Mullen Prepares to Become Upstate Economic Czar

By Peter Iglinski & Bud Lowell

Rochester, NY – Upstate New York's incoming economic development czar says his first task is to perform an assessment of the region's resources.

Dennis Mullen was chosen by the governor last week to become upstate president of Empire State Development Corporation. The assessment will help Mullen and his agency match resources with businesses looking to locate to the region.

Mullen says one of the Rochester area's greatest resources is water. And that has resulted in the food and beverage industry becoming one of the area's "core competencies."

Mullen's overall objective is to help develop a more knowledge-based economy for upstate.

Mullen is currently President and CEO of Greater Rochester Enterprise, one of the area's major economic development organizations. He's scheduled to begin his new job at Empire State Development Corporation in mid-September.