Groups join to launch regional marketing effort

SYRACUSE — A group of more than 50 area companies, nonprofit groups, municipalities, and academic institutions have joined to begin a regional marketing effort.

Those involved are hopeful it will communicate the region’s key strengths and competitive advantages. The Central Upstate Regional Alliance is spearheading the initiative, which has as its slogan “New York’s Creative Core. Real. Smart. Easy.”

The alliance formed in 2004 to promote regional cooperation and work on issues outlined in the Essential New York Initiative Report, a report identifying strategies for economic development and improvement in the 12-county area. The alliance’s geographic area encompasses Cayuga, Cortland, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Seneca, and Tompkins counties.

“We think [Creative Core] is important because the region is the economic unit in the economic-development market today,” says Marilyn Higgins, vice president of economic development for National Grid in Syracuse and a co-chairwoman of the branding effort with Linda Dickerson Hartsock, executive director of the Cortland County Business Development Association and Industrial Development Agency. “Counties, cities, etcetera are too small to be seen and heard in the marketplace by site selectors and people who are looking to make investments.” More here.