On Wednesday, Oct. 7, the New York State Department of State and Empire State Future (the statewide Smart Growth Coalition) will hold a conference in Schenectady to address sustainability and economic development in the new economy.

The conference, entitled “RevitalizingNY: Building the New Economy Through Sustainable Development,” brings together a diverse group of stakeholders to promote Smart Growth and sustainability in its widest scope — environmental, economic, social and fiscal, according to a statement issued by Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, New York’s secretary of state.

Cortés-Vázquez said the overriding message of the conference is that sustainability and economic growth can strengthen and reinforce one another.

“Economic researchers are finding that high-tech, knowledge-based industries — the companies that sustain the New Economy — want to locate in hip, livable, sustainable and diverse communities.” Cortés-Vázquez’ statement reads. “And in more and more cases, businesses that practice environmental and social sustainability are attracted to regions that share those same values.”

The RevitalizingNY conference will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Proctors Theatre. Jointly sponsored by the New York Department of State and Empire State Future, the conference will include national, state and local leaders who will demonstrate how sustainable communities can impact New York’s competitiveness in the New Economy.

Some of the conference topics include: New York’s Transportation Revolution; Housing Innovations for all Incomes and Communities; Green Jobs and Green Industries; Energy and Climate Change; Local Food Systems Planning; and Protecting Air, Land, Water and Biodiversity. The conference will address these topics from the perspectives of urban, suburban and rural communities.

Cortés-Vázquez called the conference a call to action for all New Yorkers to create the types of communities that combine economic, environmental, social and fiscal sustainability.

For more information and to register, visit www.empirestatefuture.org.

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