Host: Ann Donnelly
Guest: Jim Siplon, President & CEO, Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Warren County
What if the secret to building a resilient regional economy isn’t chasing smokestacks or mega-factories, but leveraging the irreplaceable “power of place”?
In this episode of Building Success Stories, host Ann Donnelly sits down with Jim Siplon, President & CEO of the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Warren County. From studying astrophysics and managing satellite warning operations in the U.S. Air Force to scaling Fiji Water and starting up JUST Water in Glens Falls, Jim brings a uniquely global and multi-industry perspective to regional economic strategy.
Ann and Jim dive deep into the real mechanics of modern economic development: how the $1B+ regional experiential economy serves as an anchor against AI and automation, why demographic trends require proactive community investment, and how public-private partnerships are driving transformational revitalization in South Street, Lake George, and North Creek. They also address current headlines, including Finch Paper’s strategic evolution, regional logging supply chains, and the emerging initiative to position the Adirondacks as a global hub for freshwater innovation.
Key Takeaways
- Place-First Economic Development: Modern economic growth is rarely about recruiting distant factories; it’s about identifying and stewarding regional assets that draw people and enterprise organically.
- The Timeless Experiential Anchor: Warren County’s tourism and experiential economy generates over $1B in economic value. Unlike digital services, authentic regional experiences (like Lake George and the Adirondack Park) are inherently resilient against AI and automation.
- Navigating Demographics with Intention: With Warren County’s median age approaching 50 (compared to the national median of ~40), attracting working-age families and young entrepreneurs is essential to sustaining infrastructure, healthcare, emergency services, and civic organizations.
- Targeted Downtown Revitalization (DRI): Public investments, such as Glens Falls’ South Street initiative ($10M state DRI leveraging $50M+ in private capital) and North Creek’s new sewer infrastructure, are proving that intentional change enhances regional character rather than replacing it.
- Pivoting Regional Industry & Forestry: Finch Paper’s transition away from low-grade wood pulp processing creates an opportunity to reimagine Adirondack timber. The EDC and regional partners are exploring composite and modular housing manufacturing using local wood, securing forestry jobs and locking in carbon locally.
- Building the Freshwater Innovation Cluster: Leveraging pristine local water assets alongside partners like RPI, the Darrin Freshwater Institute, and the Jefferson Project, Warren County is working to establish a commercial innovation hub around freshwater protection and eco-technology.
- Humanity Over Sterile Economics: As Jim emphasizes, “The economy is brutal and sterile. It doesn’t have feelings. The caring part has to come from the people operating around it.”
More about Jim Siplon & EDC Warren County:
- EDC Warren County Website
- Connect with Jim on LinkedIn
More from Ann Donnelly:
- Ann Donnelly Business Growth Strategist
- Building Success Stories podcast & articles
- Connect with Ann Donnelly on LinkedIn
More from the North Country Media Network:
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