YOUR GUIDE TO THE
CAPITAL REGION
OF NEW YORK
100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 114, Albany, NY 12203 — 518 452 2700
Updated 6/13
LOCATION
The Capital Region, comprised of Albany, Columbia, Fulton,
Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady,
Schoharie, Warren and Washington counties is located
midway along the eastern border of New York State at the
confluence of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers. Its strategic
location, within 200 miles of New York City, Boston and
Hartford and 225 miles from Montreal, gave the region its
place in history as an early transportation, trade and industrial
center. Its topography encompasses sections of the fertile
Hudson and Mohawk River valleys, as well as portions of the
state’s two major mountain ranges, the Adirondacks and the
Catskills.
TRANSPORTATION
Highways: The New York State Thruway connects the region with New York City, the Massachusetts
Turnpike (I-90) and western New York State. The Northway (I-87) links the area with major destinations
to the north, and to the Canadian highway system at Montreal. Interstate-88 provides the region access
to the southern tier and the Pennsylvania markets. Seven bridges crossing the Hudson and a network of
state and county roads provides the four-county region with over 6,000 highway miles and an average
commuting time of 19.5 minutes.
Average Commute Time
50
40
New York City PMSA
30
Boston, MA PMSA
Philadelphia, PA
20
Alb-Schdy-Troy MSA
National Average
10
0
2011
Source: US Census Bureau: American Community Survey, 2011
Air Service: As the major air center for the Capital Region, Northeastern New York and Western New
England, the Albany International Airport offers a wide-range of facilities and services. A recently
completed multi-million dollar capital redevelopment project included a new 230,000 square foot
terminal, parking garage, Air Traffic Control Tower and cargo facility. The airport has also embarked on
a five-year $232 million Capital Plan to improve and maintain safety and to meet the needs of air
100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 114, Albany, NY 12203 — 518 452 2700
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travelers and air carriers well into the 21st Century. There are two runways - north-south (8,500 X 150')
and east-west (7,200' X 150'). Passenger service is provided by USAir, Continental, United, Delta,
Southwest, Cape Air and Air Canada, as well as commuter lines including: United Express, Continental
Connection, Continental Express, Delta Connection, and USAir Express.
FLIGHT TIMES FROM ALBANY TO:
Boston, MA
Buffalo, NY
Cleveland, OH
Hartford, CT
Manchester, NH
Montreal, QC
60 mins
90 mins
90 mins
45 mins
45 mins
70 mins
Newark, NJ
New York, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Pittsburgh, PA
Toronto, ON
Washington, DC
70 mins
60 mins
70 mins
90 mins
80 mins
90 mins
Source: Albany International Airport (http://www.albanyairport.com/pdfs/flight_drive_times.pdf)
Port Facilities: Ocean-going vessels dock at the deep-water port of Albany/Rensselaer, located 124
nautical miles north of New York City on the Hudson River. A 32-foot channel makes the port accessible
from the sea year-round. Ships up to 750 feet long and 50,000 deadweight tons are serviced by the
port. The New York State Canal System connects the area with the Great Lakes ports of Buffalo and
Oswego.
Rail Service: The Albany Port Railroad Corp. provides service under the supervision of CSX and CP Rail
systems. Amtrak, CSX and CP Rail systems provide the region with both passenger and inter-modal
freight facilities, servicing the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic States and Canada with connections nationwide.
Telecommunications: Verizon Communications markets a variety of telecommunications and highspeed Internet services over its extensive network in the Capital Region. It is currently expanding its fiberto-the-premises network under the FiOS brand name in several communities in the region. Verizon also
offers multiple choices for telephone and Internet over its traditional network, which features a 100
percent digital switching system and fiber-optic links among the communities and the regions. The
Verizon Business network (formerly MCI) provides large and medium-sized businesses with telephone
and data solutions to their telecommunications needs.
