"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have"
Thomas Jefferson

Friday, April 4, 2008

IDA Successor

There is much talk in the North Country about the "brain drain" and that we "export" some of our best talent, and a bit of our future leaves every day when our kids leave the area.

The North Country has some talented and intelligent people, some of whom may actually have talent in job creation, experience putting together packages that will attract employers to our area or possess the knowledge and skills it takes to keep employers here. A person locally may possess positive connections beyond the borders of Jefferson County just like someone "imported" for the job.

The IDA would be strongly advised to look in their own back yard for that talent and to demonstrate to people of this area that there actually is a future here and advancement opportunities do exist.

The Watertown Jaycees, a group of young, interested and intelligent professional types, should actually have input here, a place at the table, who best to represent the future than the future itself

If the North Country is truly concerned about the "brain drain" then they need to lead by example and show us they believe talent exist within and does not need to be "imported".

Examples of local talent include Ray Fountaine, St. Lawrence County IDA Executive Director or JCJDC President and IBEW Business Manager, Dennis Affinati, both of these people are examples of local talent.

Shop Local, and that includes for talent, what are your thoughts.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Our county needs immediate new leadership in economic development. Don't forget, you get what you pay for, in buying horseshoes, or hiring leadership people. Our county needs fresh and new ideas. People from inside the county approach things in the same old way, sometimes, a fresh outlook is needed to bring new vitality to an organization or in this case to our county economic development.

Also when looking for leadership skills don't get your P's mixed up...personality and performance. Jefferson County needs a new outlook and a person with proven performance to move the county ahead.

Anonymous said...

Don't forget the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs....they probably have some thoughts on economic development too.

Usually I garee with you, but today, I'm pretty sure you're smoking crack.

Anonymous said...

isnt it amazing that we loose another'expert'to albany. what exactly has been done under mr fayles leadership? what have we received, a few businesses that employ a few people while at the same time we loose more jobs than have been created. good thing for ft drum. without that not one individual could take credit for any so called economic progress. what we 'need'are more minimun wage service sector jobs to make it look good.lets face it, we will never entice any realistic good paying jobs in this area as long as ft drum is the main employer. everything else is just fodder.

Anonymous said...

Every county, city and state in the nation has one of these agencies purporting to "create" jobs by giving away public largesse........
Whatever happened to initiative, ingenuity and plain old hard work as the engine of capitalism .....
Enough snake oil.

Anonymous said...

I agree with some of the comments but really what does the JCIDA do anyway, they seem to exsist to provide an unlimited source of funding for exsisting businesses. The "new businesses" are the same convienace stores that pop up all over the place.

Unknown said...

Like considering any job applicant, we need to hire someone based on his qualifications first, then use local heritage as a tie-breaker.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone heard of the 'Jefferson Leadership Institute'?

I went through it a few years back, and while I was attending, I was told over and over how we were to be the ones who were going to be the futute leaders of the area....

There were some talented members in my class, but it has become obvious that we weren't going to be handed the reins anytime soon...

The one thing that I did discover during my time in that class was just how few people actually sat on the boards around this area--you'd be amazed at how few people actually make up the boards that run things in this area...

Anonymous said...

The current Economic Development of Jefferson County is defunct and should be revitalized. Jefferson citizens need to trust new faces that bring new ideas and new thinking to economic development. Economic Development is, and should be, a big concern to all residents. Now is a perfect time for residents to get involved and make a difference.

Unknown said...

jcida put alot of money in fishercast. where is the jobs from them millions?

Anonymous said...

I echo the comment on the Jefferson Leadership Institute: we were fed a LOT of hogwash about being mentored to step into leadership positions.

All the boards within this area are cross-pollenated with the SAME PEOPLE. There is little room for advancement, unless your Uncle or some other relative or friend bequeaths a seat by divine right. It is THIS inbreeding that drives good people away.

With over a quarter million people in Jefferson & St Lawrence Counties, why is it that the SAME names are always touted for EVERY damn opening that comes along? The new blood is already HERE. Have some faith in our own people. And NOT someone that is already connected or their relative.

cflorence said...

Your all missing the boat on this vacancy. We the taxpayers of Jefferson county should insist this position be abolished! Why should we pay corporations ransom in order to attract them to the fastest growing county in NY? Kind of like giving a discount on the most popular car on the market. Your all forgetting that the taxes businesses don't pay have to come from somewhere and that somewhere is the middle class! Stop giving away money and we'll stop the drain our our brightest young men and women. Reduce governmental intervention and we'll increase business opportunities. Can any of you tell me what good it does to give Salmon Run Mall a three million dollar empire zone tax exemption every year? That smart job creation move cost our downtown it's life blood and is now costing the taxpayers who have to clean up the blight created when all the retail business moved to the mall. Individuals are the driving force in job creation, NOT some misguided government agency like the JCIDA!

Anonymous said...

I agree with the previous poster, the mirad of economic development agencies is mind-boggling, most of the "board" members are folks that have a vested interest with serving on these boards. Look at the way Renzi's was courted by the town of Pamelia, then magically a new building is built. The same can be said for Knowlton Bros., Brownville Speciality paper, all had folks on these boards to make sure the flow of taxpayer dollars into their business won't stop.

Anonymous said...

How do we clean up the mess.

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