New York’s Capital Region includes the counties of Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, and Saratoga and is home to approximately 800,000 people. Because New York State is the largest employer and the largest consumer of goods and services, the region enjoys a very stable economy and relatively low unemployment. Anchored by the City of Albany, the state capital, the region is at the geographic center of New York State's “Tech Valley” and is located approximately 3 hours north of New York City, 3 hours west of Boston and 4 hours south of Montreal. The cities are connected by interstate highway, rail and air. The historical significance of the area dates back to the Revolutionary War as the “Battle of Saratoga” proved to be the turning point of the American Revolution. Thomas Edison’s work and the General Electric Company earned Schenectady the title of “the City that Lights the World”.

Surrounded by four mountain ranges, the Adirondacks, Catskills, Berkshires and Green Mountains and containing a number of lakes and two rivers, the area offers residents and visitors abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation including skiing, camping, hiking, hunting, fishing and boating all within a few minutes drive of the cities.  Summer offers world class polo and thorough bred horse racing in Saratoga Springs and some of the best skiing in the northeast during the winter months. Sporting events include minor league hockey and baseball (single A), arena football and four colleges with division one programs in hockey, football, basketball, baseball and track.  The Freihofer’s Run for Women draws top female runners from around the country.   The city of Albany boasts an 18,000 seat arena for entertainment and sports events.

The area is professionally and scientifically oriented.  The 21 colleges and universities of the Capital Region have a combined enrollment of 65,000 and employ 14,000 faculty and staff.  Post graduate programs are offered by 8 institutions in the areas of study of law, medicine, business, engineering, pharmacy, public health, education, silicone chip and materials research.  These institutions provide a large graduate recruitment pool. Attract corporate investment, operated technology and industrial parks, partner with local businesses and enrich the community with cultural, entertainment and athletic events.

The Capital Region is the home of the main Research and Development Center of the General Electric Company and of the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory operated by Martin Marietta Corporation and is also home to over 125 software development companies.  Within the last 10 years, the Capital Region has become an emerging force in the technology market.  Home to both UAlbany’s Center for Environmental Sciences and Technology Management and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Center for Advanced Interconnect Science and Technology, it was a natural choice for the new Focus Center Research program, one of two multi- million dollar projects established by the U.S. semiconductor industry and the federal government.  The Albany Medical Center Hospital is ranked among the nation’s top 100 hospitals and top 20 medical academic facilities. The New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center Laboratories also achieves national recognition.

The region is alive with the performing and visual arts.  While supporting two local symphonies, this area (Saratoga Springs) is also the summer home of the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra.  The Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the Times Union Arena draw sell-out crowds for such artists as Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, Elton John, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones and Cirque du Soleil.  The Proctor’s Theater, the Troy Music Hall and the Empire State Theater (“The Egg”) provide year round theatrical and musical performances.  Community festivals based on the arts abound and there is a year round selection of jazz, blues, new age and fusion performers on the local club scene.