The Catskill Development Foundation will formally dedicate the James R. Thomson Center for Business Development on Friday, May 30, honoring the longtime advocate for economic growth and private enterprise in Delaware County.
The ceremony, scheduled for 3 p.m. at 5½ Main Street in Delhi, will recognize Thomson’s early and sustained efforts to support local entrepreneurs, beginning in 2007 with the creation of the e-Center — a facility designed to provide small businesses with access to high-speed internet at a time when broadband was scarce in rural communities.
As broadband access expanded, the center shifted its mission to support start-ups and stage-one businesses, while serving as a hub for community organizations. Thomson remained deeply involved, guiding the foundation’s board as it pursued new initiatives to foster local enterprise.
The dedication will include the unveiling of new signage with members of the Thomson family in attendance, followed by a public reception celebrating his contributions to the region’s economic development.
