Ulster County to Hold Economic Futures Summit Oct. 27

KINGSTON, N.Y. — Ulster County will host an Economic Futures Summit on Oct. 27 at SUNY New Paltz, bringing together educators, students, employers, workforce organizations, government leaders, labor and community partners to discuss the county’s economic future.

The full-day summit will focus on strengthening connections between education and industries in Ulster County and creating clearer pathways to living-wage careers.

The event is being organized with educational partners SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Ulster and Ulster BOCES.

The summit will center on five industry clusters identified through workforce demand, existing partnerships and county economic priorities: advanced manufacturing; value-added agriculture and food production; health care; green building, infrastructure, energy and skilled trades; and film and media.

Breakout sessions will bring employers, educators and workforce leaders together to discuss opportunities, challenges and trends in each sector and develop recommendations for strengthening career pathways and long-term industry development.

Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger said the summit is intended to create a more connected relationship between educators and employers.

“The Ulster County Economic Futures Summit is about building a more connected ecosystem of educators and employers, and creating pathways to good careers that meet current and emerging needs in key economic sectors,” Metzger said.

Metzger said the county’s educational institutions and industries have assets that can be aligned to support innovation, resilience and shared prosperity.

SUNY New Paltz President Darrell P. Wheeler said the summit is consistent with the university’s role as a resource to the region.

“We are pleased to host this Summit that is consistent with the University’s role of being a value-added resource to the region,” Wheeler said.

SUNY Ulster President Alison Buckley said collaboration among institutions is important to preparing the workforce and creating future opportunities.

“Economic growth happens when institutions work together with purpose,” Buckley said.

Ulster BOCES District Superintendent and CEO Jonah Schenker said the goal is to connect existing work and partnerships rather than duplicate efforts.

“We don’t need to recreate the wheel,” Schenker said. “We need to intentionally connect the incredible work, expertise, and partnerships already underway across our community into a more coherent system.”

The day will begin with opening remarks from Metzger, followed by an education-focused panel on industry partnerships and approaches to preparing students for local careers.

Students will have an active role throughout the summit. They will serve as storytellers, interviewers, photographers, videographers and content creators, documenting the event and providing perspectives on career exploration and the transition from education to the workforce.

Participants will also examine issues expected to shape Ulster County over the next decade, including technological change, demographic shifts, climate adaptation, changing health care needs and opportunities in manufacturing, media and innovation.

The county says the summit is intended to produce a shared understanding of the region’s economic future, identify opportunities within each industry cluster, elevate student perspectives and generate ideas for collaboration, investment and long-term economic resilience.

The summit is being organized by a committee of county employees and board appointees. The committee includes Interim Director of Economic Development Leslie Wellington; Deputy County Executive Amanda LaValle; Office of Employment and Training Director Sharon Williams; County Legislator Megan Sperry; SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees member Diane Eynon; Ulster County Workforce Development Board Chair Sean Brix and member Nejla Liias; and Mike Ham of the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency.

The organizing committee is also interviewing local educators, industry leaders, employers, business groups and workers to identify opportunities for greater coordination between education and industry.

More information and an email sign-up for the summit are available through the Ulster County Economic Futures webpage.