Commerce Chenango reports economic development activity
NORWICH – The rail line, the natural gas industry and creating jobs to fill the many empty manufacturing plants and downtown storefronts have kept Chenango County’s economic developers busy during the first half of the year.
In a requested report to the Planning & Economic Development Committee last week, Commerce Chenango President Maureen Carpenter outlined those activities and more, including recent loans made to businesses and start-ups, Empire Zone activities, and marketing and business recruitment projects.
The New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad remains inactive and in disrepair despite three years of effort. While a consultant’s study completed in February estimated only $15,000 to repair service to and from Norwich from the north, Carpenter said the railroad still intends to formally discontinue service.
About $1.2 million is needed to bring the entire line back to service, but only at a 10 mph rating as opposed to the 25 mph rating the railroad had previously. Carpenter said that an additional investment in the ties and other repairs would be needed to restore it to the higher rating. A federal appropriations request in the amount of $1.5 million has been filed with Congressman Acruri and Senator Schumer for the work.
Rail service could be used in the future for agricultural purposes, short line freight operations, scenic/tourism purposes or to transport natural gas pipe line supplies and water resources or drilling. But more definite timelines for development are needed, she said.
“At this time, the situation does not warrant using taxpayers dollars to repair the line, until more businesses request service. The repairs to bring service back into Norwich are minor, and can be completed in a very short time frame if needed,” she said.
Sites and facilities available for development include the Earl B. Clark Business Park in North Norwich, Procter & Gamble’s manufacturing facility in Norwich; Elmer’s in Bainbridge; Apple Converting in Norwich; Camp Pharsalia; the New York State Veterans’ Home in Oxford and the Salvation Army in the City of Norwich. Staff has been working “very closely” with a potential buyer for the P&G facility, Carpenter said, as well as with two prospects for the Elmer’s glue factory. A feasibility study has been commissioned for possibly siting a warehouse facility at Clark Park and the Center for Community Alternatives in Syracuse has been consulted to organize a public forum to discuss both Camp Pharsalia and the veterans’ home and create proposals that can be submitted to the state.
“We will be collecting public feedback on potential development (for these two projects) as well as seeking the support of our state representatives,” she said.
Carpenter pointed to seven “active prospects” that could create up to 476 jobs in manufacturing, service and retail industries for the towns of Norwich, Bainbridge, Greene, New Berlin and Sherburne.
She also projected 215 jobs will be created over the next five years.
“We are focusing on assistance with expansion, relocation within the county, funding sources, employee training & reimbursement programs, retention, state programs to assist with economic hardship and referrals to other agencies,” she said.
Three micro enterprise loans were extended to grow businesses and add more than 25 new full-time jobs. The following loans have been made or extended: $50,000 for a restaurant on East Park in downtown Norwich; $30,000 micro enterprise loan for a business that specializes in care for the dairy industry; and $15,000 through the micro enterprise program to a scrap booking and cafe shop in Sherburne. A $75,000 revolving loan application was made for Standard Printed Circuits in Sherburne to expand into new markets and create jobs.
Half of the budget for advertising the services and programs available to enterprises, about $15,000, was cut back due to uncertainty of state funding for the Empire Zone program. Tourism dollars available from the “I Love New York” fund were also cut back. Tourism Director Audrey Robinson said she received only $32,590 of the $81,000 requested this year.
“It’s (the program is) very dysfunctional. It’s very difficult to get proposals approved. It has been a challenge,” she said.
A boundary revision has been prepared that would include additional Empire Zone locations within the Village of Sherburne and the City of Norwich.
In a requested report to the Planning & Economic Development Committee last week, Commerce Chenango President Maureen Carpenter outlined those activities and more, including recent loans made to businesses and start-ups, Empire Zone activities, and marketing and business recruitment projects.
The New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad remains inactive and in disrepair despite three years of effort. While a consultant’s study completed in February estimated only $15,000 to repair service to and from Norwich from the north, Carpenter said the railroad still intends to formally discontinue service.
About $1.2 million is needed to bring the entire line back to service, but only at a 10 mph rating as opposed to the 25 mph rating the railroad had previously. Carpenter said that an additional investment in the ties and other repairs would be needed to restore it to the higher rating. A federal appropriations request in the amount of $1.5 million has been filed with Congressman Acruri and Senator Schumer for the work.
Rail service could be used in the future for agricultural purposes, short line freight operations, scenic/tourism purposes or to transport natural gas pipe line supplies and water resources or drilling. But more definite timelines for development are needed, she said.
“At this time, the situation does not warrant using taxpayers dollars to repair the line, until more businesses request service. The repairs to bring service back into Norwich are minor, and can be completed in a very short time frame if needed,” she said.
Sites and facilities available for development include the Earl B. Clark Business Park in North Norwich, Procter & Gamble’s manufacturing facility in Norwich; Elmer’s in Bainbridge; Apple Converting in Norwich; Camp Pharsalia; the New York State Veterans’ Home in Oxford and the Salvation Army in the City of Norwich. Staff has been working “very closely” with a potential buyer for the P&G facility, Carpenter said, as well as with two prospects for the Elmer’s glue factory. A feasibility study has been commissioned for possibly siting a warehouse facility at Clark Park and the Center for Community Alternatives in Syracuse has been consulted to organize a public forum to discuss both Camp Pharsalia and the veterans’ home and create proposals that can be submitted to the state.
“We will be collecting public feedback on potential development (for these two projects) as well as seeking the support of our state representatives,” she said.
Carpenter pointed to seven “active prospects” that could create up to 476 jobs in manufacturing, service and retail industries for the towns of Norwich, Bainbridge, Greene, New Berlin and Sherburne.
She also projected 215 jobs will be created over the next five years.
“We are focusing on assistance with expansion, relocation within the county, funding sources, employee training & reimbursement programs, retention, state programs to assist with economic hardship and referrals to other agencies,” she said.
Three micro enterprise loans were extended to grow businesses and add more than 25 new full-time jobs. The following loans have been made or extended: $50,000 for a restaurant on East Park in downtown Norwich; $30,000 micro enterprise loan for a business that specializes in care for the dairy industry; and $15,000 through the micro enterprise program to a scrap booking and cafe shop in Sherburne. A $75,000 revolving loan application was made for Standard Printed Circuits in Sherburne to expand into new markets and create jobs.
Half of the budget for advertising the services and programs available to enterprises, about $15,000, was cut back due to uncertainty of state funding for the Empire Zone program. Tourism dollars available from the “I Love New York” fund were also cut back. Tourism Director Audrey Robinson said she received only $32,590 of the $81,000 requested this year.
“It’s (the program is) very dysfunctional. It’s very difficult to get proposals approved. It has been a challenge,” she said.
A boundary revision has been prepared that would include additional Empire Zone locations within the Village of Sherburne and the City of Norwich.
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