A small group of Binghamton University students
has formed Catalysts for Intellectual Capital 2020 to increase their
peers' involvement in local economic development efforts, an effort
they say will help generate job opportunities for graduates, attract
and retain young people and improve relations between the university
and community. Binghamton University Liberty Partnership Program
director and faculty member Diane Crews oversees the group.
"There's a huge gap in the whole economic development process by
not having students involved," said Binghamton University senior
Jason Kaye, a founder and co-director of the group. "Students are
capable of so much more."
CIC 2020 started earlier this year as a result of a Binghamton
University course taught by Crews in fall 2003 that examined
leadership and organizational change, including local implementation
of the BC Plan. Various community leaders had visited the class and
challenged students to participate in efforts to revitalize Greater
Binghamton.
Texas consulting firm AngelouEconomics released the BC Plan in
August 2002, making specific recommendations for improving the
economy and quality of life in Greater Binghamton.
Using the BC Plan as its guide, the 2-year-old Greater Binghamton
Coalition has worked to promote economic development in the region.
"There are other groups out there for economic development, but
we're really the only student group," said Kaye, a 21-year-old
political science major from Merrick.
Students offer a unique energy, creativity and perspective, but
their assets are not being tapped as much as they could be, Kaye
said.
"These are young people who are here from somewhere else, see the
quality of life here and want to be here," Crews said. "And they're
not alone. There's a lot of young people who come here and think
this place is awesome. Not only do they not want to leave, but they
want to stay and help build Greater Binghamton. It is a badly needed
rush of optimism."
The 18-to-34-year-old population in Broome and Tioga counties
declined by nearly a third from 1990 to 2000, according to the U.S.
Census Bureau. Attracting and retaining young professionals and
job-producing industry will be one of the key steps to revitalizing
Greater Binghamton, economic development leaders have said.
Many college students want to stay in Greater Binghamton after
graduation but worry the local job market will not provide
attractive employment opportunities, said Binghamton University
senior Jonah Kimmelstiel, a founder and co-director of CIC 2020. He
is a 21-year-old political science major from White Plains.
"We all have to work together to put this vision of the Southern
Tier into reality," Kaye said.
The CIC 2020 hopes to act as a liaison between the student
community and economic development organizations, collaborating with
community leaders to help revitalize Greater Binghamton. The group
also hopes to form a center for intellectual capital at Binghamton
University to support student involvement in economic development,
foster business and job creation locally, and improve the exchange
of knowledge between the university and community.
"What's different about their efforts is that they're coming from
the standpoint of the students," said Robert Augenstern, Southern
Tier East Regional Planning Development Board director. "Most of the
previous efforts have been coming from organizations that are more
on the business side ... Clearly, the two parts have to come
together, but we hadn't seen before the level of interest on the
part of the students."
Greater Binghamton Coalition Director Patrick Doyle said the
coalition already has sought some input from students. Efforts this
year have included an internship seminar for college students, and a
survey and community forum asking young people what it would take
for them to remain in Greater Binghamton or come back if they've
already left.
"It's clear to me that doing a better job of working with
students is a major part of what we need to do in the community,"
Doyle said. "We've made some significant progress on that front, but
there's still a lot to do. The group has some ideas that are worth
taking a serious look at and seeing what we can do to integrate them
into the broader regional effort."
Kaye and Kimmelstiel said CIC 2020 faces challenges, including:
* Time. In most cases, the student members live in Greater
Binghamton only for a short period. The group has recruited some new
members as a few graduated Binghamton University and left the area
for graduate school or job opportunities elsewhere. Some members
have said they plan to stay involved in CIC 2020's efforts after
graduation.
* Financial constraints. Securing grants and other funds will
help the group achieve its goals. CIC 2020 is pursuing, through
Binghamton University, a federal economic development grant worth up
to $1.5 million over three years, including cost-share benefits. The
group will find out whether it receives the grant in May 2005.
* Lack of networking and communication between the various
economic development groups in the region, making it hard for the
organizations to coordinate efforts and work together.
CIC 2020 leaders say they're confident their group will be able
to promote positive economic change locally.
"If we're here for four years, why can't we make our mark and
make it a place we want to come back to?" Kaye said.
![[ photo ]](pressconnects_com 11-28-04 Business Story_files/bu112804s133089p1.jpg)