Joe Russo

About Joe Russo

With a solid foundation in economic development, my role at National Grid involves spearheading initiatives for business retention, expansion, and attraction across 37 counties. My expertise in networking has enabled me to cultivate strong partnerships with key industry players and economic development allies, ensuring a collaborative approach to regional growth. At the helm of multi-region business attraction, our team has facilitated significant investment and job creation, contributing to the economic prosperity of upstate New York. My focus remains on leveraging grants management and sales and marketing skills to drive sustainable economic impact in the communities we serve.

Experience

1. Economic Development Professional

   National Grid

   Oct 1995 — Present

   In 1995 I began working for Niagara Mohawk’s economic development department as a consultant to help Empire State Development attract a Guardian Industries \"float glass\" plant to the State. I was hired as a full-time Manager of Economic Development after six months and managed multi-region business attraction prospects across upstate NY, while maintaining excellent relationships with State, regional and local EDOs and Niagara Mohawk account managers, who were responsible for relationships with municipalities and other stakeholders. I worked on several, high profile business attraction and expansion projects in the state, including the location of the FAGE Yogurt Manufacturing plant in Johnstown, NY and the new Beech-Nut Nutrition Corp. plant in the Town of Florida. After Niagara Mohawk was purchased by National Grid, I helped the department achieve significant results and recognition, including being named one of the top ten utilities in the U.S. by Site Selection magazine in 2003 for attracting businesses and creating jobs and capital investment in the service area and led marketing and sales activities of a state-wide coalition of development groups in my role as NYS Economic Development Council’s marketing Committee Chair. In my spare time, I created a “Step-by-Step Guide to Helping Businesses Stay and Expand in NYS” and worked with Regional Technology Development Centers to develop the Manufacturing Productivity Program, which provides financial incentives for companies to invest in productivity improvement and product development initiatives.

Education

• Onondaga Community College

  A.A.

  1971 — 1973

• State University of New York at Oswego

  BA

  1973 — 1975