POTSDAM – The village’s economic developer has left to join the Adirondack Park’s oldest economic development organization.

Jim Murphy began his duties this week as the new executive director of the Adirondack Economic Development Corporation (AEDC). He comes to the AEDC with an extensive background in regional economic development and has participated in several initiatives designed to bring people together to improve the quality of life in the North Country region.

Prior to his work for the village of Potsdam, Murphy served as Economic Development Specialist for the Technical Assistance Center (TAC) at SUNY Plattsburgh and as Associate Director of the Merwin Rural Services Institute at SUNY Potsdam.

He has helped to coordinate the Raquette River Blueway Corridor Project for the past several years and served on other regional tourism initiatives.

His experience over the years not only includes managing microenterprise loan programs at the municipal level, but includes a broad range of fields, from workforce development, strategic planning consultation, facilitating training programs for specific audiences, tourism marketing and promotion, social services and health care.

“Jim certainly brings an understanding of the importance of, and a passion for, tackling the needs which accompany economic development in today’s tough times,” noted Douglas R. Wright, President of AEDC’s Board of Directors.

“We anticipate Jim will be drawing upon his strong background and practical experience to quickly implement and make use of those tools which AEDC has put at his disposal. We are excited about the new direction for AEDC and, more importantly, the strong opportunities we have to best serve our current and future clients within our communities.”

Murphy said he is just as excited about joining the only federal and state certified Community Development Financial Institution in the region. “I feel very fortunate to be joining an organization that already has significant tools in place – including nearly $1 million in funds ready to lend – that can help us expand local employment opportunities, encourage new business development and to strengthen and diversify the many local economies located in the Adirondack Park,” Murphy said.

“The AEDC currently provides the four pillars needed to support local entrepreneurship – one-on-one technical assistance, entrepreneurial training, financing and networking,” Murphy added. “One of my first challenges as executive director will be to make sure that those who need our services can find a clear path to our door. One of my first priorities will be to make us more visible to the community and more accessible to the people who want to pursue the American dream of being their own boss.”

Murphy said he hopes to fulfill that goal, in part, by working together with other stakeholders trying to accomplish similar goals. “I’m hoping that the programs we offer, especially the ability to provide matching funds to other lending sources around the Park, will help to leverage and extend what we all can accomplish. I look forward to building upon a comprehensive support network that provides a wide array of meaningful assistance to aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout the region.

Murphy can be reached at AEDC by calling 518-891-5523, extension 101, or via email at jamesmurphy52@me.com