Press-Republican

Revitalization efforts gear up in Tupper Lake

TUPPER LAKE — The Tupper Lake Revitalization Committee has identified business retention and development as key priorities for 2010.

The partnership of municipal officials, business owners, residents and community groups has been meeting over the past months.

BUSINESS FAIR
Currently in the planning stages is a free Business Fair, to be held at the Wild Center at 7 p.m. on May 6.

Agencies such as the Adirondack Economic Development Corp., the Small-Business Development Center, Franklin County Industrial Development Agency, the Tupper Lake Chamber of Commerce and representatives from local government will discuss the assistance they can provide to current and potential businesses.

Invitations will be sent to Tupper Lake businesses in the next few weeks.

TUPPER EVENTS
The Revitalization Committee is also looking into increasing the number of events held in the community, with the goal of drawing in more visitors to benefit local businesses.

While Tupper Lake has several successful events, such as the Tinman, Woodsmen Field Days, Firemen's Field Day and the annual Flea Market, the committee feels that more events throughout the year, particularly in winter, are an important component to economic development.

The committee has discussed the possibility of creating an events-coordinator position and is looking into funding for that. Also, members are contacting other small Adirondack towns to see how they handle promotion of events.

The Revitalization Committee hopes to improve the community's Web presence.

GRANT PROJECTS
The Tupper Lake Revitalization Committee also serves as a Project Advisory Committee for revitalization grant projects.

These include the:

   Smart Growth Grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, which is being used to develop a master plan for future improvements at the waterfront park and design guidelines and streetscape concepts for the Demars Boulevard/Main Street commercial core.

   Depot Junction Main Street Grant from the New York State Office of Community Renewal, which offers grant funding to Main Street property owners interested in improving their buildings.

TAKE PART
Revitalization Committee meetings, which are open to the public, are usually held at 6:30 on the third Thursday of each month in the Town of Tupper Lake meeting room.

For information, contact Sandie Strader at the Town of Tupper Lake Office at 359-3981 or Mary Casagrain at the Village of Tupper Lake Office at 359-3341.