The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Picente wants to attract remote workers to region
UTICA, N.Y. » If you can work from home, why not work from Oneida County? This is the basic premise of County Executive Anthony Picente’s newest initiative, Reconnect Oneida County.
The world is looking at a new era as the effects of COVID-19 ripple throughout the economy and everyday life. Remote working has spiked in popularity for obvious reasons, given its ability to keep employees within their own bubbles, limiting the mobility of viral diseases.
Picente argues that now is the time to not only adapt to this future, but to also take advantage of it.
Oneida County’s cultural assets, quality of life, and growing technological sector are opportunities Picente says can attract workers far and wide. As these workers return, their contributions to the county come along with them. The hope is to stimulate opportunity and growth in the region as a result of creating premiere remote-worker destination.
The campaign is primarily targeting those originally from the area who perhaps sought opportunity elsewhere, but are now working remotely, and can therefore return back home with promise.
The cost of living in Oneida County is a dazzling persuader on its own, Picente remarked.
“It’s so affordable [here] for all types of workers,” he said.
The county executive reported from an unknown source that on average, mortgages in the area are 42% cheaper compared to the rest of NY and 22% cheaper compared to the United States. Rental figures he referenced suggested the same.
“The Oneida County community’s incredible vibrancy and cultural diversity was a major inspiration that led us to launch the thincubator in the center of downtown Utica – and today, we’re proud to offer a world-class work experience that matches the area’s richness of life and recreation opportunities.”
— Frank Duross, MVCC Vice President for Community Development & Executive Director of the MVCC Foundation
Additionally, the county’s infection rate has been relatively low and stable with 82 current active cases. Many remote workers are moving away from congested cities, and Picente wants Oneida County to put its name in the game and get these workers back home to invigorate the local economy and foster ongoing innovation.
Several high-tech research and development institutions in the area include Cree, Danfoss, Masonic Medical and Research Institute; Oneida County’s UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport (one of just seven designated by the FAA in the U.S.); SUNY Polytechnic Institute; the Air Force Research Laboratory (Afrl)-information Directorate, and several national business leaders in cybersecurity and the national defense sector.
Additionally, Picente commented that the finance and insurance sectors in the area are quite active as well.
The county is partnering on this initiative with the Mohawk Valley Community College thincubator, the Afrl-information Directorate, and the Griffiss Institute, which will soon have a new home at the state of-the-art Innovare Advancement Center at Griffiss International Airport. Together they will highlight regional amenities attractive to the remote worker by creating a niche marketing campaign and website detailing the program and promoting the region.
“The AFRL Information Directorate is pleased to be a part of the Reconnect Oneida County Program,” said AFRL Information Directorate Deputy Director Michael J. Hayduk. According
to Hayduk, the Lab has hired over 150 scientists, engineers, and skilled support staff over the course of the last three years in support of its mission in information technology including command, control, communications, computers, intelligence and cyber.
Officials say that Reconnect Oneida County will utilize hand-picked hometown ambassadors, such as its partners, who will work with potential applicants to connect them with the growing intellectual and high tech assets in the area, assist in relocation services, identify possible financial incentives, and engage them with desirable co-working spaces that will enable them to link up with like-minded individuals.
One such co-working space is the thincubator located in downtown Utica. It offers shared professional work amenities such as conference and break rooms, visual and audio equipment, printers, and more, as well as entrepreneurial programs and mentorships.
“The Oneida County community’s incredible vibrancy and cultural diversity was a major inspiration that led us to launch the thincubator in the center of downtown Utica – and today, we’re proud to offer a world-class work experience that matches the area’s richness of life and recreation opportunities,” said Frank Duross, MVCC Vice President for Community Development & Executive Director of the MVCC Foundation.
“The thincubator has helped hundreds of young professionals advance their careers, build their professional networks, expand their small businesses, and launch new ventures. We’re excited to partner with Oneida County to share these resources and welcome professionals back home to our region.”