President Lois B. DeFleur talks with U.S. Sen. Hillary R. Clinton during a meeting of the Greater Binghamton Coalition hosted by the University Saturday. To the right of Clinton is George Akel. From left to right in the background are Louis Santoni, of the Broome County Chamber; Ken Kamlet of Newman Development Group and Mary Sokolowski of the Division of Research.

Clinton supports economic efforts

By Katie Ellis

Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) met with members of the Greater Binghamton Coalition on campus last week end to discuss how she can lend support to the region’s economic revitalization. President Lois B. DeFleur is a member of the coalition, which was organized following completion of the BC Plan by Angelou Economics last summer.

The coalition has established a number of goals, including promotion of cooperative efforts between Binghamton University and the community, development of incubators, redevelopment of brownfields, promotion of educational programs and development of strategies to attract and retain young adults.

“I am very impressed that both the public and private sectors have come together with a strong voice to make your case,” Clinton said following the meeting. “This is a very positive agenda.”

Clinton committed to working with the coalition to put together a local conference on reclaiming brownfields. She noted that the sites are basically shovel-ready and said it’s important to establish strong partnerships to bring more of them on line.

The brownfields offer an untapped opportunity, said Broome County Executive Jeffery Kraham. “The senator spoke about spinning off research conducted at the University and other locations into small businesses, which would need places to locate,” Kraham said. “These brownfields offer an opportunity for such activities.”

Clinton underscored her belief that Greater Binghamton has a number of positive aspects, in addition to its relationship with the University. “I start with the beauty of Greater Binghamton and the amenities,” she said. “This is a place that people want to raise their families. In addition to the University, Broome Community College and BOCES, there is a strong public school system and a trained workforce.”

DeFleur was encouraged by Clinton’s visit. “We were able to emphasize to her how we have come together and are working on the BC Plan,” said DeFleur. “The senator was impressed and said this is a significant step forward. Throughout the meeting she also indicated how important it is for the University to be a central force in the community.”