Allegany County committee hears strategic-plan update; office reports 59% implementation

Ashley Smith, Allegany County’s director of economic development, told the Planning and Economic Development Committee that the county’s five-year strategic plan is 59% complete and laid out progress across nine goal areas.

“This goal is about 83% complete,” Smith said, summarizing progress on the plan’s first goal, which focuses on elevating the county’s economic development expertise by engaging state agencies and supporting local businesses on funding opportunities. She said the office has reestablished regular coordination with New York State economic-development partners and maintains a project-development team that includes planning, the Industrial Development Agency and employment and training staff.

Smith walked the committee through goal-level metrics included in the packet: local and regional collaboration (about 83% complete); industry engagement and business connectivity (about 53% complete); marketing and digital presence (about 59% complete); opportunity-sector work (about 47%); workforce initiatives (about 38%); site development (about 30%); community assets and housing priorities (housing at about 56% complete); and capacity and management (about 75% complete). She said overall implementation is at 59% “which in my opinion is pretty stellar” given the plan is two years into a five-year timeline.

Smith identified the business-retention/expansion program as a recent accomplishment and called business attraction the office’s central goal for 2026. “We have soft-launched the BRE program,” she said, and said a full launch is planned for 2026. She described other initiatives under way, including a new Office of Economic Development brand identity and digital infrastructure, targeted industry marketing for site selectors, an inventory of potential development sites and coordination on sewer and housing studies.

The committee also heard a separate staff presentation on the county microenterprise grant program. A staff presenter summarized the results included in the packet: 24 businesses were directly supported, all of them remain in business, the program retained 46 jobs and created 33 jobs, and 58% of recipients plan to expand. The presenter said the county-managed grant partners with incubators and expects a public hearing in January about closing the current round and opening another.

Committee members praised the staff team and asked for regular, likely quarterly, economic updates. Chair remarks closed the discussion by thanking the economic development team and encouraging continued focus on site readiness and workforce alignment as the committee moves into 2026.

Next steps: staff said the BRE program will fully launch in 2026 and the county will pursue site-readiness work and expanded marketing efforts next year.