* The Greater Binghamton Coalition was
formed in direct response to the BC Plan's suggestion that we need a
unified voice. Since its inception, the eight-member coalition has
focused on marketing the county both externally and internally, says
its director, Patrick Doyle.
He counts as first year achievements putting Greater Binghamton
on the radar screens of regional and national publications; helping
local businesses maintain and grow; building stronger ties with
Binghamton University, its students and the community; identifying
key sites that are ripe for recovery and redevelopment; and making
significant progress in building relationships with our federal
representatives.
As part of that strengthened connection, Sen. Hillary Rodham
Clinton helped organize a conference on brownfields redevelopment in
April. The coalition also created a new logo for Greater Binghamton
and adopted the slogan suggested by AngelouEconomics: "Home to
Innovation."
* Binghamton University President Lois B. DeFleur announced in
December that she was proposing the creation of an Education and
Community Development Center in downtown Binghamton. The facility
would include community outreach programs, classrooms and the Master
of Public Administration program and could eventually be shared with
Broome Community College and Empire State College. BU spokeswoman
Katie Ellis said the proposal received much enthusiasm from the
community but is in limbo until the SUNY Construction Fund -- that
would be in charge of moving the project forward -- is budgeted the
necessary funds from the state.
* The Southern Tier Opportunity Coalition was created -- a
consortium of business leaders that will pool their development
expertise to help fledgling companies grow, achieving sustainable
economic growth and technology development for the Southern Tier.
The coalition aims to be the premier academic/business alliance in
the Tier, sparking innovation that will help the community prosper
and inspire the hearts and minds of the next generation. http://www.stoc-ny.com/
* County resident Vickie Maxon proposed The Center for Community
Transformation, a team that would take politicians out of the
process of defining the goals and processes needed to revitalize
Greater Binghamton. Maxon says she has a team of about 25 people
with expertise in business transformation, communication, education,
legislation and local history. They are currently working on Phase I
of the plan, which includes researching other communities that have
experienced similar or worse economic downturns than Greater
Binghamton.
Maxon says they will be launching a Web site shortly. She says
she hopes to begin Phase II -- educating the public on opportunities
and responsibilities in January. Phase III will include working with
governments and organizations to transform the way they do business.
* The Southern Tier Young Professionals, now about 350 members
strong, has been a smashing success. The group sponsors social
activities for networking, offers membership discounts at local
businesses and provides information on what to do, where to go in
the community and volunteering opportunities for the civic-minded.
Its strong network has even convinced some members considering a
move to stay in the area, said founder and Press &
Sun-Bulletin reporter HANNAH MARIA HAYES. As
the Web site says to visitors, "Be the change." http://www.styp.org/
* Finally, in response to AngelouEconomics's suggestion that the
county rely on its largest city for identity rather than its less
easily identified name, The Broome Chamber voted to changes its name
to Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, Inc. The county's main
airport also changed its name, to Greater Binghamton Airport.
These efforts have been somewhat overshadowed this year by news
of the war in Iraq and the Endicott spills. They should be lauded,
though, especially as formerly disconnected groups have joined
forces to achieve the goal of revitalizing Greater Binghamton. It's
a process that won't happen quickly, but that will be built steadily
on a foundation of progressive steps such as these.
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