Reconsidering Industrial Policy in Eastern New York, U.S.A

This article analyzes urban industrial transformations occurring in five New York communities. We question whether recent major projects on former industrial sites in Upstate New York succeeded at creating long-term, well-paying and high-skilled jobs for their host cities and towns. It is argued that although it is difficult to convert former 20th century industrial sites to 21st century advanced manufacturing requirements, state and localities should not abandon existing industrially zoned land in favor of out-of-town greenfield industrial developments. A comparative discussion of the case studies according to a fourfold criterion (land, labor, capital and triple bottom line) is provided.