Plans for national Fresh Water Center in Lake George underway

LAKE GEORGE | At EDC (Economic Development Corporation) Warren County's Annual Luncheon, an event recognized as a launching pad for concepts and catalytic economic development initiatives in the Warren County/Lake George Region, EDC President Jim Siplon announced the formation of a steering committee charged with guiding to fruition the creation of a national Fresh Water Center, a concept first unveiled at the 2023 Annual Luncheon. The Fresh Water Center will harness the vast knowledge accumulated in Lake George and position the region as the preeminent leader in research, education and the commercialization of freshwater protection. In addition to Mr. Siplon, the initial members of the steering committee include Dr. Martin A. Schmidt, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI); Dr. John E. Kelly, III, co-founder of The Jefferson Project; and Dr. Brendan Wiltse, executive director of the Lake George Association. The steering committee will seek active participation from New York State as well as regional business and elected leaders. Its mission initially is to solidify broad support for an actionable plan to build a Fresh Water Center encompassing a world-class scientific research center, an entrepreneurial center that helps launch related business ideas, and a learning center that will educate residents and visitors to our region. These three entities will operate in tandem and advance work already begun by the Jefferson Project, LGA, RPI, and EDC Warren County. EDC President Jim Siplon said, "Lake George and its surrounding ecosystem have become world leaders in using science to provide unmatched protection for the region's fresh water resources. Despite this, a formal economic development channel has not been created to capture and share the unique knowledge base, data and solutions that have been birthed here. This knowledge has universal value and incredible market potential in a world where fresh water challenges are abundant and growing. Therefore, we are convening a world-class team of leaders, institutions and doers who will shape a targeted collaboration of science, education and entrepreneurship centered around fresh water protection. This proposed Fresh Water Center will support development of a new investable industry that is aligned with our community's unique, inherent strengths. The EDC is proud to help facilitate this novel concept so that fresh water enterprise can create the kinds of jobs our region is uniquely positioned to produce." RPI President Marty Schmidt said, "RPI is excited to join this effort to create a Fresh Water Center as a catalyst for economic development in the region. This is very well aligned with our recently released strategic plan entitled RPI Forward." Jefferson Project co-founder John Kelly said, "The Jefferson Project has become the global model for understanding the impact of human activity on a freshwater ecosystem and how to mitigate those effects. I am thrilled to see that our world-class science will now spur business innovation and economic development." LGA Executive Director Brendan Wiltse said, "Lake George has long been a proving ground for what's possible when world-class science and community action come together to protect freshwater. The creation of a Fresh Water Center builds on that legacy and positions our region as a global leader in understanding and safeguarding this most vital resource." The announcement followed remarks by EDC Annual Luncheon participants that focused on the concept of placemaking, in particular the importance of utilizing existing assets and resources to build upon a community's inherent strengths to catalyze future growth. Lake George is widely recognized as one of the cleanest lakes in America, and the body of scientific knowledge accumulated in keeping Lake George clean and healthy, plus the impact that knowledge has had on tourism, local economic development, and quality of life for those who live here, is among Warren County's greatest inherent strengths. The EDC's organization of economic development strategy around these assets reflects its belief that our natural resources have, for centuries, served as the essential underpinning of our regional economy. ABOUT EDC WARREN COUNTY EDC Warren County is the economic development engine for Warren County, New York, attracting new investment, industry, and jobs to the area while helping existing businesses expand and thrive. EDC leverages its historical perspective and involvement with local issues and initiatives, as well as its strong working relationships with public and private sector leaders at all levels, to provide solutions to existing and new businesses considering investment in Warren County. Its overriding goal is to bring about positive outcomes for businesses and residents of Warren County. THE JEFFERSON PROJECT The Jefferson Project is a first-of-its-kind collaboration of scientists, engineers and technologists from IBM Global Research and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, combined with the advocates and program managers at the Lake George Association. The Jefferson Project team works to understand, anticipate and respond to the pressures of climate change, road salt, invasive species and nutrient loading and runoff as it impacts Lake George water quality. It is a sophisticated technological approach to studying fresh water, utilizing a computing platform to capture and analyze data from a network of sensors tracking water quality and movement, then combining that data with other monitoring and experimental data to create a thorough understanding of the factors that drive the lake's food web and overall water quality.

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Plans for national Fresh Water Center in Lake George underway

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