CAPITOL Rotterdam Industrial Park gets $2M state grant BY BOB CONNER Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Bob Conner at 462-2499 or bconner@dailygazette.net.
The state granted final approval Wednesday for $2 million in funding for the Rotterdam Industrial Park, to help convert two buildings into sites accessible for small businesses. Also granted final approval was $520,219 for the Schenectady Metroplex Authority to help develop office space above the new cinema on State Street and Broadway. Wednesday’s approvals came from the Public Authorities Control Board, which authorizes public authority borrowing. The board is controlled by representatives of Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, all of whom must be in agreement to authorize the borrowing. Despite recent public tensions between the state leaders over other issues, their representatives moved smoothly ahead at the meeting and approved everything on the agenda. The Rotterdam grant under the Restore-NY program was first announced last year by Sen. Hugh Farley, R-Niskayuna. At that time, he also announced a $1.43 million grant under the same program for the city of Schenectady, to “help revitalize the section of State Street between Clinton and Jay, across from the new hotel which is being constructed.” Ray Gillen, Schenectady County commissioner of economic development and planning and Metroplex chairman, said the $1.43 million for State Street has not yet been approved by the PACB. That process can take its time — nine years in the case of the money for the cinema project. Matt Anderson, a spokesman for the state Budget Division, said the $520,219 “is the residual balance of a $2.5 million state appropriation from 1998 for services and expenses related to economic development within the city of Schenectady.” That money was approved as the state government was creating the Metroplex Authority, and this is the last of it to be actually paid out. The Galesi Group, which owns the Rotterdam Industrial Park, will contribute $611,000 to the project there. Anderson said the two large buildings “are basically warehouses with loading docks that are on the side of the buildings that face Fourth Street. The two vacant warehouses are going to be rehabilitated and converted into 48 separate bays of approximately 11,000 square feet to serve the needs of individual small businesses.” Gillen said businesses often need space immediately, and this project will help Schenectady County provide them with what they need.
There doesn't seem to be a problem getting grant money for businesses to rebuild or renovate their aging infrastructure but no grant money for the towns.
The Galesi Group, which owns the Rotterdam Industrial Park, will contribute $611,000 to the project there.
Well, at least The Galesi Group is also investing some of it's own money for the project. I like to hear where private business owners invest some of their own money into their own projects. Unlike so many businesses that benefited from the Metroplex, who gives tax free loans to private businesses, like Villa Italia, of the taxpayers money. Taxpayers money funding private businesses....rediculous!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
SCHENECTADY COUNTY State funding sought for area projects Restore NY aids industrial rebirth BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
Schenectady officials hope to jump-start several major economic development projects in the county by tapping into a state grant program offering $100 million. The project list includes the proposed development of the former Alco site on Erie Boulevard as a mixed-use site containing housing, retail and commerce. The state is offering the grants through its Restore NY program, now in its second year. The program helps upstate communities reclaim vacant, abandoned, condemned and surplus properties for economic development. The state announced the second round of Restore NY grant availability Friday. Municipalities have to file requests for proposals by September; grants will be announced in December. “Our unified economic development team is interested in this. We meet several of the criteria we are focused on,” said Ray Gillen, Schenectady County commissioner for economic development and planning and chairman of the Metroplex Development Authority. Gillen had earlier said Metroplex is working with town officials to transform the Scotia-Glenville Industrial Park and Corporations Park into a new industrial complex off Route 5. The new park, to be dubbed the Scotia-Glenville Business and Technology Park, would incorporate 53 acres the federal government has declared surplus. He also said Metroplex is working with a private developer to demolish structures on the 60-acre Alco site once used to build locomotives, then tanks during World War II. Many of the sprawling structures of brick, iron and glass are in poor condition with crumbling facades and interiors, unheated bays and rusted equipment. Alco closed in 1969. General Electric leased most of the site between 1972 and the late 1990s. It is currently the location of STS Steel, a specialty manufacturer. Schenectady received $3.4 million in Restore NY grants last year. Approximately $1.4 million is for redeveloping buildings at 453, 457-459, 463 and 469 State St. and the Clinton Street parking lot in the city. The remaining $2 million is to convert two vacant warehouses in the Rotterdam Industrial Park into 48 separate bays containing between 11,000 and 15,000 square feet. The bays would accommodate fast-growing small businesses seeking “ready-to-go” sites, Gillen said. “There is a need for more of this kind of space,” he said. The state Legislature created the Restore NY program last year, setting aside $300 million to be spent over three years. The Empire State Development Corp., which is administering the program, awarded $50 million the first year and plans to award the final $150 million by 2009.
