NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. (Dec. 22, 2014) — Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. (HVEDC) launched a new cluster development initiative Friday. Hudson Valley EDs & MEDs will bring together the region’s colleges and universities along with major health care providers and health organizations to produce jobs and spur economic growth in the region.
HVEDC, the leading economic development organization for the Hudson Valley region, has already launched three other successful industry cluster development initiatives – NY BioHud Valley, Hudson Valley Food and Beverage Alliance and Hudson Valley 3D Printing (HV3D).
“HVEDC launched HV EDs & MEDs because the Hudson Valley region is a major center for institutions of higher learning and health care providers in the United States,” said Laurence P. Gottlieb, HVEDC president and CEO. “Regions with considerable higher education and health care resources are prime locations for retaining and attracting business, so this cluster development initiative makes perfect sense for the Hudson Valley.”
With this initiative, HVEDC will forge stronger strategic alliances between Hudson Valley-based health care organizations and public and private colleges and universities; thereby, encouraging their collaborations in order to generate the workforce necessary to continue feeding economic prosperity for the community at large.
“The Hudson Valley region will also become even more well-known as a major epicenter for higher education and health care institutions,” Gottlieb said. “This region deserves national recognition in these two sectors, and by launching this new initiative we are providing a regional, supporting platform for developing new and exciting partnerships.”
In early 2015, HVEDC will announce details of a series of events and promotional activities that will be scheduled throughout the new year.
In other news, HVEDC announced Friday an investment in two local high schools through funds from NYSEG for an expansion of HVEDC’s HV3D cluster development initiative. HVEDC’s $8,000 investment is in the form of a MakerBot 3D printer for both Kingston High School and San Miguel Academy of Newburgh. These schools have been closely working with SUNY New Paltz’s Hudson Valley Advanced Manufacturing Center (developed through HVEDC) to incorporate 3D printing into their curriculums. Through this program, HVEDC introduces 3D printing technology to the region and seeds interest in the technology from the ground up in the region.
“A big part of this educational process remains exposing secondary schools to this new technology by embedding 3D printers on campuses that we know will accelerate the adoption of the technology among their students,” Gottlieb said. “The use of 3D technology depends greatly on education – specifically STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) – so our hope is to enhance these areas of education in order to foster interest later on.”
“I’m proud to say the first direct investment made by HVEDC is in the bright young minds of Hudson Valley students,” said James Laurito, newly elected HVEDC board chairman. “We hope that this investment will inspire others to make similar commitments to the future of this technology in the region.”
“We want to thank HVEDC for this unbelievable gift which will further excite the middle school learners participating in our stunning STEM education program,” said Fr. Mark Connell, president of San Miguel Academy of Newburgh.
“This generous gift will help us teach high school students the skills they need to be successful in high-tech careers, and for that we thank HVEDC,” said Dan Erceg, assistant director of math, science and technology at Kingston High School.
Photo: From Left to Right: Laurence P. Gottlieb, president and CEO of Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC); James Laurito, newly elected HVEDC board chairman; Dan Erceg, assistant director of math, science and technology at Kingston High School; Fr. Mark Connell, president of San Miguel Academy of Newburgh; Frank Snyder, dean of STEM Development and coordinator of Place Based Learning for STEM at San Miguel Academy of Newburgh; Kat Wilson, assistant director of the Hudson Valley Advanced Manufacturing Center at SUNY New Paltz and Daniel Freedman, dean of the School of Science and Engineering at SUNY New Paltz and director of Hudson Valley Advanced Manufacturing Center with the MakerBot 3D printer gifts.
About Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC): HVEDC is the leading economic development agency for the seven-county region of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties. The public-private partnership markets the region as a prime business location to corporate executives, site selection consultants and real estate brokers. HVEDC helped start the organizational, branding and promotional effort for NY BioHud Valley, Hudson Valley 3D Printing and the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance. To learn more, call 845-220-2244 or visit http://www.hvedc.com.
