Local & State Headlines

EDC looking to the future

• Officials take a closer look at creating partnerships, which they say are key to Albany's success.

Barbara Rivera Holmes

ALBANY — Albany’s downtown manager, who has stated that the core district’s success largely hinges on partnerships with people and organizations throughout the community, sought increased collaboration between his agency and the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission.

“It’s going to take everyone lending their area of expertise to bring projects together,” said Don Buie, who is also president/CEO of the Albany- Dougherty Inner City Authority.

Buie detailed the shared objectives between his organization and the EDC: Pro- business, dedication, growth, recruitment, the “right” choice.

Buie’s suggestions of ways to blend efforts include using the EDC as an information hub — “If it’s happening in Albany,” he outlined in a PowerPoint presentation, “the information is available at the EDC.” — developing efforts that support the “downtown-first” approach, diversifying the economic base through the expansion of primary- and secondary-job employers, and utilizing industry leaders as means to solicit opportunities and “close the deal.”

Already the EDC is working toward those efforts in a variety of ways, said EDC Vice President Andrea Schruijer, including through a strategic marketing plan that will be unveiled March 12.

Ways to enhance collaboration, she said, include the Internet.

“One of the ways (to work together) is coordinating our Web sites,” she said. Also, she stressed ensuring that there are necessary links on the EDC’s site.

“We do want to work together,” she said. “We do want to seem like a seamless organization and fighting for the same cause.”

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