One of the most encouraging initiatives of former Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer's administration was a determined focus on revitalizing the economy and overall fortunes of upstate New York.

To that end, Mr. Spitzer appointed an economic development director to concentrate on the specific problems and aspirations of upstate communities — a problem solver who would listen to public officials, business leaders and ordinary citizens throughout the state, someone who would work creatively with municipalities and regions to plan for economic revival.

Daniel C. Gundersen was chosen for that task, and he has devoted much of the past year traveling across upstate, meeting with local leaders, planning and announcing initiatives for community development and economic resurgence.

Despite former Gov. Spitzer's departure from government, a good work was started. Hope for a new economic beginning was kindled in Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Northern New York and communities across the vast region known as upstate.

A City-by-City program identified key projects for various urban areas. The state budget contained $700 million for the Upstate Revitalization Fund, and Mr. Gundersen told reporters last month that all commitments to the $115 million City-by-City program would be funded. One was $10 million for housing around Fort Drum. Another funded Potsdam's partnership with Clarkson University in the renovation of Peyton Hall into a multiple-use facility that includes a business incubator.

And, Mr. Gundersen emphasized last month, "There will be funds for new City-by-City projects for smaller cities upstate."

But just as this grand effort to create jobs and stem the region's population flight finds its wings, Gov. David A. Paterson announced last week that New York will no longer have an upstate development director. It will return to the old way of having one economic development director for the whole state. That has not worked well in recent years.

An advisory group appointed by Mr. Paterson is working to find one director for Empire State Development, the Syracuse Post-Standard reported. The governor said that person could be Mr. Gundersen, and the Buffalo office where he has been based will remain. But Mr. Paterson said that having both an upstate and downstate director "sends the wrong message. This is one state."

The governor should reconsider. Unshackle Upstate, a coalition of more than 72 business and trade organizations, said the governor's proposal would "seriously undermine efforts to revitalize Upstate New York."

That is right. Good work has begun. It must continue. Upstate's needs are unique, and they were being addressed.

Keep the upstate development director intact. Keep the ball rolling. We are making progress. There is hope for upstate's revival.