By Choice |
News Flash |
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Special points
of interest:
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Sorry for the delay. We've been quite
busy since the last issue and found it too much to get this newsletter
out. Anyway I hope that you find this issue interesting and informative.
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Media outlets are welcome to utilize the
stories below and if you have questions please contact us for more
information.
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Development
Stories |
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J. Dennis Kirst Career
Awareness Day
Career Awareness Day will be held on March 22, 2003 at 10:00 AM at the
Scio Central School. At this point we are expecting about 60 businesses
and agencies to talk with students from grades 7 - 12. At the 2002 event
we had over 500 students and 300 parents attend. Additional businesses
will be attending this year including Dresser Rand, Air Preheater, LC
Whitford Company. Some of the Careers will be health care, construction,
agriculture, technology, human services, engineering, armed forces,
banking and law enforcement. Mac Bledsoe, the American Hockey League's
Craig Sharron and the Amerks' mascot Moose will also be on hand. The
event has been renamed in honor of the late J. Dennis Kirst who was the
originator of the event last year. Mr. Kirst passed away last summer
unexpectantly. The organization and operation of the event has been
taken over by a committee of business and education professionals called
"Allegany County Business Education Community Coalition". Plan to come
visit and bring along your young people. - March 2003
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Shop Allegany County First
Many retailers across Allegany County report better than last year
holiday sales even though national sales were down. It appears along
with our retailer's own ingenuity the Shop Allegany County First
intuitive is having a positive effect. The Development Office in
partnership with The Allegany County Community Alliance, Houghton
College, Alfred University and Alfred State College will be providing
over 6000 college students (who mostly do their shopping out of the
county) with "Shop Allegany County First" student discount cards. Each
student will be provided with a "Shop Allegany County First" card along
with a list of participating stores and available discounts. Posters
will also be provided to retailers identifying them as "Shop Allegany
County First" student discount card participants. Currently over 40
retailers are involved. It is the objective of this intuitive to
encourage our college student to take advantage of shopping
opportunities in Allegany County. - March 2003
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Empire Zone Update
In December 2002 the Friendship Empire Zone completed its 2002 expansion
efforts in which over 300 specific sites were added in the seven
existing municipalities and an additional nine new municipalities. The
numbers are staggering in terms of the actual mapping work that was done
as over 3,000 data points with a legal description spanning some 35
pages. The projected dollars to be invested is $39.4 million and
projected 1,111 new jobs to be created as well as the 2,775 workers to
be retained.
In less positive news, Governor Pataki announced in his budget that he
proposed not to fund the Empire Zone offices administrative costs that
they have previously covered. When the Friendship Empire Zone originally
was developed it was agreed that NYS would pay about $53,000 for
administrative costs. Over the last few years it has received slightly
less than that amount. With this proposal, all administrative costs
would have to be covered by the county and the participating
municipalities. This would present many issues for the Zone Board, the
Town of Friendship Board, Allegany County and the participating
municipalities to deal with. - March 2003
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HUBZONE Empowerment Contracting Program
The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program is a "place-based" federal
contracting program provides both federal prime contract and subcontract
benefits. Allegany County is part of the HUBZONE program. The federal
government purchases about $200 billion worth of goods and services
annually. Congress has set a goal of 3% of the total value of all prime
contracts for HUBZone contracting opportunities, phased in over five
years. The goal for FY 2003 is $6 billion. HUBZone Empowerment
Contracting Program firms are eligible for a wide variety of contracting
opportunities including Competitive, sole-source, full and open
contracts. Small businesses located in HUBZone areas can qualify for
higher government guaranties on surety bonds for construction and
service contract bids. The SBA will increase its guaranty on surety
bonds to these companies from 80 to 90 percent, making it easier for
them to compete for government and private sector contracts. This
program is administered locally through Cattaraugus County on behalf of
Allegany County, however Dave Fleming of the Allegany County Development
Office can assist businesses in the initial information phase and direct
you to the proper contacts. Contact Dave at 585-268-9229 for more
information on your businesses ability to participate in this program.