MARKET ACCESS
Thirty-five of the country’s top 100 retail markets are
within overnight trucking distance from the Capital
Region. One day’s shipping time (850 miles) gives
access to 132 million people with a total personal
income of $1.4 trillion, 51% of all U.S. and Canadian
retail sales, 55% of all U.S. and Canadian
manufacturing facilities, 56% of all skilled workers in
the U.S. and Canada, and 60% of all the manufactured
products shipped within the U.S. and Canada.
100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 114, Albany, NY 12203 — 518 452 2700
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LABOR
The Capital Region has a large and stable labor pool, which is experiencing the highest growth in the
professional, white-collar occupations. The structure of the economy has changed dramatically over the
last ten years, with a significant loss in manufacturing jobs being replaced by financial and service
employment. Non-manufacturing employment now accounts for ±89% of total employment in the
region.
Annual Unemployment Rates %
10
Alb-Schen-Troy
8
6
NYS
4
US
2
0
2008
2009
Annual 2013 Data
(Thru Jan)
Alb-Schdy-Troy
New York State
US
Total Employed
Persons
406,600
8,707,400
141,614,000
Annual 2013 Data
(Thru Jan)
Alb-Schdy-Troy
New York State
US
Total Unemployed
Persons
374,000
898,600
13,181,000
2010
2011
2012
2013
Unemployment Heat Map
By County 2013
Source: NYS Department of Labor, Division of Research & Statistics (note: data not seasonally entered)
100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 114, Albany, NY 12203 — 518 452 2700
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MAJOR EMPLOYERS
The State of New York: As home to the state’s capital city of Albany, government has historically been
the leading source of jobs in the area. More recently however, the service sector has taken over that role.
With 103,526 employees in June of 2009 within the Capital Region, the government sector has
contributed to the region’s low unemployment.
Albany Medical Center: The region’s largest service employer with almost 7,000 employees. The
Medical Center incorporates the 651-bed Albany Medical Center Hospital; one of upstate New York's
largest teaching hospitals, the Albany Medical College; the Albany Medical Center Faculty Group
Practice; and the Albany Medical Center Foundation, Inc., one of the largest fund-raising organizations
in the region.
General Electric Company: G.E.’s numerous facilities have had a major impact on the regional economy;
steam turbines, plastics and silicones are the major products produced by G.E. employees locally.
Research and Development: R&D is a significant component of the regional economy. Corporate
research is carried out at the world-renowned General Electric Research and Development Center as
well as Center for Environmental Sciences and Technology Management, Wadsworth Laboratories,
Schenectady Chemicals Inc., Environment One Corp, Philips, Albany International and numerous other
firms at the RPI Technology Park. Government funded research is conducted at the Knolls Atomic Power
Laboratory, the Kenneth Kesserling Site, the Benet Laboratories at the Watervliet Arsenal and the New
York State Health Department Laboratories. Albany NanoTech, a university-based global research,
development, technology deployment and education resource supporting accelerated high technology
commercialization, is also a leader in research and development in the Capital District.
Employment Trends by Industry for the A-S-T MSA
Government
Services (Education/Health)
Trade, Transport, & Utilities
Services (Professional/Scientific/Technical)
Manufacturing (durable/non-durable goods)
Finance & Insurance
Construction, Mining, & Natural Resources
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
107,200
82,400
75,800
26,800
21,300
19,000
16,800
103,800
88,600
73,900
29,400
20,300
24,300
15,800
99,800
85,400
70,600
29,400
19,800
24,200
14,000
103,200
90900
72,100
30,500
22,300
16,600
102,200
93500
71,200
30,000
22,900
16,800
Source: NYS DOL: Division of R&S (Note: data not seasonally adjusted)
Top 10 Private Employers in Capital District
(By number of employees)
Employer
# of Employees
St. Peter’s Health Partners
Albany Medical Center
Golub Corp.
GE Energy
Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corp.
Ellis Medicine
Center for Disability Services Holding Corp
Empire Blue Cross
Saratoga Hospital & Nursing Home
Stewarts Shops Corp.
