Regional Overview
The Capital Region offers proximity to major geographic markets, a highly qualified workforce, outstanding educational opportunities, a stable business environment, and excellent quality of life.
The area called New York's Capital Region is home to more than one million people and encompasses eleven counties in upstate New York. These counties include: Albany; Columbia; Fulton; Greene; Montgomery; Rensselaer; Saratoga; Schenectady; Schoharie; Warren; and Washington. The Capital Region lays claim to Albany, the capital of New York State, as well as the major cities of Schenectady and Troy, and the popular resort destinations of Saratoga Springs and Lake George.
The Tech Valley region is fast becoming widely recognized as a premier site for the development of innovative, high technology companies. Tech Valley stretches from the Canadian border south to Westchester County and contains more than 1,000 technology companies providing more than 50,000 jobs. The companies of Tech Valley have economic impact of $5 billion and an annual payroll of $2 billion.
Tech Valley is truly a learning "Mecca" as evidenced by 21 colleges and universities with 65,000 students. RPI, Siena College and Union College have been ranked among the nation's most computer-savvy universities. The University at Albany and RPI are internationally renowned for their research and development and centers for advanced technology. Highly regarded in the Region, state, and nation are Albany Medical College, Albany Law School, and Albany School of Pharmacy.
Location remains a critical factor in today's rapidly changing business environment. The Capital Region and Tech Valley's location facilitates unparalleled access to a large and affluent market area. The largest population concentration in North America is within one day's shipping time (850 miles) of the Capital Region. Of the United States and Canada, this represents 132 million people with total personal income of over $1.7 trillion; 56% of all skilled workers; over 50% of all retail sales and wholesale receipts; 54% of all manufacturing facilities; and 60% of all the manufacturing products shipped within the U.S. and Canada.
Its strategic location, where the Mohawk flows into the Hudson River, gave the region its place in history as an early transportation, trade and industrial center. Today, three interstate highways, fast rail service (2 hours and 15 minutes to New York City), a year round deep water port, as well as a recently re-developed airport with direct air service to major markets including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Toronto and Montreal, continue to provide convenient and efficient access to the markets of the Northeastern United States and Canada.
