Fostering the creation and growth of business in Albany County

I hope you’ve found ways to stay cool this summer. The Alliance is running “hot” and continuing our exciting progress from a very busy spring! 

In June, we celebrated the groundbreaking of Atlas Copco’s new $32.8 million expansion on its carbon compressor manufacturing facility in Voorheesville, bolstered by more than $2.45 million in County support. At the former College of Saint Rose campus, our work with the analysts at CPL is moving forward, identifying transformative redevelopment opportunities that align with community needs and economic potential. And in other “transformative” news, we had the pleasure of awarding more than $1.23 million through the County’s new Arts and Culture Grant Program administered by the Alliance. More on all that news below. 

• The hulking Central Warehouse is a step closer to demolition every day, thanks to our Board members’ dedication and the legal victories that have justified their thorough work. 
• Governor Hochul’s “Champion Albany’s Progress (CAP)” initiative got its public start with a well-attended forum on August 6. 
• And the ribbon was cut at NY CREATES on the UAlbany campus: a federal investment in UV lithography chip manufacturing which promises untold potential for synergy and supply chain business in Albany County. 

There’s more to see below, and more to come. Stay tuned as we continue driving forward with projects that spark innovation, augment the preservation of local character and expand opportunity across Albany County. 

On June 10, Atlas Copco Comptec, LLC celebrated the groundbreaking of a new 63,000 square foot expansion at its Voorheesville manufacturing facility. The company tests and manufactures compressors used in carbon capture and carbon sequestration, both major factors in achieving world climate goals.   

This project was supported by the Albany County Industrial Development Agency (ACIDA), which allocated a $1.9 million package of tax incentives to aid in the overall $32.8 million expansion of the company, and $475,000 from the S.T.A.G.E. Grant Program. The project underscores Atlas Copco’s longstanding 45‑year commitment to Albany County and is slated for completion by the end of 2026. 

This expansion is expected to create 55 new full‑time jobs, and retain 35 jobs. It also builds upon prior upgrades including enhanced testing systems for compressors, modernized infrastructure and energy‑efficient heat pump installations across the entire 45‑acre campus. Together, these developments highlight Albany County’s role as a hub for advanced manufacturing and clean‑energy innovation. When the expansion is completed, the facility will be the only such manufacturing plant of its scale in the United States. 

Saint Rose Consultant at Work 

The Albany County Pine Hills Land Authority took the important step of hiring CPL, a New York‑based planning and engineering firm, to lead the analysis and thoughtful transformation of the former College of Saint Rose campus. CPL has been charged with crafting a comprehensive redevelopment strategy for the 26.5-acre property and its 71 buildings, with robust community engagement initiatives set to kick off with an initial public listening session on August 20. CPL is expected to submit its final recommendation for the campus by this November. Already, the Authority board has activated a required 90-day waiting period to explore sale of a few select buildings to Albany County and will consider the sale again this fall. 

As CPL leads this effort, the Albany County Pine Hills Land Authority is ensuring that local voices help shape future opportunities, from preserving historic buildings to enabling housing, small business support and cultural spaces for Albany County residents. 

On June 6, Advance Albany County Alliance was proud to host and celebrate grant recipients at the Albany Institute of History and Art for the 2025 Arts & Culture Grant Awards Program. This event, set in the Institute’s beautiful main gallery, spotlighted local talent with performances including Steamer No. 10 Theatre and the Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate NY. We were honored to be joined by Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy and County Legislature Chair Joanne Cunningham, who led the effort to dedicate $1.5 million in Arts & Culture Grant Program funding. Board Chairman Alan Goldberg also offered remarks as the leader of the grant selection committee. 

Congratulations to all our grantees and thank you for your contributions to Albany County’s vibrant cultural landscape! 

Raised in the Capital Region, Clayton completed his undergraduate at Hamilton College in Central New York. That was followed by advanced education in Asia, earning a master's degree at Nagasaki University and a PhD at Tokyo University.



After working with SOFTBANK Capital's worldwide venture capital network for a number of years, he returned to the Capital Region and joined New York State’s VC community as the Director of ESD’s New York Ventures.

We are grateful to work with Clayton and value the experience he brings to our team while supporting our mission to Advance Albany County.