The Montgomery Town Board and the Town of Montgomery Industrial Development Agency appointed Conor Eckert executive director of the Town of Montgomery IDA and director of economic development for the Town of Montgomery on April 23.

His main role is to work with the IDA to help build smart, sustainable economic development in the Town of Montgomery. He plans to put together a business attraction and expansion strategy which would create great jobs, fortify the town’s tax basis and maintain a high quality of life in Montgomery. Eckert also plans to work with businesses to further develop the town and help small businesses succeed. He will also interact with town residents to see what kinds of economic development they want in Montgomery.

Specifically, he is looking to attract the technology and life science sectors, which feature jobs such as biomedical engineering and biochemistry.

“These sectors are future-ready, they are innovative. These jobs are sustainable,” he said. “They are high-paying and they’re gonna be here in the 21st Century.”

He was inspired by the City of Kingston, which has a successful technology sector.

In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, Eckert has begun to build relationships with the IDA to market Montgomery as a place of opportunity for businesses. Along with the IDA, Eckert is working with representatives from the county, state and the town level to find innovative ways to attract businesses.

Eckert is examining the town’s internal policies to find ways to innovate and update businesses to meet the needs of its residents. This process includes plenty of research and collaboration with other entities.
Eckert is eager to make a difference in his new position. This job is dear to him, as he grew up in the Town of Montgomery.

“I’m honored to have gotten this position,” he said. “I’m from the Town of Montgomery, so the fact that I’m able to serve my home community means so much to me.”

Though it is early in his professional career, Eckert brings plenty of relevant work experience to the table. From December through February, he worked as an economic development analyst for the Orange County Office of Economic Development. While there, he developed a county-wide technology industry attraction strategy. From August 2017 through January 2018, he served as a city government intern for the Office of Community and Economic Development in Binghamton. For that position, he reviewed grant applications for the City of Binghamton and proposed community engagement activities, which fostered economic growth in small businesses.

Eckert graduated in May 2019 with a bachelor of arts in political science from the State University of New York at Binghamton (SUNY Binghamton), earning a 3.96 cumulative GPA. This month he received his Master of Public Administration, specialization in local government management and analysis, from SUNY Binghamton, earning a 4.00 cumulative GPA.

“An exceptional young man, homegrown in the Town of Montgomery,” said Montgomery Town Supervisor Brian Maher. “Really excited to have him on the team.”