The 10 economic councils were charged with creating 5 year strategic plans for their regions.

Those plans were due in November, and state funding was awarded to 720 winning projects throughout the state in early December.

Empire State Development (or ESD) is the agency charged with overseeing the councils. ESD chief, Ken Adams says his staff will now help the councils implement their plans in the coming months.

Adams: "You know, the challenge in many of the regions was to pull people together who frankly in the past might have competed for some of the economic development resources and now on these councils have to work as a team."

Adams added that each council will continue to meet regularly in the New Year, although their schedules will vary.