While it concerns me that revenues, collected through taxes from private citizens, is being awarded as grants to private industry, it is some consolation that a portion of these funds is finding its way back to our community. However, there are often few or no benchmarks defined pertaining to how the public investment will benefit these communities in the form of jobs. Grants such as that awarded to AMD should be paid in installments that are contingent upon the recipient (company) attaining benchmarks regarding employment (i.e., new jobs created) and contributing to the betterment of our communities. It is commendable that the Gallesi Group has committed to invest in the Rotterdam Industrial Park.
Rather than distributing tax revenues to corporations to entice them to establish their businesses in New York State, we need to address the factors that discourage them from establishing operations in the state. New York state ranks at or near the top of those with the highest property taxes, the highest utility costs, and the greatest amount of government regulation ("red tape"). The state has a large number of colleges and universities that produce an educated and skilled workforce only to see our young professionals leave the area upon graduation in search of jobs/careers.
We must address the underlying reasons why companies don't invest in our state with its abundant resources. The seizure of funds from taxpayers who are already challenged to make ends meet must end. The creation of government agencies like Metroplex, with its bureaucracy and operational expenses, must be carefully contemplated to ensure that the benefits to the community outweigh the costs (e.g., increase in sales tax).
One concern, I have heard from out of state businesses, is the power of the unions in NYS. There are sound, substantial businesses that have seeked NYS as a potential new area to expand or possibly relocate. The red tape, environmental laws and high taxes combined with powerful unions become a stumbling block for employment progression in this state.
NYS is NOT business friendly. When a state's public sector employment outweights the private sector there is an obvious disfunction. If NYS became more business friendly, than perhaps the taxpayer (metroplex) would not be funding private businesses. With this said, sadly, the taxpayer is not only paying for the public sector jobs, but also funding private sector jobs through the metroplex.
I also have concerns regarding metroplex and who and what they choose to benefit from the monies they collect. It was originally to be bipartisan in theory, but is it in reality?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Ya know, someday I would like to see how much money we really get and where it REALLY goes!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
While it concerns me that revenues, collected through taxes from private citizens, is being awarded as grants to private industry, it is some consolation that a portion of these funds is finding its way back to our community. However, there are often few or no benchmarks defined pertaining to how the public investment will benefit these communities in the form of jobs. Grants such as that awarded to AMD should be paid in installments that are contingent upon the recipient (company) attaining benchmarks regarding employment (i.e., new jobs created) and contributing to the betterment of our communities. It is commendable that the Gallesi Group has committed to invest in the Rotterdam Industrial Park.
Rather than distributing tax revenues to corporations to entice them to establish their businesses in New York State, we need to address the factors that discourage them from establishing operations in the state. New York state ranks at or near the top of those with the highest property taxes, the highest utility costs, and the greatest amount of government regulation ("red tape"). The state has a large number of colleges and universities that produce an educated and skilled workforce only to see our young professionals leave the area upon graduation in search of jobs/careers.
We must address the underlying reasons why companies don't invest in our state with its abundant resources. The seizure of funds from taxpayers who are already challenged to make ends meet must end. The creation of government agencies like Metroplex, with its bureaucracy and operational expenses, must be carefully contemplated to ensure that the benefits to the community outweigh the costs (e.g., increase in sales tax).
I couldn't agree more. Give the public the money to spend where they want to. The businesses will follow.
I agree BK, let the towns and areas that need to upgrade their infrastructure do what they want with the grant money. Notice that when Helderberg Meadows was approved a sizeable chunk of money was given to the town for a park!!!!!
I agree BK, let the towns and areas that need to upgrade their infrastructure do what they want with the grant money. Notice that when Helderberg Meadows was approved a sizeable chunk of money was given to the town for a park!!!!!
PAALLLLEEEZZZZ don't get me started on that damn park thing! And it was a chunk of change they gave for a park. Why not ask them for a 'chunk of change' for infrustructure? And let's not forget people, how the county legislature promised Rotterdam $500,000 for a park. Ask them where it is and what strings were attached to it. And then there is the subject of the little league park, which we can discuss on another thread on another day. These county legislatures are suppose to represent 'us'! Instead they screw us! They all need to be voted OUT!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
You are so right Bumble, nothing has been done to create the new little league park and they have to be out of where they are now by next year I think. The county council I think bought the land where the ball park is to be built for way too much money and nothing is happening. Where the heck and why the heck do we need another park in this town anyway because no one uses the parks we have because there's nothing in the parks that the kids like to play on once they get to be 5 years old but that's what a good chunk of money from the Helderberg Meadows project has to be used for. We need sewers, infrastructure, and one heck of a lot of fix up clean up in this whole town.
Is this park near the Meadows??....someone knows someone else,,,,yes?
The new park was supposed to be right over there, but I don't know exactly where. Going to be interesing, especially since they want to put another full development over that end of town. Wonder if the county thought about THAT first.
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