11,749
6,560
6,392
4,000
2,900
2,517
2,090
1,700
1,387
1,352
Source: Capital District Business Review: Book of Lists, 2012 & NYS DOL: Division of R&S
100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 114, Albany, NY 12203 — 518 452 2700
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Technology
The Capital Region and Hudson Valley are attracting more innovative, high technology firms each year,
leading the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce to brand the area TECH VALLEY. TECH VALLEY,
which is currently home to more than 1,000 technology companies and 50,000 employees, is becoming
recognized as the site for the development of high-tech, entrepreneurial companies. Also contributing to
the label of TECH VALLEY are new cutting edge companies such as Albany Molecular Research, Albany
NanoTech, Plug Power, Intermagnetics and dozens of others. For more information on TECH VALLEY,
please visit their website at www.techvalley.org.
The Rensselaer Technology Park is a 1,250-acre university related park for technology ventures focused
on the interface between industry and education. The Park employs over 2,400 people, with over 70
tenants including Pitney Bowes MapInfo, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., and Verizon. Additionally, the
park is home to the 22nd most powerful supercomputer in the world at the Computational Center for
Nanotechnology Innovations.
Along with the Rensselaer Technology Park, RPI, SUNY Albany, and Union College Incubator Programs
provide the technology and resources needed for start-up enterprises. The Incubator Program provides a
unique entrepreneurial environment—harnessing academic, research, and community resources.
In July of 2006, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. selected Luther Forest Tech Park in Malta, NY as the
location for their new chip-manufacturing company, Global Foundries. The official groundbreaking
occurred on July 24, 2009 for the $4.2 billion facility.
In January of 2006, it was announced that a major $435 million Institute for Nanoelectronics Discovery
and Exploration (INDEX) – one of only two in the nation – will be located at the Center of Excellence in
Nanoelectronics at the University of Albany. For more information on INDEX, please visit the Albany
NanoTech Programs & Centers website at http://www.albanynanotech.org/.
Education
Based on the 2000 census data, the percentage of high school graduates and college-educated adults
in the Capital Region is higher than the state’s or the nation’s. Recently implemented higher testing
standards, along with new learning methods, have proven successful. The Places Rated Almanac:
Millennium Edition listed the Albany-Schenectady-Troy MSA third in its list of cities with the best access to
education. Forbes ranked the A-S-T MSA as the third “Best Place with the Best Education” in the nation.
Emma Willard School, a private preparatory school founded in 1814, is the oldest school in the nation
dedicated solely to girls’ education.
Business Development Outlook Magazine named Albany as the ninth-most educated city in the country.
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENTS OF THE POPULATION
PERSONS 25 YEARS OLD AND OVER, 2010
Total A-S-T MSA
New York State
United States
High School
Some College
Associate Degree
Bachelor’s Degree
Graduate Degree
28.6%
27.6%
28.4%
17.7%
16.4%
21.3%
11.5%
8.2%
7.6%
18.1%
18.5%
17.7%
14.9%
13.9%
10.4%
Source: CBRE Mapping: FastReport 2013 Estimates
100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 114, Albany, NY 12203 — 518 452 2700
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Colleges and Universities
More than 113,000 students are enrolled in the area’s 24 colleges and universities offering over 800
degree programs from the associate to the doctoral level.
The area is home to four nationally recognized private institutions: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Union
College, Skidmore College, and Siena College.
The State University at Albany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering was named the 2008 top
school for nanotechnology and microtechnology for its third year in a row, according to rankings
released by Small Times magazine, considered an authority on the nanotech industry.
Out of the 23 institutions of higher learning in the Capital Region, 10 are located in Albany County. The
area also has 15 licensed proprietary schools that provide training in a variety of fields; 11 are located
in Albany County.
