Clarkson University president Anthony Collins is speaking on a panel at the National Governors Association Policy Institute for Economic Policy Advisors in Chicago today.

In the session ‘Strengthening the State-Regional Relationship,’ Collins and Doug Rothwell, president and CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan, will share their independent assessments of the approaches being taken in New York and Michigan to align economic strategy development with the unique assets in their respective regions.

“Economic development professionals across the country having been reaching out to Governor Andrew Cuomo and his liaisons who support New York State’s Regional Councils to learn more about the public-private partnerships formed among local experts from business, academia, local government and non-governmental organizations, said Collins.

Collins is also the co-chair of the North Country Regional Development Council.

For Thursday’s panel dialogue with gubernatorial policy advisors, the NGA wanted a ‘boots-on-the-ground’ perspective from the volunteer leaders who are sustaining these partnerships,” Collins said

Collins added, “The North Country REDC’s vision to transform how we accelerate job creation in small cities and rural communities has relevance for many of the NGA participants. The region-defined process and rubric for prioritizing the projects we ask New York State to support are reflective of sound research and broad public input from the people who live, work and study in the region.”