Technical Assistance Center (TAC)

Economic Development and Applied Research for Upstate New York

TAC is the economic development outreach service of SUNY Plattsburgh.  TAC helps businesses, industries, and communities in Upstate New York achieve their goals by providing applied research, project management, and technical assistance based on data gathering and analysis.  TAC is an affiliate of the Research Foundation of SUNY and the NYS Data Center.

TAC staff includes individuals with expertise in economic and community development and planning, project management, demographic research, economic impact analysis, and information technology and telecommunications.  TAC works closely with faculty subject matter experts, and specializes in the economic development process and capacity building at the local level to achieve desired results.

The TAC director serves on the New York State Council for Universal Broadband and the New York State Tourism Advisory Council.  The staff includes a certified economic developer and certified planner, and an information technology expert.

Community Development Services

TAC provides expertise through research and project management for a wide array of community and economic development projects at the municipal and regional level.  TAC is an affiliate of the NY State Shared Municipal Services Incentive program, which offers grants to municipalities pursing shared services arrangements.  As such, TAC offers technical assistance to municipalities considering shared services.

Tourism Applied Research

TAC partners with faculty in the Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management department and the Communications department to conduct applied research for tourism organizations that helps improve planning, communication, and marketing effectiveness.  TAC’s recent clients include Americade, the Westchester County Office of Tourism, the Lake Placid – Essex County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Ski Areas of New York, and the Olympic Regional Development Authority.

Broadband Infrastructure and Digital Literacy

TAC manages the CBN Connect project, which will build and operate a telemedicine broadband network connecting most hospitals, clinics, and the public colleges in Clinton, Essex, and Franklin counties.  Construction starts in 2009, and the fiber optic system will be a foundation for improved regional wired and wireless broadband services.

Please contact Howard Lowe, Director of Economic Development, to discuss how TAC may be of service to your organization.  howard.lowe@plattsburgh.edu