In his opening remarks, UR President and Council Co-chair Joel Seligman set up a narrative about the Finger Lakes: a region that has seen job growth and industry development despite its recent past.
"The record of success that we've seen is against the backdrop of a community that was devastated by the dramatic downsizing of Eastman Kodak and other manufacturers."
Seligman frames the region as an area poised for even more success, with potential that hinges on the help of state aid available through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative. He says this kind of storytelling is an important part of proposal.
The council also presented their three key industries they believe can be built up with the help of the competition money, including agriculture, photonics, and advanced manufacturing.
"We believe in magic. We believe in data science. We believe in agriculture. We believe in optics. We believe in ending poverty. We're united in this effort. We're standing together."
The plan is called Finger Lakes Forward, a name selected based on a vote that went out to the community. The council included community participation and support as part of their presentation as well, in order to demonstrate the collaborative nature of the initiative.
The Finger Lakes is one of seven regions competing for $500 million in the Upstate Revitalization Initiative. Three winners will be chosen and announced later this year.
You can see all of the plans on the URI website.
