I would like to thank the members of both the Southern Tier and the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Councils (EDC) for all the outstanding work they have done to help build these new economic development strategies. Our local EDCs play a vital role in demonstrating our region’s and state’s commitment to job creators through their collaborative efforts to encourage private sector investment which will help keep and create jobs right here in our local communities. Their efforts have secured critical state investments in our local economies. Though our region is still facing many economic challenges, these investments are critical to economic growth throughout the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions.