.
All for one, and one for 24.
The Tech Valley Chamber Coalition began in 2002 with three chambers. Today the organization boasts 24 chambers from 19 counties, and its goal is to promote Tech Valley as an ideal place to work and live.
“This group was founded by the Albany-Colonie, Rensselaer and Schenectady chambers, but the other chambers throughout Tech Valley began requesting to get on board – so they did,” says Linda Hillman, president of the Tech Valley Chamber Coalition. “Marketing the many positives of this region is our mission. We want to become a key destination for high-tech companies, and all other businesses as well.”
The region already has a good mixture of companies in place, including those in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and alternative energies.
“Our first order of business as a group was figuring out how to best promote Tech Valley, and the answer to that was to introduce Images of New York’s Tech Valley magazine,” says Lyn Taylor, chairperson of the Tech Valley Chamber Coalition. “The magazine gives potential relocating companies an initial idea of what this entire region has to offer. We want to market ourselves as a technology hub that includes an excellent quality of life, and Images magazine along with our new Web site are great ways to accomplish that goal.”
The newly launched Web site is www.techvalley.org, which is billed as a one-stop shop for learning more about living, working or playing in Tech Valley.
“The site features tons of information about all the cities and counties along with schools, colleges and universities, community organizations, recreation opportunities, historical attractions, arts and museums and more,” says Trevor Sparks, Web site manager for the Tech Valley Chamber Coalition.
Sparks says the Web site will help Tech Valley establish itself with other regions in the United States that are known for technology.
Another important element to this overall goal is the annual Summit in Tech Valley. This high-profile event attracts hundreds of leaders from technology, business, government and academic communities – all working to strengthen the region. The Summit features a variety of interactive discussions and break out sessions, as well as a $100,000 Business Plan Competition.
“We want Tech Valley to be on the same list with places like Silicon Valley, Boston, Seattle and Austin, Texas, which are always competing for high-tech businesses,” Sparks says. “We are positioning ourselves as the place to relocate a business because we have a low cost of living along with great support from our governments. We also have the only nanoscience college in the world, and have great entertainment options. There are many reasons to locate in Tech Valley.”
Story by Kevin Litwin
Photo by Denis J. Nally Photography
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