Project
Northeast
Rural
County
Strategic Planning

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy in Franklin County, NY

April 16, 2026

The Challenge

Franklin County, NY, began its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) update at a critical moment. While the County had made important progress since its 2014 CEDS, it continued to face several deeply interconnected challenges: long-term population decline, workforce shortages, and limited housing options.

Population loss, especially among young and working-age adults, has become the most significant threat to the county’s long-term economic health.

Local leaders recognized the need for a modern, EDA-aligned CEDS that could articulate a people-centered vision and provide a practical roadmap for investment and action over the next five years.

The Solution

Camoin Associates partnered with the Franklin County Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC), Melissa McManus, LLC, and Highland Planning to lead a data-driven and engagement-focused update.

The team analyzed demographic and socioeconomic trends, industry and competitiveness, workforce supply and demand, and commercial real estate and housing market dynamics to build a picture of the county’s economic realities.

Stakeholder engagement was central to the process and included a site visit, interviews, focus groups, countywide surveys with more than 200 respondents, and a series of committee workshops. This input directly shaped both the analysis and the strategy, helping to establish a unifying vision to grow the age 20–39 population by 2030 and identify three integrated goal areas focused on talent pipelines, innovation and industry diversification, and quality of place.

The team translated this work into a final CEDS supported by a detailed Action Plan Matrix, performance measures, and an implementation framework to guide near-term action and long-term accountability.

The Impact

The Franklin County CEDS process unified partners around a shared understanding of the County’s challenges and commitment to act. The resulting strategy serves as a roadmap that positions population stabilization as an economic imperative. Adopted unanimously by the FCEDC Board, the plan moved quickly from vision to execution.

The CEDS also elevated Franklin County’s profile nationally, earning recognition in media coverage examining the economic realities of communities experiencing population decline.

Leveraging the strategy, the EDC secured funding from the Adirondack Community Foundation to launch a countywide educational pathway initiative. This effort is actively aligning employer demand with education and training systems, while strengthening outreach to help young adults identify viable career opportunities and build long-term futures in Franklin County.

View the final CEDS