SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center Assistant Director Appointed to North Country Regional Economic Development Council

Canton, NY (04/19/2019) — New York State Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has appointed Assistant Director of the SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Angela Smith to the North Country Regional Economic Development Council (NCREDC).

The NCREDC is one of 10 regional councils established by Gov. Cuomo in 2011 to develop long-term strategic plans for the region's economic growth. The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations.

Smith is one of 21 members from Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties.

"I look forward to sharing my small business perspective with council members, but most importantly I look forward to being part of the conversation that drives decisions on how to build strong communities and how to increase sustainable, economic prosperity for our region," Smith said.

Smith works at the SBDC office at Clinton Community College, which has been operated and managed by SUNY Canton since last October.

She will serve a two-year term and joins SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran, who was appointed to the council in 2015.

About the Regional Economic Development Councils

The Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) initiative is a key component of Governor Cuomo's approach to State investment and economic development. In 2011, Governor Cuomo established 10 Regional Councils to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources.

After eight rounds of the REDC process, more than $6.1 billion has been awarded to more than 7,300 job creation and community development projects consistent with each region's strategic plans, projecting to create and retain more than 230,000 jobs. For more information on the Regional Councils, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov.

About the SBDC

The New York SBDC, with its network of 22 regional centers provides professional business advisement, education, network resources and advocates for small business and entrepreneurs. As a funded organization through the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of New York and host campuses, SBDC counseling services are provided at no-cost to clients and are confidential. Since inception in 1984, the SBDC in Plattsburgh has worked directly with 8,567 businesses, helping them to invest $102,374,027 in the area's economy, resulting in 3,231 jobs being created or saved. The SUNY Canton SBDC was established in 1998 and has worked with 3,694 businesses, helping to invest $103,390,707 and creating or saving 2,156 jobs.

About SUNY Canton

SUNY Canton is Northern New York's premier college for career-driven bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and professional certificate programs. The college delivers quality hands-on programs in digital design, engineering technology, health, management and public service. Faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. As SUNY's leader in online education, SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses as well as 18 online degree programs. The college placed first in 14 categories in a SUNY-Wide Student Opinion Survey, most notably in career services, tutoring, library resources, and classroom facilities. The college's 15 traditional athletic teams compete at the NCAA Division III level as part of the North Atlantic Conference. SUNY Canton also offers varsity esports and cheerleading. For more information, visit www.canton.edu.