NEW BERLIN – Last week’s Commerce Chenango public comment meeting and update of the organization’s economic development strategic plan may not have been highly attended, but a handful of county residents were on hand for a discussion of the county’s various strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

The meeting, held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Unadilla Valley Central School, also addressed Commerce Chenango’s planning process and the county’s demographics and trends.

The key, said Commerce Chenango President and CEO Steve Craig, is understanding the area’s many strengths and weaknesses, as well as gauging the impact of population, housing, income, economic trends and other factors on communities across the county.

According to a recent Commerce Chenango press release, the county-wide economic development strategic plan will “help identify the economic needs of the county and the goals and strategies that should be implemented to improve quality of life, increase economic development opportunities and achieve greater economic sustainability.”

Craig also cited business and workforce development, downtown revitalization, tourism, agriculture and forestry, collaboration and infrastructure as key goals looking ahead. Communities, he added, must “create a business friendly environment to recruit and attract new businesses ... promote agricultural lands, forests and waterways,” in addition to promoting the area’s “cultural and historical resources.”