Economic development exec leaves Indy Chamber

Martin Vanags, who leads economic development efforts for the Indy Chamber, is moving on to a new position in upstate New York.

Vanags joined the Indy Chamber in March 2013 as vice president of regional development and leader of The Indy Partnership, a business unit that became part of the Chamber in 2012.

He left the local job April 10 to become the first president of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, a new economic development group based in Malta, New York.

Vanags will lead a staff of three to five people and direct a budget of $750,000 in the county of about 225,000 people. He will start the job May 6 and receive an annual salary of $155,000, the Albany Times Union reported.  

“Marty served the Indy Chamber and the Indy metro well during his time here by working hard to strengthen relationships with our partners throughout the region, and we are excited for him and this new opportunity to lead the economic development organization in Saratoga County,” Indy Chamber CEO Michael Huber said in a written statement.   

The Chamber hasn’t set a timetable for Vanag’s replacement.

“Moving forward, we are in the midst of developing a regional economic development strategy in close partnership with our member businesses and other community organizations, and we’re eager to continue the development of this strategy,” Huber said. “No decision has been made regarding filling the open position, but we are confident we will find the right person for the job when that time comes.”

Vanags was previously the CEO of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council in Illinois.