State Assemblyman Mark Johns, R,C, Webster, and members of an Assembly Minority Economic Development, Education and Infrastructure Task Force joined local business, education and industry leaders at a forum at Webster Town Hall Tuesday, Aug. 7, to discuss ways to ensure a thriving small business community in Monroe County.
The discussion centered on building an “innovation economy,” as well as on creating and retaining private-sector jobs.
“Fostering an ‘innovation economy’ will bring a new way of thinking about how we view and do business in New York State,” Johns said. “When we work together, we can grow business and develop real-world skills that will empower New York in this new economy.”
The term “innovation economy,” Johns explained, focuses on growing small businesses and entrepreneurial start-ups, emphasizes lifetime learning, values vocational training, places a premium on continued skills development, and seeks to transform government from a command-and-control bureaucratic obstacle into a productive partner that helps job creators achieve their goals.
“Since I took office, one of my top priorities has been to work with small businesses, public officials and local educators who want to continue to grow our economy,” Johns said, noting that his 135th Assembly District “is home to leading high-tech and precision manufacturing as well as some of New York’s best and brightest.”
The forum included first-hand testimony, from business owners and educators, on the importance of providing career skills for high-tech and vocational jobs.
“Attracting and retaining businesses should be our number one priority ... It would create jobs and reverse the alarming trend of people leaving the state,” said Assemblyman Sean Hanna, R, Mendon.
Besides Johns, Hanna, and other state Assembly colleagues, forum participants included Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks; Anne M. Kress, president of Monroe Community College; Kevin J. Kelley, executive director of the Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association; Brian Sampson, executive director of Unshackle Upstate; Andrew Claus, vice president of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. Empire State Chapter; and several representatives from local businesses.
Monroe Community College, Kress said, has been at the center of “a cradle-to-career collaborative — working together with community partners to close gaps and remove barriers to educational success and to introduce young people to vital career pathways..”
“We have to create new pathways to high school diplomas, focused on career and technology education,” said Kevin J. Kelley, executive director of the Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association.
Assemblyman Bill Reilich, R, Greece, who is chairman of the task force, said he and colleagues will bring back “much of what we heard today to Albany so we can make sure the state is on the right track and helping our region’s ‘innovation economy’ businesses flourish.”
For more information on the event, contact Johns’ district office at (585) 223-9130.
State Assemblyman Mark Johns, R,C, Webster, and members of an Assembly Minority Economic Development, Education and Infrastructure Task Force joined local business, education and industry leaders at a forum at Webster Town Hall Tuesday, Aug. 7, to discuss ways to ensure a thriving small business community in Monroe County.
The discussion centered on building an “innovation economy,” as well as on creating and retaining private-sector jobs.
“Fostering an ‘innovation economy’ will bring a new way of thinking about how we view and do business in New York State,” Johns said. “When we work together, we can grow business and develop real-world skills that will empower New York in this new economy.”
The term “innovation economy,” Johns explained, focuses on growing small businesses and entrepreneurial start-ups, emphasizes lifetime learning, values vocational training, places a premium on continued skills development, and seeks to transform government from a command-and-control bureaucratic obstacle into a productive partner that helps job creators achieve their goals.
“Since I took office, one of my top priorities has been to work with small businesses, public officials and local educators who want to continue to grow our economy,” Johns said, noting that his 135th Assembly District “is home to leading high-tech and precision manufacturing as well as some of New York’s best and brightest.”
The forum included first-hand testimony, from business owners and educators, on the importance of providing career skills for high-tech and vocational jobs.
“Attracting and retaining businesses should be our number one priority ... It would create jobs and reverse the alarming trend of people leaving the state,” said Assemblyman Sean Hanna, R, Mendon.
Besides Johns, Hanna, and other state Assembly colleagues, forum participants included Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks; Anne M. Kress, president of Monroe Community College; Kevin J. Kelley, executive director of the Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association; Brian Sampson, executive director of Unshackle Upstate; Andrew Claus, vice president of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. Empire State Chapter; and several representatives from local businesses.
Monroe Community College, Kress said, has been at the center of “a cradle-to-career collaborative — working together with community partners to close gaps and remove barriers to educational success and to introduce young people to vital career pathways..”
“We have to create new pathways to high school diplomas, focused on career and technology education,” said Kevin J. Kelley, executive director of the Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association.
Assemblyman Bill Reilich, R, Greece, who is chairman of the task force, said he and colleagues will bring back “much of what we heard today to Albany so we can make sure the state is on the right track and helping our region’s ‘innovation economy’ businesses flourish.”
For more information on the event, contact Johns’ district office at (585) 223-9130.
