NORWICH – The Chenango County Planning and Economic Development Committee heard a report on natural gas activities last week and gave direction on matters involving the county’s airport, Commerce Chenango and an organization offering summer employment to youths.
Chenango County Natural Gas Consultant Steven Palmatier said Norse Energy, the company that has been actively drilling in the area for the past two years, currently employs 13 people based in its offices at the Eaton Center in Norwich. Of those, 10 were residents of the region, he said. Two other companies related to the natural gas industry have recently located to Norwich from Texas and, together, employ 35 people.
“All three of these companies lease commercial space in the City of Norwich, which adds to the vibrancy of our community. It is my hope that more companies related to the industry choose to make Chenango County their home,” he said.
An ag-related business that would require large quantities of natural gas to operate is considering a move to the area, Palmatier said, and several sites are being considered as possible locations.
The county’s consultant also pointed to jobs that have been created for local contractors and to new business traffic at restaurants, hotels and retail establishments from the new residents and subcontractors to the industry.
In an effort to spur fuel sales at Lt. Warren E. Eaton Airport, the committee ageed to use interest from the airport’s trust fund to purchase a credit card reader for just under $20,000. The machine would enable pilots to fuel up around the clock and keep track of and bill separately fuel that is purchased by businesses that currently rent t-hanger space.
Members of the committee also directed Clerk of the Board and Self Insurance Administrator RC Woodford to determine how much coverage is required to authorize a maintenance worker at the facility to fuel and move customer’s planes. Currently, pilots must fuel up themselves, and often decide to land elsewhere because of it.
“We need to get going on this, on making money at the airport,” said Bainbridge Supervisor Delores Nabinger upon seconding Otselic Supervisor David Messineo’s motion to purchase the credit card reader.
The committee also directed Acting Airport Administrator Donald MacIntosh to provide a detailed, monthly financial report of airport developments, revenue generating activities, safety inspections, departures and arrivals, fuel sales and policies and procedures. The committee held a special work session on May 28 to outline MacIntosh’s responsibilities since he was appointed acting administrator in May.
MacIntosh has been part-time administrator at the airport since last year when the county’s fixed base operator chose not to renew its contract. He officially retired from that post last month, but, after lengthy executive sessions during which he and other potential candidates for the job were discussed, he was immediately reappointed acting administrator.
Upon reading the outline, MacIntosh said his 20-hour weekly position would make it difficult to supply all of the information requested, and commented that the new demands were “a little over the top.”
Commerce Chenango sought the committee’s approval to apply for a $200,000 microenterprise grant from the New York State Office of Community Renewal. The grant would assist businesses that have either low and moderate income owners, employ such individuals or make new jobs available to them. Funding support will be provided in the form of technical assistance, small business classroom training courses, and grants to registered businesses.
A microenterprise grant program begun in 2007 resulted in 75 low and moderate income individuals receiving technical assistance and small business planning and 50 who took a related course. More than 21 new full-time and 20 part-time jobs were created or retained from the program.
“We have received many inquiries for the small business course since it was last offered,” Tavares said. “Every week staff speaks with small business startups and microenterprises that are seeking small amounts of funding to grow their business, often smaller amounts than our loan programs will lend. In particular, home-based businesses are difficult to service.”
Morrisville State College could sign on to offer courses over the next two years, Tavares said, and Commerce Chenango would provide training and technical assistance to those who took them. Cornell Cooperation Extension and the Department of Labor also partner with Commerce Chenango.
The committee gave its approval to the agency to proceed with the grant’s application process.
The Headwaters Youth Conservation Corps, working with The Place in Norwich, requested Planning’s assistance to close a $17,700 gap in funding lost this year. The funding is needed to transition into a three-year project in energy conservation and alternative fuel development projects, according to Director Dave Sheldon.
Sheldon said this was the first time in 11 years that the summer youth work program didn’t have workplace projects and associated funding assistance lined up. The requested amount would also support living stipends and wages for Americorps employees as well as provide $1,000 tuition vouchers for six participating youths.
“Changes in available funding, project scope and timing have all impacted the 2010 program to the point where it cannot operate as planned,” he said.
“Like everybody else, they are having some funding difficulties,” said the committee’s co-chair and New Berlin Supervisor Ross Iannello.
The committee agreed to fund $10,000 of the shortfall provided that Sheldon is able obtain the remainder elsewhere. Sheldon said he would be contacting local towns, the Department of Environmental Conservation and other county agencies to help find partners. The youths worked at the county’s Cook Park during the last two summers.