CAPITAL DISTRICT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
(Ranked by registration for the Fall 2011 semester)
Total Number
of Students
Name
Type of Institution
University at Albany, SUNY
17,263
Public research university, Carnegie Classification Research II
Hudson Valley Community College
13,763
Comprehensive two-year public community college
Schenectady County Community
College
6,703
Comprehensive community college
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
6,425
Private, four-year research university specializing in science and
technology
The College of Saint Rose
4,863
Private, independent, co-educational liberal arts college
Adirondack Community College
4,098
Public, two-year community college
Siena College
3,342
The Sage Colleges
2,942
Fulton-Montgomery Community
2,833
Two-year liberal arts, science, and technology college
Skidmore College
2,682
Private, four year liberal arts college
SUNY Cobleskill
2,600
Public two year or four year institution
Union College
2,220
Private, four-year liberal arts with engineering division and
graduate programs
Columbia-Greene Community
2,107
Two-year liberal arts college
Albany College of Pharmacy
1,641
Private institution in pharmacy
Co-educational, independent, private, Catholic, four-year liberal
arts college within the Franciscan tradition
A federation of 4 private colleges: Russell Sage College, Sage
Evening College, Sage Junior College, and Sage Grad School
Maria College
906
Two-year co-educational college
Albany Medical College
815
Private, unaffiliated medical college and graduate biomedical
sciences
769
Private, two year or four year institution
Bryant & Stratton College
Source: Capital District Business Review, Book of Lists 2012
100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 114, Albany, NY 12203 — 518 452 2700
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Financial Institutions
Major national banking institutions with a presence in the Capital Region include Bank of America, Key
Bank, and HSBC Bank USA.
Another strong locally based financial institution is Trustco Bank Corp.
Both national and regional insurers continue to prosper in the area. State Farm Insurance Company,
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and Phoenix Home Life have located their northeast regional
facilities in the Capital Region.
There are over 25 credit unions in the Capital Region, with the five largest each having over 15,000
members.
Two major public pension funds, the New York State and Local Employees Retirement System and the
New York State Teachers Retirement System control over $93 billion in assets.
CAPITAL DISTRICT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
(Ranked by Capital Region Market Share)
Market
Share
Name
Name
Market
Share
KeyBank N.A.
28.18%
The Bank of Greene County
1.79%
RBS Citizens N.A.
10.88%
Berkshire Bank
1.68%
TrustCo Bank
10.10%
First National Bank of Scotia
1.30%
First Niagara Bank
8.51%
Ballston Spa National Bank
1.21%
Bank of America N.A.
5.46%
Saratoga National Bank and Trust
0.93%
HSBC Bank USA N.A.
5.02%
Kinderhook Bank
0.85%
NBT Bank N.A.
4.49%
The National Bank of Coxsackie
0.65%
Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co.
3.91%
Chemung Canal Trust Co.
0.60%
TD Bank N.A.
3.86%
Legacy Banks
0.44%
The Adirondack Trust Co.
2.98%
Greene County Commercial Bank
0.43%
Manufacturers and Traders Trust Co.
2.76%
Bank of Richmondville
0.40%
Pioneer Savings Bank
2.58%
Community Bank N.A.
0.39%
Source: Capital District Business Review, Book of Lists 2012
100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 114, Albany, NY 12203 — 518 452 2700
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Health Care Facilities
There are 15 general care hospitals and two specialty hospitals in the Capital Region, totaling over
4,200 certified beds. Albany Medical Center Hospital, the largest health care facility in the area, is a
nationally recognized institute of research that includes Albany Medical College. Other health care
institutions include several nursing home facilities and other specialized health-related facilities such as
Four Winds in Saratoga and the Capital District Psychiatric Center, both psychiatric treatment centers;
Conifer Park, a substance abuse rehabilitation center; and Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital,
specializing in traumatic brain injuries. In the four core counties of the Capital Region (Albany,
Schenectady, Rensselaer and Saratoga) there are over 70 licensed child care providers including the
Albany Jewish Community Center, and the YMCA Albany; each with over 220 full-time children.
