Breslin to outline goals for 2007 - County executive to discuss health care changes, economic development efforts at forum
ALBANY -- County Executive Mike Breslin will be keynote
speaker at the January Roundtable Luncheon, gearing his
talk to various issues from a county government perspective.
Founded in 1979, the Albany Roundtable is a nonprofit civic
lunch forum that presents speakers with diverse viewpoints
on timely subjects relating to the Albany region, according
to material announcing the gathering.
It was founded by a group of Albany citizens interested
in furthering the renaissance taking place in the city,
according to the brochure.
This month's luncheon is at 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 17 in the
third-floor former courtroom of the Old Federal Building,
now part of SUNY Plaza, at the foot of State Street.
The Feb. 14 Roundtable speaker is Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings.
"This is an opportunity to discuss our goals for Albany
County in 2007," Breslin said in a statement about
the luncheon.
"This year we will focus on changes in long-term care
health care including alternative home and community-based
services as well as nursing homes," he said. "We
will also continue to enhance services for children. And,
economic development will remain a priority, particularly
attracting high-tech business and continuing the development
of the convention center, which will result in the creation
of new jobs."
In releasing his 2007 budget last fall, the county executive
said in a statement that the new spending plan provides
for the county Department for Children, Youth and Families
to conduct an analysis and evaluation of resources and models
for child sexual abuse response protocols to effectively
re-establish a Child Advocacy Center in the county.
The county is also developing ways to maximize the opportunities
of job growth associated with the convention center development,
he said at the time.
Breslin said he created a plan to ensure that members of
the local community will be prepared to take advantage of
the job opportunities created by the construction and operational
phases of the project.
The new budget establishes the Building Bridges program,
which aims to "maximize participation of local residents
in the construction work force and hospitality trades and
assist low-income individuals with preparing for these well-paying,
high-demand jobs."
Building Bridges was described as a partnership among the
county, local trade unions and not-for-profit organizations
to provide training and other services for eligible individuals.
2%
economic growth seen in '07