New York State ESD statewide director of regional economic development councils to deliver keynote at “Is There a Regional Agenda for the Hudson Valley?” a conference at SUNY New Paltz

NEW PALTZ – Irene Baker, executive vice president, director of the regional economic development councils for Empire State Development and director of cabinet affairs in the New York State Governor’s Office, will deliver a luncheon keynote address at the “Is There a Regional Agenda for the Hudson Valley?” conference. The conference will be held on June 15 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Student Union on the State University of New York at New Paltz campus, and will actively engage all who attend, giving time for their participation input and reporting. The event is hosted by the New Paltz Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach (CRREO), and sponsored by The Advocacy Coalition of the Hudson Valley.

As director of the regional councils, Baker oversees the operation and processes of the ten regional councils statewide, created by Governor Andrew Cuomo. As director of cabinet affairs, she serves as the liaison between the Governor’s Office and the New York State Agency Commissioners.

Ulster County Executive Michael Hein and New Paltz President Donald Christian will welcome participants. Dutchess County Executive Mark Molinaro and Gerald Benjamin, director of CRREO, will provide initial reactions to the conference’s organizing question.

Participants will then hear plenary framing presentations on five topics including the Governor’s recent regional economic development initiative and experience with it to date, past and current efforts to do regional planning in the Hudson Valley and regional approaches to business and tourism. These will be followed with substantively focused discussions in six areas of regional interest and concern.

Immediately following the keynote, reports from the results of the pre-lunch breakout discussion sessions will be shared with the audience.

The registration fee of $30, to be paid at the door, covers the cost of breakfast and lunch, featuring local Hudson Valley foods. For more information, call (845) 257-2901.

CRREO was established in 2007 to further engage the State University of New York at New Paltz and its people with communities, governments, not-for-profits and businesses across our region. CRREO conducts and publicizes research on regional topics; creates and directs select institutes focusing on specific topics of regional interest; connects and partners with local governments, not-for-profits and businesses to initiate reforms and advocate for best practices; contracts to assess the performance of public and not-for-profit agencies and programs; and works to foster intergovernmental collaboration and community engagement.

The Advocacy Coalition of the Hudson Valley (ACHV) was formed in 2010 by a group of community leaders interested in developing and advancing regional thinking to promote a broad, shared public policy agenda targeted on legislative action and particularly focused on Hudson Valley needs and priorities. The coalition seeks to generate agreement among advocates across the spectrum interests, issues and concerns on matters that legislators in Albany and Washington must act upon to advance the regional well-being of the Hudson Valley. The general goal of ACHV is to find synergies among already existing regional strengths to expanding our regional economic opportunities.