About TCAD Tompkins County Area Development, Inc. (TCAD) is a private, not-for-profit organization founded in 1964 that provides the Ithaca area with innovative services to strengthen the economy.
TCAD's primary mission is to create quality private sector jobs and strengthen the local tax base. TCAD’s focus is on companies that sell products or services to customers outside of Tompkins County and that typically pay workers the highest wages, provide the best benefits and offer the most opportunity for advancement. Our scope is not limited to traditional manufacturers however; we assist companies and entrepreneurs in fields as diverse as software development, agri-business, printing and publishing. Recognizing the unique and dynamic nature of our local economy and the importance of encouraging diversity, TCAD assists cottage industries, high-tech firms and other manufacturers with a variety of funding opportunities and incentives, site selection assistance and technical resources and referrals.
TCAD facilitates cooperation between business and government creating a unique public-private partnership that supports regional economic growth. In 1999, TCAD completed its creation of the award-winning Economic Development Strategy, an effort of more than one hundred community, education, government, and business leaders.
TCAD also devotes substantial time to initiatives that help make the Ithaca area a good place to work and live. The Workforce Development Board, Airport Service Task Force and Cayuga Venture Fund are examples of such initiatives that were, in part, created by TCAD to address issues and concerns by local businesses.
As a private, not for profit organization, TCAD relies on the investments of those who recognize the impact of TCAD’s role in strengthening and stabilizing the local economy. Our members represent virtually every sector: large and small local manufacturers, commercial enterprises, area professionals, educational and medical institutions, labor groups and municipalities.
At TCAD we help businesses grow and entrepreneurs succeed!
