ALBANY, N.Y. (September 9, 2015) -- University at Albany Vice President for Research James A. Dias today announced the appointment of Matthew J. Grattan as director of community and economic development.

In this new position, Grattan will lead the University's strategic business development efforts in the Capital Region, implementing processes for the management of the START-UP NY program, and directing and coordinating these efforts across the spectrum of development-focused UAlbany departments and administrative units.

"We believe the transformative power of the START-UP NY program has the ability to sustain the University's role as a leading economic driver in the region and state," Dias said. "To fully realize the promise of this and other development programs such as our Innovation Hot Spots designation and Centers for Excellence, the University needs a seasoned leader like Matt to affect change and influence within the campus environment and with regional leaders and decision-makers."

For the past four years, Grattan has served as Executive Director for Workforce Development at Schenectady County Community College, where he oversaw economic and workforce development programs including complete oversight of their START-UP NY program while serving as the college’s first point of contact for business and industry. Before working for Schenectady County Community College, he spent 19 years with the New York Department of Labor, managing business and industry relationships for the Capital Region to promote workforce and economic development programs.  He was part of the business attraction team in many counties in the region including Saratoga County that successfully secured the AMD project that eventually became GLOBALFOUNDRIES.

Grattan will work closely with campus-wide constituents to build and coordinate strategies to take the University's outreach and growth to the next level.