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January 4, 2009

Chamber identifies potential targets for economic-stimulus funding

Targets revealed for possible economic-stimulus funding

By DAN HEATH

PLATTSBURGH — The Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce has identified a number of regional infrastructure projects that could be considered for federal and state funding.

Chamber President Garry Douglas said Congress is expected to enact a major stimulus funding package for infrastructure projects sometime this month.

In a news release, Douglas said, "While the bill is still in flux, there are several economic development investments we have already been advocating for which could move forward fairly quickly and which would not only create construction jobs but would have a lasting impact on the North Country economy.

"It is important to keep pointing to these pending projects as Washington and Albany start determining how the expected funding will be invested."

Contact with lawmakers
Douglas said the chamber has been staying in close touch with U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and U.S. Representatives Kirsten Gillibrand and John McHugh as work on the bill continues. In talking with Schumer during the past few months, it looks like substantial funding will be made available for airport projects, particularly those that could get under way rapidly.

"We are well positioned for that," Douglas said. "Clinton County (Legislature) has consistently had a laundry list of projects ready to go."

Potential projects include redevelopment of the control tower and installation of a major fire-suppression system.

Aeronautical Institute
Plattsburgh Aeronautical Institute needs $1.09 million to acquire the former CommutAir buildings at the former Clinton County Airport, as the Federal Aviation Administration demands the county receive fair-market value for any airport property. Douglas said the state should look at using stimulus-package funds for that, as the county would use the money for infrastructure work at Plattsburgh International Airport.

"It would be a twofer. It would help the school and do an infrastructure project with the same money."

The aeronautical institute has a lease arrangement for those properties as an interim measure and fully expects to open this fall.

The chamber also identified construction of a first-class general aviation hangar and terminal at Adirondack Regional Airport as a possible funding target.

Possible railroad projects include rehabilitation of the rail line between Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake, and then on to Utica.

"Everyone believes energy costs are going to go back up. The viability of railroads is going to re-emerge," Douglas said.

A region that has only two-lane, winding roads can't have hopes of prosperity in the future, he said. This would also be a two-for-one deal, Douglas said, because the area is in the railcar manufacturing business.

Restoration of the Rouses Point train station is another possibility. It would create a quality welcome for Amtrak traffic and add another piece to the Port of Excellence border crossing.

Conference Center
The chamber said up to $14 million could be used to plug the funding gap for ORDA's proposed conference center in Lake Placid to ensure the project is not scaled down. He said the project vision is great, but bids for construction came in too high.

"You only get one chance to do these things right."

The CBN Connect broadband network is another possible funding target. He said the chamber fully expects the stimulus bill to contain funds targeted for broadband development.

"This is another example of a project that could move forward quickly, create construction jobs and include equipment purchases. We need to make sure the projects that are done have a lasting effect on economic development for years to come."

E-mail Dan Heath at: dheath@pressrepublican.com

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