Press-Republican

Local News

Discussion

PLEASE NOTE: There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

ALSO NOTE: Derisive name-calling of an individual or group will result in the entire comment being deleted. This includes the terms "stupid" and "idiot" and similar references.

Welcome to our new online comments feature. Before you can join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address.

Once you do, your comments will post after they have been reviewed by a moderator.

We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean.

Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified, at the newspaper’s discretion, for a number of reasons. Here are some typical practices to avoid in trying to get your comment printed:

There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.

Don’t presume someone’s guilt in a case when it hasn't been established by a court.

Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)

Don’t use profanity. This includes the term “tea bagger.”

Don’t be incendiary or tasteless. Those qualities are subjective, of course, and our editors will be the arbiters.

Do not identify yourself in the main content area of the article content form. Only by enforcing this rule can the moderators prevent unscrupulous commenters from falsely identifying themselves as someone they are not.

Don't type in all caps. It is considered the Internet equivalent of shouting.

In sports articles, do not criticize officiating.

Remember, moderators are not allowed to edit any article comments. If an article comment fails any of the above criteria, the entire comment will be deleted.

We monitor comments Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Approval of comments outside these times may be delayed.
comments powered by Disqus
March 9, 2009

Plattsburgh again among top micropolitan communities for development

Site Selection magazine applauds economic gains

BY DAN HEATH

PLATTSBURGH — Plattsburgh is once again near the top of a national magazine's ranking of economic-development projects.

Site Selection, the magazine of corporate real-estate strategy and area economic development, has Plattsburgh 14th in its 2008 Governor's Cup Award ranking of top micropolitan areas, five spots better than last year.

The Development Corp. was invited to submit notable projects to the magazine staff on behalf of Clinton County.

TOP PROJECTS
Those included the $30 million Nova Bus plant nearing completion in the Town of Plattsburgh. The 136,000-square-foot plant is being built in The Development Corp.'s Banker Road Industrial Park and is expected to employ 250 by the end of September.

In addition, Nova Bus suppliers SpencerARL New York and B3CG Interconnect are expanding to locations in The Development Corp.'s Air Industrial Park, also in the Town of Plattsburgh. Those two companies are expected to eventually bring another 100 jobs to the Plattsburgh area.

Other nominated projects include the approximately $177 million Noble Altona Windpark (temporarily off-line due to tower collapse), the $33.5 million expansion at CVPH Medical Center in the City of Plattsburgh and the $9 million Hampton Inn and Suites under construction on Route 3 in the Town of Plattsburgh.

DIVERSITY
"It is gratifying to see development in such disparate sectors demonstrating the local diversification in economic growth," Development Corp. President Adoré Flynn Kurtz said in a news release.

"Such diversity indicates the internal strength in the local economy and is compelling proof to existing local companies and new businesses that Plattsburgh is a good place to do business."

The magazine defines micropolitans as municipalities with 10,000 to 50,000 people that cover at least one county.

The ranking is based on new or expanded capital projects, as tracked by magazine publisher Conway Data Inc.'s New Plant Database.

Plattsburgh Town Supervisor Bernie Bassett said work done by the town and its departments to bring projects to fruition is vital to the region's success.

"With the help of other regional agencies, services, organizations, educational institutions, etc., we have the opportunity for even greater success in the future," he said in a written statement.

"Given the current economic challenges that developers and investors must work with, we have many unique resources to help achieve success and economic stability for businesses that locate in Plattsburgh."

RANKINGS
Other New York micropolitan areas to make the list are Batavia at No. 4; Jamestown-Dunkirk-Fredonia, No. 26; and Corning, No. 41.

Plattsburgh has been the top 20 since at least 2002. It finished third in 2002, second in 2003, fourth in 2004, seventh in 2005, 12th in 2006 and 19th in 2007.

City of Plattsburgh Mayor Donald Kasprzak said Plattsburgh is constantly ranked high due to the efforts of regional government and economic leaders.

"As long as we work together and remain positive in these difficult times, I am confident Plattsburgh will remain a priority destination for interested developers."

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

Text Only | Photo Reprints
New Today
Local News

Recent Article Comments
Albany Round-up

Photo of the Day
Strange News
Videos: Editor Picks
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate' Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal $25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service