Business Advisory Committee Discusses Key Issues Facing Area Employers, Employees
(FONDA, NY) – Confronted by a rising number of COVID-19 cases across Montgomery County and New York State, County Executive Matthew L. Ossenfort gathered members of his Business Advisory Committee together to discuss how the county can continue to assist local businesses during these difficult times, while also protecting public health.
“This has been a year like no other, and the hurdles presented by the pandemic in recent weeks have made it particularly important to continue to engage our business community,” said County Executive Ossenfort. “Getting the perspective of local leaders who are trying to adapt in the current climate provides me with valuable insight that I can pass on when meeting with state leaders and other elected officials as part of our Regional Control Room meetings. While the County has rightly placed a heavy emphasis on protecting the public health this year, we also want to make sure our local employers still have the support they need.”
The Business Advisory Committee, which has been meeting quarterly throughout the year, brings together key corporate leaders and area stakeholders for a collaborative discussion on how to support and grow private sector investment in Montgomery County. This week’s meeting included executives from a broad range of industries, including major employers like Hill & Markes and Alpin Haus, smaller employers like Damin Farm, local entrepreneurs, and other economic development experts and area stakeholders.
“Despite the hardships of 2020, Montgomery County has been fortunate to see major employers like Amazon invest in our community, and long-standing employers like Alpin Haus and Hill & Markes succeed despite current conditions,” said Montgomery County Business Development Center CEO Ken Rose, whose office hosted the gathering and will be advancing on some of the action items that were raised during the meeting. “Our office has also been focused on promoting our small businesses through the ‘Buy It In Montgomery’ campaign and the ‘Small Business of the Month’ initiative, because these businesses are equally important to the long-term economic health of the county. Small businesses are some of the hardest hit by the pandemic, and we don’t want to see them closing up shop or moving out of the area. With the feedback from the Business Advisory Committee, we’ll be exploring what additional opportunities might exist to ensure all our local businesses can survive this uncharted territory.”
Along with the discussion about COVID-19’s impact on the business community and the local school districts, the committee also discussed the recently completed county budget, which came in under the tax cap, the ongoing ‘Buy It In Montgomery’ promotional campaign, and potential topics to raise with state leaders during the upcoming 2021 Legislative Session.
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