SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- "This is the biggest retail development in 20 years in downtown Schenectady and the tide has really turned," said Schenectady County Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage.

It's a new $2.4 million investment in Schenectady, by appliance retailer John Marcella and son.

Marcella said, "We wanted to keep our home base in Schenectady, even though we were asked to move to several different areas."

Those other areas include cities across the state. Staying in the Electric City means about a half dozen new jobs, but it also means the jobs that have been here stay here as part of the Broadway Commerce Park.

"Right now, we're around 38 to 40 employees," said Marcella.

Right where I spoke with Marcella, there will soon be a road. In back, could be a 50,000 square foot facility with easy access to 890. All just a piece of the puzzle for the city, and the county's, economic plans.

"At last count, I think it's around $300 million in new investment in the downtown and that's incredible," said Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton.

Nine million dollars in new investment has already been committed to this site, with 110,000 square feet of new and renovated business space.

The county has seen nearly three million square feet of such space take shape since 2004. That includes sites like the Rotterdam Industrial Park which has seen $50 million in investments over the last five years.

"Every time we add to that, it provides us an opportunity to increase our customer sales tax base, create jobs and help our downtown grow," Stratton said.

Savage said officials are "looking at industries that are very different. This happens to be retail. But other large investments like General Electric, economic development downtown and the business parks are all a part of it."

Officials say they hope diversity creates a stable economic environment. All of it, funded by private investment and tax funds allocated for development through Metroplex.

As you hear about this, crews are working on 700,000 square feet of space in the county as the transformation and hope for the future continues.

"We are becoming an arts and entertainment destination," said Stratton.

"I think the lights are back on and brighter than ever because we really do have a vibrance in this community. It's changed over the last five years," said Savage.

This project is expected to be complete in the fall, as other projects continue.