What is NYSARC?

The New York State Association of Regional Councils (NYSARC) is composed of ten locally created Regional Councils throughout New York State. Articles 12-B and 5-G of the New York State General Municipal Law gave affiliated counties the legal authority to create regional or metropolitan planning boards and joint purpose municipal corporations.

New York’s Regional Councils provide comprehensive planning for the coordinated growth and development of their regions. This responsibility involves marketing the region and providing services such as: economic development, land use, transportation, environmental and water resources management, human resources management, and regional data services. Many of the State’s Regional Councils also offer technical assistance to communities within the region, including grant application and coordination, financial expertise, juvenile delinquency prevention, computer assistance, government training, community planning, flood prevention, and information services.

The members of NYSARC play a unique role in the State. By presenting a regional perspective on issues, Regional Councils promote intergovernmental cooperation and facilitate dialogue between state and federal governments and smaller municipalities. Accordingly, the NYSARC has developed an ongoing working relationship with a variety of state agencies to deliver state-funded programming on a regional basis.

Examples of services that Regional Councils perform on behalf of their regions and New York State include:

• Water Quality Management Planning: Prepare watershed plans; develop nonpoint source pollution control strategies; coordinate monitoring; conduct outreach, education and public participation programs; build partnerships; develop GIS mapping and data; and conduct inventorying and data collection as part of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs;
• Economic Development: Create and maintain a comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), and manage the EDA-funded economic development projects in their respective regions. New York State’s Regional Councils are designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) as administrators of the State’s Economic Development Districts (made up of the counties that each Regional Council serves).
• Telecommunications: Assess and enhance regional telecommunication resources to provide economic development opportunities, in conjunction with the New York State Empire State Development Corporation;
• Census: Serve as the New York State-designated Affiliate Data Centers; and
• Aviation Planning: Work with regional airports in developing regional aviation systems on a coordinated basis with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The NYSARC also works closely with the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC), the national membership organization serving the interests of regional councils and metropolitan planning organizations.