Rochester Business Journal Leading source of business news and information in Rochester, N.Y.

The past three years have certainly demonstrated that we must all be financially prepared for unexpected changes to stay on course with our goals — and to stay ahead of potential issues.

This new year we must be intentional about treating economic development as an investment in public safety. I support tax incentives to bring new jobs to our state, but these employers must also ensure that the promised jobs are accessible to those families that need them most. Ribbon cuttings and photo-ops are not enough. We need specific strategies to remove hiring barriers by thinking about transportation, childcare, and workforce training as part of the job creation formula.