New Economic Development Organization

Press Release

November 6, 2026

For Release:  Immediately

Contact: Ashley Smith, Director of Economic Development

Office Phone: 585-268-7471

Allegany County Announces Formation of New Economic Development Organization

BELMONT, NY – What does it take to build a stronger future for a community? It takes businesses willing to grow, people willing to invest, ideas worth pursuing, and partners willing to work together. Most importantly, it takes a shared belief that what we build today can create better opportunities for generations to come.

With that vision in mind, Advancing Allegany County: Economic Development Organization (AAC:EDO) has been established as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to strengthening economic opportunity and building a more connected, sustainable future for Allegany County.

The idea grew out of Allegany County’s five-year strategic plan and a recognition that the challenges and opportunities facing rural communities cannot be addressed by any one organization alone. Its creation was championed by the Allegany County Office of Economic Development as a natural extension of the office’s existing work and a way to expand the partnerships, resources, and opportunities available throughout the county.

The Office of Economic Development will continue to serve as a key partner through a formal agreement between the County and AAC:EDO, establishing a foundation for ongoing collaboration and support while allowing AAC:EDO to operate independently and pursue opportunities through its nonprofit structure.

“Economic development is about much more than attracting new businesses or bringing investment into a community. It is also about the businesses that have been here for generations, the next entrepreneur considering opening their doors, the employee looking for an opportunity to build a career, and the communities working to remain vibrant places to live, work, and raise a family,” said Ashley Smith, Director of Economic Development for Allegany County. “We have worked to build an approach that recognizes all of those pieces are connected. AAC:EDO gives us another way to bring people, resources, and ideas together so we can accomplish more collectively than any one organization could on its own.”

The broader vision is to build an economic development ecosystem where businesses can find the support they need, entrepreneurs have a place to turn, employers and workforce partners can address challenges together, and community resources can be connected to move good ideas forward. This approach has been central to the work of the County’s Office of Economic Development. AAC:EDO creates another avenue to bring more partners into that work, expand available resources, and turn shared ideas into action.

Through collaboration with the Office of Economic Development and a broader network of public and private partners, AAC:EDO will work to identify gaps, connect resources, and advance opportunities in entrepreneurship, small business development, business retention and expansion, succession planning, workforce connections, and community vitality. The goal is to support businesses at every stage, from helping new ideas take shape to ensuring established businesses have the resources and planning needed for a successful future.

Governed by a board of directors, AAC:EDO is currently establishing its organizational foundation and expects to begin onboarding a Chief Executive Officer in the coming months.

The creation of AAC:EDO represents an opportunity to think differently about what is possible when a community works together. By building on existing efforts, welcoming new partners, and connecting resources in new ways, Allegany County can create an economic future that is stronger, more connected, and full of opportunity.

The future of Allegany County belongs to all of us, and building it will take all of us.

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New Economic Development Organization 11 6 26