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2003 Development Highlights
By Deborah Maroney, Development Specialist
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Brownfields Working Group
The
Brownfields Working Group consists of the appropriate economic development and environmental agencies from Cattaraugus County and the surrounding region. The goal of the Group is to bring brownfield properties back into productive use in the County, spurring healthy development projects that create the jobs and investment desperately needed in the area. The Department of Economic Development, Planning & Tourism has retained the services of Panamerican Environmental, Inc. for 2003 to assist communities in Cattaraugus County in developing an inventory of brownfield sites, developing project priority lists for funding, and to identify funding alternatives.
EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant
The Brownfields Working Group decided to apply for the 2003-2004 Federal EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant. Cattaraugus County sponsored the grant application for $200,000 in this round of funding. In anticipation of winning the grant this time, the
Group decided only to apply for $200,000 in Hazardous Waste funding, concentrating our efforts on creating an in-depth countywide inventory of hazardous waste sites and furthering the assessment of three previously chosen potential brownfield sites (two in Olean and one in Cattaraugus). GIS Mapping was involved with each of the three specific sites. EPA will rank the applications in the spring of 2004.
Key Meetings
- On April 8, 2003, featured speaker Linda Shaw discussed the new Brownfields Bill with the
Brownfields Group and its connection to the DEC Bond Act. Jan Exman from Pownal Development Corporation also attended, he has a strong developer’s interest in some of Cattaraugus County’s
brownfields.
- On May 13, 2003, Louis Zacari from the Center for Integrated Waste Management for the University of Buffalo was our featured speaker. He discussed the Center’s role in brownfield projects including the two Gowanda projects.
In 2003, new brownfields legislation went into effect. The NYS DEC Bond Act is affected by this new legislation. The
Brownfields Group members have continued interest in pursuing the Bond Act as a solid form of funding, as well as other funding alternatives.
Cattaraugus County Enchanted Mountains Inventory Project – ARC Grant
Southern Tier West and the Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development, Planning & Tourism (DEDP&T) are in collaboration for an ARC Grant, with the DEDP&T sponsoring the application. The $111,962
Cattaraugus County Enchanted Mountains Inventory Project will utilize GPS technologies to gather an infrastructure inventory and database from each of Cattaraugus County’s 13 villages.
Development constraints and opportunities will be assessed, and the GIS layers can be put in place for the development ready sites; enhancing several existing marketing programs such as the Cattaraugus County Pegboard Project, the Cattaraugus County Enchanted Mountains Initiative, the Route 219 and I-86 programs, the Allegany State Park Perimeter Study, and Southern Tier West’s regional RIBGIS program. Southern Tier West (STW) would be hired under contract for $35,250 (cash) to develop a comprehensive inventory of infrastructure, developable parcels, and other municipal data through GIS/GPS technology. The Department would get $ 20,624 in ARC funds partially for a new planner, and supplies needed specifically for the Project. The rest would be provided In-Kind by STW, the Department, and the participating villages.
- The Enchanted Mountains Inventory Project did not get funded in 2003, but the Department will reapply again in 2004.
Pegboard Project – Available Industrial and Commercial Properties
The Cattaraugus County Pegboard Project is an economic development tool in attracting businesses to our area by relocation and/or expansion. Cattaraugus County responds to the national, international, statewide, and local business leads that come in to our offices independently; or by coordinating electronically with Buffalo-Niagara Enterprise and Southern Tier West Planning & Development Board. The Department puts together custom financing and incentive packets, by coordinating with appropriate economic development agencies, for individual incoming businesses.
Pegboard Database
The County Pegboard Project includes an expansive database of available industrial and commercial facilities and properties. In order to maintain the high integrity needed, this Project must go through continuous and thorough updating throughout the year. Owners of, persons involved with, or Real Estate agencies for available industrial and/or commercial properties within Cattaraugus County may contact me via e-mail at
DGMaroney@cattco.org
or by phone at (716) 938-9111 x 2261. This is a service we offer at no charge to the public.
The Pegboard Project Database Corresponds with the Following Websites
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Photo Credit: DG Maroney
The Pegboard Project includes available industrial and commercial properties in Cattaraugus County, and is marketed on two websites.
This is the Vacant Plaza located along Route 417 in the Town of Allegany |
Other Pegboard Highlights
An extensive Pegboard Project Hardcopy Guide of the available properties within the County, along with each property’s raw data, was put together this year. This Guide will have a multitude of uses such as meeting with Pegboard clients eager to see what is available in the County and intermeshing the Pegboard Project with appropriate economic development grant applications as a marketing tool (i.e.: ARC Enchanted Mountains Inventory Project, and EPA Brownfields Assessment grants).
Community Development Assistance
- Delevan – Provided grant research
for building project.
- Great Valley – Assistance with coordination
of redevelopment efforts.
- Limestone – Researched funding for
Performing Arts Center, Radio Station and Bed & Barns, which could potentially become
a part of Limestone.
- Portville – Researched businesses and
compiled database on Portville Businesses for a Planning Board meeting / Business Show
for Portville.
- Salamanca – Participated in SNI Brownfields
Assessment and Phase I Project public meetings on former Conrail Yards.
- South Dayton – Provided grant research for
the South Dayton Depot, needs roof and structural repair.
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Graphic Design Projects
- The 2002 Annual Report was made available to the public in April 2003 through e-mail and on the Cattaraugus County website at
www.cattco.org to save taxpayer dollars on the printing and mailing costs. We dedicated the 2002 Annual Report to Carol O’Brien, Planner (1944-2003).
- Assisted the Cattaraugus County Business Development Corporation with two small business marketing projects.
- Cattaraugus County Tourism
- Themed Marketing Campaign – Completed layout and graphic design on multiple themed print
ads.
- Snowmobile Trail Map for Tourism Show and Website – Completed poster for show, and
website documents. GIS Mapping involvement.
- Shopping Trails Marketing Campaign – Completed layout and graphic design on print ads.
Appraisal Institute Seminar: WNY-Ontario Chapter
The Appraisal Seminar was located in Holiday Valley this year, and was given to educate the Appraisers on the economic development potential based on tourism, housing and agricultural assets in Cattaraugus County. It was a team effort with Department Director Tom Livak and senior staff members Dr. Terry Martin, Deborah Maroney, Dave Paoletta, and Ken Taft of the NYSDEC giving the presentations with Joe Williams providing audio/visual technical support. The reaction was extremely positive. Many Appraisers networked with Department staff afterwards and stated they were amazed at the economic development and tourism activity within Cattaraugus County.
School-To-Work / Career Day
- Little Valley-Cattaraugus School Group – Talked with small group of school students here in the Cattaraugus County Center.
- Career Day – Held at Ellicottville BOCES networked with students from the Cattaraugus County Schools.
Answered various public requests on work related topics, many requiring extensive research.
Assisted Planning, Procurement, and Tourism and other County Departments on various projects throughout 2003.
Databases – Built and maintained new and existing databases throughout 2003.
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