New York’s economy needs help. You don’t need a degree in economics to know that our upstate economy lags the rest of the state and the rest of the nation. As the national economy has grown and performed well over the last four years, New York’s growth in jobs and economic activity trails.

That’s why my colleagues in the state senate and I have announced that a series of community business roundtable forums will be held across upstate New York to highlight the pressing need for a comprehensive job creation and economic growth plan for the region. The first event is taking place this week at the SUNY Institute of Technology campus near Utica.

The economic roundtable events include participation by local business and academic leaders.

Many New Yorkers’ top priority is economic development and the creation of new jobs. Especially in our portion of New York, people want a real plan and state policies to encourage businesses to locate and grow in upstate New York. The hearings, and the economic development plan advanced by the senate, will help us achieve the goal of more jobs upstate.