CAPITAL DISTRICT HEALTH CARE FACILITIES
(Ranked by 2010 Total Net Patient Revenue)
Facility and City
Beds
Albany Medical Center
Albany, NY
651
St. Peter’s Hospital
Albany, NY
442
Northeast Health: Albany
Memorial Hospital/Samaritan
Hospital Albany/Troy, NY
518
Ellis Hospital
Schenectady, NY
455
Glens Falls Hospital
Glens Falls, NY
410
Saratoga Hospital
& Nursing Home
Saratoga Springs, NY
207
Seton Health System/
St. Marys
Troy, NY
196
St. Mary’s Hospital of
Amsterdam
Amsterdam, NY
Columbia Memorial Hospital
Hudson, NY
Nathan Littauer Hospital
& Nursing Home
Gloversville, NY
Specialty Services
The Heart Institute of Albany Med, Cancer Center of Albany Med,
Vascular Institute of Albany Med; regional trauma and neonatal center;
heart transplantation, kidney, pancreas, corneal transplant center; bone
marrow transplant; children’s hospital
Cardiac care center, women’s and children’s services, breast center,
cancer care center, addiction services, rehabilitation, hospice, home
care, ambulatory care network, neonatal intensive care services
Cancer treatment, behavioral health, diabetes treatment, family birth
center, women’s health, intensive cardiac care, stroke, kidney stone
treatment, primary care, home care, adult day care
Cardiovascular services, open heart surgery, oncology, neurology,
orthopedic surgery, critical care, MRI, mental health, long-term care,
primary care, adolescent mental health
Cancer center, rehabilitation centers, the hearing center, day surgery
center, inpatient surgical center, cardiac catheterization suite, nicotine
dependency program, center for occupational health, emergency care
center
Ambulatory surgery, women’s health services, physical therapy,
emergency, respiratory therapy, diagnostic imaging, mental health,
long-term cares
Primary care, addiction services, home health care, childbirth center,
outpatient ob/gyn services, adult residential care, wound care,
incontinence treatment, express care, skilled nursing care, medical model
adult day care, dental centers
153
Behavioral health, medical imagining, cardiac rehabilitation, ambulatory
surgery, family health centers
192
Obstetrics, psychiatric, hospice, cardiac care unit, cardiac rehab,
emergency and prompt care, oncology clinic, primary care clinics
74
Acute care, nursing home, outpatient primary care, education and
wellness center, digital imaging, lab, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation,
rehabilitation medicine, diabetes education, ambulatory surgery,
occupational medicine, respiratory care, sleep disorders, Lifeline,
emergency department, pediatrics, obstetrics
Source: Capital District Business Review, Book of Lists 2012
100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 114, Albany, NY 12203 — 518 452 2700
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Quality of Life
An affordable cost of living, a wide range of educational
opportunities, and a variety of cultural and recreational
offerings make the Capital Region a highly desirable place
in which to live and work. The Capital Region has many
attributes which make it an ideal location for new business
growth, expansion and attraction, as well as an exceptional
place to live. It offers an outstanding quality of life,
enhanced by an affordable housing market. The highly
qualified workforce, top-rated educational institutions, and
world-famous cultural and recreational attractions are just
a few highlights.
State and local libraries, museums, and galleries exist
throughout Albany's downtown area, as do many
restaurants, theaters, and clubs. Numerous malls and
specialty shops are just a few minutes away.
The region is a short distance from many of the Northeast’s
finest downhill ski resorts, including Killington, Stratton,
Whiteface, Mount Snow, and Okemo.
There are nearly 100 golf courses, both public and private,
to suit all levels of players.
The nearby Catskill and Adirondack Mountains provide
year-round recreation from fishing, hiking and camping to
skiing and snow shoeing. Over 95,000 acres of state
forest and numerous lakes, including Lake George,
Saratoga Lake and the Great Sacandaga Lake. The six
million acre Adirondack Park extends south into Saratoga
County and contains peaks over 4,000 feet high. Lake
Placid, located within the park, was home to the 1932 and
1980 Olympics and now houses the Winter Olympic
Training facilities.