- March 2003 |
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Planning
Stories |
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EPA Program
In the fall of 2002 the Planning Services Office received word that it
would receive a small grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
This grant will be used to develop a database that will include
information on septic systems in the Town and Village of Andover. The
database will be tied into the County Geographic Information System so
that the County Health Department will have easier access to their files
with querry functions available on all systems installed since the late
1970's. The system will allow the Health Department to question the
system on any data information that has been collected regarding septic
systems including when it was last reviewed, installed, size of tanks,
type of system and by location. This is a pilot project that will lay
the groundwork for the entire county's data to be put into an electronic
system and be searchable. - March 2003
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Road Adoption Law "Model" Available
The Planning Services Office has received a copy of a model law that was
developed by the Cornell Local Roads program recently. This law
addresses the problem of developers constructing roads and expecting a
Town to take them over. It includes language that directs the process
that a developer has to follow and what the specifications must be for
the road's construction. The Allegany County DPW has offerred to work
with Towns in developing appropriate specifications for road
construction in a particular Town that could be included in this law.
Contact the Planning Service Office for more information and a copy of
the law at 585-268-9690. - March 2003
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Seneca Trail RC&D
The Seneca Trail Resource Conservation and Development Council is a
non-profit organization in western New York State, whose goal is the
better utilization and protection of the natural resources in Allegany,
Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Wyoming & Livingston Counties. Each county has
three representatives and an alternate that serve by appointment of the
County Legislature. In all of the five Counties in the RC&D Area,
agriculture is the leading industry, with forest related industries a
close second. Agricultural and forest related projects have always been
the main focus of the projects that Seneca Trail RC&D Council has been
involved in. With water quality issues becoming more more of a concern,
the Council is also assisting communities address this issue as well.
Major projects that the Council was involved with in 2002 included
providing grazing advocates to local farms, obtaining a bridge for the
Genesee Valley Greenway and providing materials for teachers for a
Growing Together program of growing trees in classrooms. The Council has
a web site that went on-line in 2002 at
www.senecatrailrcd.org for
more information on the organization.
- March 2003
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Tourism and
Culture Stories |
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2003 Allegany County Travel and Outdoor Guide
This year's guide again sports three individual covers. The covers
feature the seasonal experiences available throughout the County. Four
pages have been added to accommodate the growth of our tourism business
base and for design changes. The Tourism Office is moving away from
"pearly destination" marketing and moving towards "experience"
marketing. Response to test ads featuring Allegany County as an
experience has proved better than expected. The 2003 guide reflects this
change of direction. To receive your free copy of the 2003 Allegany
County Travel and Outdoor Guide call the Allegany County Office of
Tourism and Culture at 1.800.836.1869 - March 2003
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Travel Shows
The Allegany County Tourism Team along with the Chautauqua/Allegheny
Region is busy out promoting Allegany County at nineteen travel shows
across New York State, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Canada. Travel shows offer
a great opportunity to meet with potential visitors one on one providing
them with information and answering questions about activities in our
County. - March 2003
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Guide Distribution
The Allegany County Tourism and Outdoor Guide is distributed through a
variety of methods including a vast network of distributers throughout
Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. Many guides are distributed at the
Travel Shows that the County and Region attend. In addition to that
system the 800 number and mail bring over a thousand direct requests.
These requests came from 42 states, and countries including Switzerland,
Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and Scotland. For 2003 we have
150,000 guides available for distribution. Based on recent distribution
history it is expected that virtually all of these will be distributed
through these various avenues. - March 2003
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Calendar |
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Upcoming Development & Tourism
Related Workshops: 2003
March 22, 2003
Event: J. Dennis Kirst Career Awareness Day
Time: 10 AM - 1 PM
Place: Scio Central School
Contact: 585-268-9229
Upcoming Local Government Related
Workshops: 2003
Following Events are Sponsored by the
Allegany County Planning Board:
3rd Wednesday of Each Month
Event: Monthly County Planning Board meetings
Time: 7:30 PM
Place: Legislative Chamber in Belmont.
Exceptions: January [Annual Dinner at Moonwinks]; July - No meeting;
August - Annual Picnic
Contact: Kier Dirlam -
585-268-9690
May 22, 2003
Event: "How to Conduct Effective Meetings and Hearings" Workshop
presented by NYSDOS
Place: Almond Municipal Building
Time: 7:00 PM
Contact: Kier Dirlam -
585-268-9690
The following are being presented by
Southern Tier West.
