PRESS RELEASE
NEW YORK STATE’S REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AWARDS SCHOHARIE COUNTY MORE THAN $1.8 MILLION, IN SUPPORT OF SEVEN DIFFERENT PROJECTS
Schoharie County Economic Enterprise Corporation (SEEC) to Collaborate with Municipalities and Strategic Alliances to Maximize Community Impact
COBLESKILL, NY (DECEMBER 26, 2019) – Christmas came early in Schoharie County, as New York State’s Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) awarded more than $1.8 million in economic and community development funding for seven different projects in the county. The announcement was made by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Mr. Howard Zemsky, Chair of the Empire State Development Corporation, on December 19 as part of the REDC’s ninth annual awards distribution ceremony.
Applications for the villages of Cobleskill and Schoharie received the largest amounts of funding in the county, with the Village of Cobleskill receiving $1,000,000 to help fix their aging wastewater infrastructure and the Village of Schoharie receiving $500,000 to help restore and renovate the historic Parrott House into a farm-to-table restaurant and bar, along with a twenty-room boutique hotel. Also receiving funding were the Schoharie County Microenterprise Program ($150,000) and Schoharie River Center ($25,000), as well as the Stone Mill Project in Jefferson ($90,000), the Village of Richmondville ($45,000) and the Town of Cobleskill ($25,000). See below for a full list of winners and descriptions of the projects.
Tom Putnam, Chairman of Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corporation (SEEC), said that SEEC is ready and eager to assist grant recipients in the county. “Over the last year, SEEC has received its tax-exempt designation, formed an Advisory Council and raised significant capital so that we are now in prime position to help our strategic alliances make the most of this state funding,” said Putnam. “All seven of the grant winners know that we stand by as an ally and partner, ready to help however we can, so that together, we can maximize the impact we can have on the surrounding communities,” he added.
Leo McAllister, Town of Cobleskill Supervisor and Chair of Schoharie County’s Economic Development Committee, expressed confidence in SEEC’s ability to help grant-winners prosper. “The County Legislators voted for the private sector to lead economic development in Schoharie County and I know that SEEC will help to leverage the grants in a way that will inspire and attract more small business and commercial development,” said McAllister. He further explained that The Town of Cobleskill intends to use its grant to study impediments to growth for a primary commercial corridor that is already served with water, wastewater and natural gas infrastructure. The County’s Microenterprise grant, which is also under McAllister’s jurisdiction, is slated to fund up to six start-up or expanding businesses in the county.
More than $1 million of the Schoharie County grant money is going towards infrastructure in the villages of Cobleskill and Richmondville, which SEEC’s Executive Director Julie Pacatte says is crucial to successful economic development. “While downtown revitalization is a visible change that the public can watch happen over time, that growth can’t happen without a solid infrastructure to support it,” she said.
The Village of Cobleskill, with its newly-elected Mayor, Rebecca Stanton-Terk, was the recipient of the largest REDC grant – $1 million – which will be used to make improvements to the village’s wastewater treatment plant. Stanton-Terk reiterated Pacatte’s sentiments, stating, “Business can’t thrive without reliable basic services like water and sewer, so I’m glad that community infrastructure was highlighted in this year’s funding.”
“The entire SEEC team is ready to support the grant recipients in advancing their projects – whether that be through giving business advice, brainstorming ways to add value to their projects, searching for additional funding and incentives, or something as simple as helping to navigate the grant paperwork process,” said Pacatte, adding “but we’re also looking ahead to the 2020 funding cycle to help others reshape their applications for next year.”
Here’s a look at how this year’s New York State REDC grant money was awarded throughout Schoharie County:
► Schoharie River Center/Workforce Expansion: $25,000
The Schoharie River Center will be expanding its arts education programming through the addition of a full-time arts educator. A particular arts focus will be the infusion of digital media instruction into SRC programming.
► Jefferson Main Street, LLC/Stone Mill Project in Jefferson: $90,000
Jefferson Main Street, LLC will rehabilitate and re-purpose an 1860 farmhouse into a working Middle Brook Mill with a commercial kitchen to create value-added products from local farms.
► Schoharie County Microenterprise Program: $150,000
Funds will be used to establish the Schoharie County Microenterprise Program.
► Town of Cobleskill/Rte 7 East Corridor Economic Development Study: $25,000
The Town of Cobleskill wishes to complete an Economic Development Study with the intent to streamline the Planning Board review of development projects to promote growth and expansion of the NYS Route 7 corridor. The study will highlight the developable properties to market to potential developers.
► Village of Cobleskill Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades: $1,000,000
Funds will be used to undertake improvements to the wastewater treatment plant as well as to the collection system to reduce the infiltration of groundwater into the system.
► Village of Richmondville Water Supply Study: $45,000
Funds will be used to conduct a study to develop a viable groundwater source well to replace costly surface water reservoirs and the surface water treatment facility.
► Village of Schoharie/Parrott House Project: $500,000
The Village of Schoharie will restore and renovate the historic Parrott House, constructed in 1870 in the Village of Schoharie. The newly renovated Parrott House will include a farm-to-table restaurant and bar on the ground floor, and a twenty-room inn on the upper floors.
ABOUT SEEC:
Established by the private sector, Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corporation, commonly known as “SEEC,” was organized as a not-for-profit to strengthen Schoharie County by fostering economic growth. SEEC serves as a liaison to local municipalities and institutional leaders with the common goal of highlighting distinctive points of light within the community, cultivating entrepreneurial endeavors and enhancing the ability of local businesses to add value to their enterprises. SEEC is guided by social, environmental and financial principles that will accelerate growth and help provide sustainability through a collaborative and thriving business community.
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PRESS CONTACT(S):
Julie Pacatte Trisha Miller
Executive Director, SEEC Publicist, SEEC
(518) 517-1700 (917) 848-5787
director@seecny.org tmillsnyc@yahoo.com