‘People-centered economy’ is goal of new action plan

Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan says the “Ulster 2040” report released Tuesday is an “action plan” for creating a sustainable and “people-centered economy.”

Ryan said that because restarting an economy still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic must be a priority of county government, he has included several recommendations outlined in the report in his proposed 2021 budget, which is to be unveiled Thursday.

Ryan created the economic development 2040 Working Group last year as part of his “Big Five” initiatives to grow and diversify the county’s economy.

The report issued Tuesday is the culmination of that working group’s yearlong effort and offers recommendations for economic development in four “clusters” that are seen as promising targets for growth in the county: agriculture, food and beverage; makers and creators; clean energy and the environment; and health, wellness and care.

“A lot of this is about people and investing in our young people and workers of all ages to make sure they have the right skills to be prepared for these emerging industries,” Ryan said.

Among the new initiatives to be funded as part of the 2021 budget, Ryan said, will be funding for the Kingston Can Code program, launched in June to help train local residents in core coding and software skills. He said the budget also will include increased funding for the county’s Green Academy program and a scholarship program the county will be “ramping up” in 2021.

Additionally, Ryan said he will create an implementation team of industry leaders and others to put in motion recommendations aimed at growing the clean energy and environmental industries in the county.

Although he declined to provide specific details about his proposed budget, Ryan said he was able to achieve the three goals he outlined in an April interview with the Freeman about how the county would weather a potential $34 million revenue shortfall.

In that interview, Ryan said his goal was to find what he called “creative ways” to continue to provide county services while avoiding layoffs or impacts to the property taxpayer.

“We’re going to achieve those goals, which I’m really proud of,” Ryan said Tuesday.

He said that while it might seem counterintuitive to begin implementing new initiatives and programs when the county’s economy is still reeling from the impacts of the pandemic and shutdowns that it prompted, the county needs to look toward and prepare for the future.

“In a moment like we’re in, it is very easy to say, ‘Let’s just hold and stick with the status quo,’” Ryan said. “I actually think there is an imperative to smartly invest and try to position us with a long-term view to come out in a better position.”

In addition to identifying the four economic development clusters, the report offers a series of recommended actions the county can implement to achieve the goals in each cluster.

For example, in the energy and environment cluster, the report suggests buying 100 percent of the county’s energy from renewable sources and creating programs to build a workforce specializing in water infrastructure construction and maintenance.

In the makers and creators cluster, the report recommends establishing a one-stop shop for artists, makers and creators to get business support services such as financing, site assistance, advisory services, marketing and workforce

development.

For the agriculture, food and beverage cluster, the report recommends protecting high-priority farmland, creating shared incubator kitchens or processing lines, and establishing or adopting a local or regional brand or brands for agriculture, food and beverage products.

It also calls for the county to make significant investments in housing, broadband access, education, transportation and training to ensure the local economy remains competitive.

“This is definitely a substantive and meaty report with a lot of very specific recommendations,” Ryan said. “I feel very comfortable with the recommendations and really see them as an action plan .... ”

Ryan will deliver his 2021 budget address at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Quimby Theater at SUNY Ulster in Stone Ridge.