May 8, 2003
Event: Local Government Conference
Place: Houghton College Campus
Time: 8 AM - 4 PM
Contact: Eileen Weishan - 716-945-5301
August 4 , 2003
Event: Highway Conference
Place: TBA
Time: TBA
Contact: Paul Miller - 716-945-5301
The following are presented by
NYCOM:
May 19-21, 2003
Event: Main Street Meeting
Place: The Otesaga Resort - Cooperstown
Contact: 518-463-1185
June 1-4, 2003
Event: Annual Meeting
Place: Hudson Valley Resort - Kerhonkson
Contact: 518-463-1185
The following are presented by
NYS State Archives:
APRIL 25, 2003
Event: NYS Archives: Seven Attributes of Effective Records Management
Place: Caneadea Town Hall
Time: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Contact: James M. Tammaro, phone: 716-847-7903, e-mail:
jtammaro@mail.nysed.gov
Tuesday, June 10
Event: A Basic Checklist for Managing Historical Records
Place:Chautauqua Institution
Time: 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Contact: James M. Tammaro, phone: 716-847-7903, e-mail:
jtammaro@mail.nysed.gov
Friday, July 25
Event: Files Management
:Place: Chautauqua Lake School Building in Mayville
:Time: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Contact: James M. Tammaro, phone: 716-847-7903, e-mail:
jtammaro@mail.nysed.gov
If you have an event that is appropriate for this calendar listing that
you would like to have added please contact us with the relevant
information in the same format as shown above.
Calendar Update Info.
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Grants
Info |
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PRESERVATION GRANT - The grants are
available to preserve nationally significant intellectual and cultural
artifacts and historic structures and sites. The National Park Service
administers the grants in partnership with the National Endowment for
the Arts. Eligibility: Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c), U.S. organizations;
units of state or local government; and federally recognized Native
American tribes. Deadline: March 20, 2003. Funds: $50,000 to $1 million.
Contact: Save America's Treasures, National Trust for Historic
Preservation, 1785 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036; (202)
588-6202 or (877) 873-2787. |
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Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
Grants - Projects are funded in five different goal areas including
skills & knowledge; physical infrastructure; community capacity; dynamic
local economies; health care. The limit is $150,000/grant. Generally due
by early June. Contact Ginger Malak at Southern Tier West -
716-945-5301. |
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USDA Rural Development Fire Trucks -
Equipment & apparatus grants/loans. Contact Gail Giannotta 315-477-6429
for more information. |
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USDA Rural Development Emergency Water
Funds for emergency repairs to water systems this winter. Contact
the Bath office at 607-776-7487 [formerly Glen Kinkaid ran this program,
but he has reportedly retired this winter]. |
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Study abroad and student exchange
funding at the college level The Department of Education (ED) is
soliciting applications for two special focus competitions through the
Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. Both are open to
institutions of higher education and collaborations between them and
other nonprofits.Eligibility: Brazil: Institutions of higher education
or combinations of institutions and other public and private nonprofits.
Europe: Institutions of higher education and vocational training and
combinations of institutions and other public and private nonprofits.
Deadline: March 28, 2003. Funds: Brazil: $300,000 in FY2003. Europe:
$700,000 in FY2003. Contact: e-Grants help desk, (888) 336-8930; email,
edpubs@inet.ed.gov. Applications for both programs are due March 28,
2003. |
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Contact
Information |
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Office of Development
7 Court Street - Room 208
County Office Building
Belmont, NY 14813
Phone Direct: 585-268-9229
Development Toll Free: 800-893-9484
Tourism Toll Free: 800-836-1869
Fax: 585-268-9720
Development E-Mail:
development@alleganyco.com
Tourism E-Mail:
tourism@alleganyco.com
Newsletter & Planning
Comments E-mail
Office Associates
John Foels - Director of Development & IDA
Cathleen Whitfield - Client Services
Patience Reagan - Client Services
Jesse Case - Tourism & Culture Specialist
Kier Dirlam - Planning Specialist/Newsletter Editor
Dave Fleming - Business Development Specialist
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