Professional sports teams in the region include the Albany
River Rats hockey team, affiliates of the New Jersey Devils;
the Albany Patroons basketball team, members of the
Continental Basketball Association; the Tri-City Valley Cats
baseball team, affiliates of the Houston Astros; and the
Albany Firebirds, a professional arena football team in the
af2 League; and the New York Buzz, a tennis team on the
World Team Tennis Tour. The University at Albany is the
summer home of the New York Giants.
100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 114, Albany, NY 12203 — 518 452 2700
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Professional sporting events include thoroughbred racing at
the nation’s oldest and most prestigious race track in
Saratoga, a harness track also in Saratoga, and the
Adirondack Balloon Festival.
Arts, music, entertainment and recreation include the
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (summer home to the
New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra as
well as a venue for large outdoor concerts), Saratoga
Gaming & Raceway, Albany Institute of History and Art, the
New York State Museum, Palace Theater, Capital Repertory
Theater, National Museum of Dance, National Museum of
Racing, Times Union Center, Proctor’s Theater, Empire
State Plaza Performing Arts Center, and the Schenectady
Museum and Planetarium. To the southeast, you will find
the Berkshires, summer home of the Boston Symphony
Orchestra
and
several
theater
groups.
Information sources: Center for Economic Growth, CDRPC, U.S. Bureau of the Census, New York State Department of Economic
Development, The Times Union.
100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 114, Albany, NY 12203 — 518 452 2700
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QUICK FACTS ON THE CAPITAL REGION
GENERAL STATISTICS
2013 Est. Population
Population Growth 2010-2013
Est. Population Growth 2013-2018
2013 Est. Avg. Household Size
2013 Est. Median Age
2013 Est. Households
2013 Est. Median Household Income
2013 Est. Median Housing Value
Albany-Schenectady-Troy
USA
871,996
0.15%
0.43%
2.35
40.10
357,142
$57,933
$194,812
314,861,807
1.98%
3.32%
2.57
37.52
119,206,509
$49,232
$170,072
CBRE Mapping: FastReport 2013 Estimates
Business Facts

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Forbes ranked Albany as the 34th best city in the nation—and tops New York state—for business
and careers
Inc. Magazine listed A-S-T MSA as the 25th best place in the country for doing business
Entrepreneur Magazine named A-S-T MSA as the 4th best midsize city in the East for entrepreneurs
Expansion Management Magazine ranked A-S-T MSA 15th out of 331 cities for “High-Value” labor
and named it a “Five-Star Knowledge Worker Metro”—its highest ranking
Expansion Management Magazine also listed A-S-T MSA as a “Five-Star Logistics Community”—its
highest ranking—as one of the most logistics friendly metros in the US
Fun Facts
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Potato Chips were invented and first served at Moon’s Lake House in Saratoga Springs
Pie a la mode was first served at the Cambridge Hotel in Washington County
Detachable collars were first invented in Troy, NY
The first television broadcast to a private home took place in Schenectady in 1928 followed by the
first public television broadcast in 1930
The first college radio station broadcast took place in Schenectady in 1921
Schenectady was known to have the longest covered bridge in the Western Hemisphere
Union College was the first non-denominational college in the nation. By virtue of the fact that it
was the first college chartered after the American Revolution, it is also considered the first American
College
Paper Clips were invented in Schenectady by Clarence Collette
The first all-electric house was built in 1903 in Schenectady’s GE Plot
The first suspension bridge was designed by Squire Whipple of Schenectady
Saratoga Race Track is the oldest thoroughbred race track in the nation
Source: Absolutely Albany (www.albany.org); A-C Chamber (www.ac-chamber.org)
100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 114, Albany, NY 12203 — 518 452 2700
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