Back to school, back to business: Why education is economic infrastructure for the Southern Tier - by Stacey Duncan

As students across the Southern Tier head back to school this fall, it’s not just a moment of fresh starts, new routines, and academic goals — it’s also a reminder of the bigger picture: the future of our region is being shaped right now, inside those classrooms.

In Broome County, we know firsthand that education is more than just a public service — it’s a crucial part of our economic infrastructure. The strength of our schools, our technical training centers, and our higher education institutions directly impacts the strength of our business climate. And in a moment where Upstate New York is emerging as a hub for clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and high-tech growth, that alignment between education and industry has never been more important.

And we’re clearly gaining momentum. Last year alone, we’ve supported more than $174 million in private investment, with over 1,000 new jobs tied to projects already in motion. From housing and industrial development to clean energy and healthcare, the sectors driving our local economy are the same ones driving workforce demand.

But those jobs don’t fill themselves. They require a pipeline of talent equipped with the right skills — and a regional strategy to develop, retain, and attract that talent over the long term.

That’s where education comes in.

At every level, Broome County is working to make sure our students are prepared to compete — and stay — in a rapidly evolving economy. Broome-Tioga BOCES is undergoing a $46 million expansion to its hands-on career and technical education programs, giving high school students early exposure to in-demand industries. SUNY Broome continues to grow its workforce programs in areas like clean energy, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. And at the university level, Binghamton’s Health Sciences Campus in Johnson City is driving innovation, research, and entrepreneurship while anchoring one of the most exciting redevelopment stories in the Southern Tier.

These efforts aren’t happening in isolation — they’re part of a broader strategy to ensure that our region’s talent pipeline is aligned with where the economy is headed. A study conducted by Newmark, developed with support from regional IDAs, reinforces that approach. It identifies semiconductors, energy storage, and clean transportation as key industries poised for growth across the Southern Tier — sectors that depend on exactly the kind of education and workforce training we’re investing in today.

The report doesn’t just highlight promising industries. It underscores the importance of regions that can offer both ready sites and ready talent. That’s why site selectors increasingly look beyond infrastructure — they’re looking at education partnerships, training programs, and long-term workforce readiness.

One example of how we’re planning ahead is the proposed Broome Technology Park — a site that reflects our region’s broader commitment to aligning physical infrastructure with workforce development. As new industries look for places that can support long-term growth, communities like ours need to show that we’re thinking beyond buildings and acreage. We’re thinking about how people will train, work, and build careers in the decades to come.

We’ve already seen how this model works elsewhere. In central New York, Micron’s $100 billion semiconductor investment was the result of a region-wide effort to align education and industry from day one. Local school districts updated curriculum. Community colleges built cleanroom labs. Regional leaders spoke with one voice about workforce readiness. That’s the kind of proactive planning that wins transformative projects.

Here in the Southern Tier, we’re applying that same thinking — not just in theory, but in practice.

As we enter a new school year, we need to keep building on that momentum. That means continued collaboration between educators, employers, and economic development partners. It means doubling down on investments that prepare sites and students at the same time. And it means making sure every development conversation includes a workforce lens — because the two are inseparable.

When we get this right, we’re not just supporting job creation. We’re building communities where people can see a future, put down roots, and contribute for the long haul.

This back-to-school season, let’s remember that the strongest economic foundation we can build is one that starts with education — and ends with real opportunity, right here at home.

Stacey Duncan is executive director of The Agency, president and CEO of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce; and director-at-large board member of New York State Economic Development Council, Binghamton, N.Y.