NORWICH – “Last year was busy, but trying,” said Economic Development Director Maureen Carpenter at the start of her annual report to the Chenango County Board of Supervisors last week.
The flood of 2006 crippled a biodiesel fuel manufacturer’s plans to locate near the New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad’s tracks off state Route 12 South in the Town of Norwich. Officials had hoped for a multitude of new jobs with the enterprise. Flooding of the prospective building site and damages to the rail line that it would depend on forced the business to look elsewhere.
Nonetheless, Carpenter said progress was made in 2006 on several other fronts. The towns of Bainbridge, Greene, Norwich and South New Berlin saw 89 new jobs in total with nine successful projects. At present, Carpenter’s list includes seven additional business prospects that could bring 172 more jobs to those areas.
The county is looking specifically at alternative energy, medical technology, food service and information technology sectors, she said. Economic developers are currently involved in projects at Productive Plastics and Raymond Corporation in Greene and Agro Pharma in Columbus along with more than a dozen other business clients that have the potential for 268 additional jobs.
Carpenter said Chenango County will continue forward with its two loan programs: The Business Assistance Loan Fund and the Empire State Development Corporation trust. These programs provided seven loans in 2006 for a total of $174,000 that created 49 new jobs.
Responding to new restrictions and changes in the state’s Empire Development Zone program last year, the Greater Norwich Empire Zone Administration received a score of 94 out of 100 for the quality of its programs. It was one of the first to receive redesignation in the state, resulting in increased state funding. The zone has seen a growth of about 360 jobs since 2003, and made more than $41,000,000 in investments in the past two years.
At the conclusion of her report, the Preston Supervisor asked whether Carpenter has been able to keep track of actual job numbers versus projections. She said new systems in place have made tracking easier than in the past.
Town of Pharsalia Supervisor Dennis Brown asked whether the tax rate hinders businesses from locating in Chenango County. Carpenter said electricity rates and worker’s comp “are their big issues.”