I think that what Rotterdam needs is a Business Advisory Council -- retired and current local
business owners or persons with experience in various aspects of creating and running small and
medium businesses  ... coming together voluntarily .. meeting say once a month for breakfast to
offer advice and assistance to persons either in business in Rotterdam or hoping to start a business
in Rotterdam.
Colonie does something similar through its Chamber of Commerce.  They have a guest speaker every
month --- the Supervisor or some representative from the town administration attends.  
The important things is that this effort must be non-partisan and the primary goal should be to help
existing businesses grow and STAY in town and to help new small to medium sized businesses start
up and grown and stay in Rotterdam.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

I think that what Rotterdam needs is a Business Advisory Council -- retired and current local
business owners or persons with experience in various aspects of creating and running small and
medium businesses  ... coming together voluntarily .. meeting say once a month for breakfast to
offer advice and assistance to persons either in business in Rotterdam or hoping to start a business
in Rotterdam.

I believe that is how the tax sucking, 'friends and family club, metroplex started!!

So let the rotterdamians see if they are getting this right...........Rotterdam already has an IDA board...correct? Rotterdam is now under contract with the metroplex.....correct? Rotterdam has the Hamburg St. Merchants.....correct?

Excelklent idea DVR.

and what of the Rotterdam Businessmen Association ?  Are they still around?

I don't know.  Owned business in Rotterdam since I got married 36 years ago.  No one ever spoke to us about it--but I could be wrong--maybe they spoke to my spouse.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

I think that what Rotterdam needs is a Business Advisory Council -- retired and current local
business owners or persons with experience in various aspects of creating and running small and
medium businesses  ... coming together voluntarily .. meeting say once a month for breakfast to
offer advice and assistance to persons either in business in Rotterdam or hoping to start a business
in Rotterdam.
Colonie does something similar through its Chamber of Commerce.  They have a guest speaker every
month --- the Supervisor or some representative from the town administration attends.  
The important things is that this effort must be non-partisan and the primary goal should be to help
existing businesses grow and STAY in town and to help new small to medium sized businesses start
up and grown and stay in Rotterdam.

            I hear Mohawk ambulance is trying to establish themselves in Rotterdam, but can't seem to get past the partisanship!

Quoted from AVON

            I hear Mohawk ambulance is trying to establish themselves in Rotterdam, but can't seem to get past the partisanship!

..................zing.........................

In other words, a democrap group of party supporters who can be consistently suckered in to believe the fairy tale that your gang wants to cut their taxes. I bet you have a core nucleus- just look on the donors list for "Revitalize Rotterdam."

Quoted from AVON

            I hear Mohawk ambulance is trying to establish themselves in Rotterdam, but can't seem to get past the partisanship!

They're not invited.  The "advisory council" would pick and choose who can do business and who can't, who gets government handouts and who doesn't.  Kinda like Metroplex.  

Seems like a redundancy.

WHAT ADVISORY COUNCIL??????  WHO IS ON THIS ADVISORY COUNCIL?

Quoted from 612

WHAT ADVISORY COUNCIL??????  WHO IS ON THIS ADVISORY COUNCIL?

        Hey BOOMER, relax, he's joking about it!

Quoted from AVON

        Hey BOOMER, relax, he's joking about it!

It's like his dog poop park ideas - will never happen.

Ohhhhhhh sorrrrrry--guess I am a bit of a dolt myself.

This is completely different concept from Metroplex and IDA - it is VOLUNTEERS .. NO TAX PAYER $$$ ..  retired and current business owners or persons with experience in some apsect of small to mid size
business coming together to VOLUNTARILY assist either existing or potential new business owners
start, develop, and grow their business in Rotterdam.
In the Colonie model -- these VOLUNTEERS help lead potential new business owners through the
sometimes daunting task of developing a business plan and getting started up.
Hamburg Street Merchants is a good starting point -- but my proposal would be town-wide in scope
and would not get involved in such issues as streetscapes, business district planning and promotion.
The Hamburg Street Merchants are good for what benefits that they offer -- Metroplex and IDA are
good for what benefits that they offer --   This proposed Rotterdam Business Advisory Council would
be offering a completely separate but complimentary service to existing and potential new business
owners.
[/quote]

Quoted from 147

It's like his dog poop park ideas - will never happen.

Just like the dog park, the idea smells like dog shi+!