Deadline looms for inclusion in regional economic development plan

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October 21, 2011

DAN HEATH Press-Republican The Press Republican Fri Oct 21, 2011, 09:19 AM EDT

PLATTSBURGH — Time is growing short for project applications to be eligible for inclusion in the North Country Regional Economic Development Council's Strategic Plan.

Any community-based or private project that wants to take part must submit a consolidated funding application by Oct. 31.

Speaking to the Plattsburgh Noon Rotary Club, Regional Council Co-Chairman Garry Douglas, president of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, said the Consolidated Funding Application allows access to funding from multiple state agencies and departments.

Those applications are reviewed and graded, with 80 points available from the agency the application is initially sent to and 20 points from the Regional Council.

Douglas said they expect as many as 400 applications by the deadline. The best of those plans will be included in the Regional Council's five-year Strategic Plan.

PLAN DEADLINE

The deadline for the Strategic Plan to be submitted is Nov. 14. The process only started in early August.

"It is an incredibly ridiculous, preposterous and impossible time line," Douglas said. "We are behind schedule, we were going to be behind schedule, but we're going to get it done for submission in November."

Those plans will be in competition for $200 million in state funding for 2011-12. The top four plans can get up to $40 million each, which could leave $40 million for the other six to split.

There is also $800 million in existing funding from state agencies.

"That's where the real money is, not the $200 million," Douglas said.

PRIVATE INVESTMENT

In the past, a project would have to apply to each agency from which it sought funding. Douglas said the new approach might reveal opportunities the applicant never considered.

"This is a bottom-up approach," he said.

The state has suggested projects should include $5 of private investment for every $1 of state funding, he said.

In addition, projects will not receive funding until after completion.

COORDINATING EFFORTS

The North Country's Regional Council faces difficulty in that it covers seven counties that are largely rural, sparsely populated and don't have a large urban center, Douglas said.

This region has never had an economic-development plan to cover all seven counties, unlike some of the other regions. While it means a lot more work, at first, he believes that can be a strength, as the Regional Council can develop a diverse plan that could stand out from the others.

He said the Regional Council has already developed a great collaborative spirit, which has led to numerous new working relationships.

PUBLIC INPUT

Public participation is a key part of developing the best possible strategic plan, he said.

After the meeting scheduled for Indian Lake on Wednesday night, the Regional Council has allowed for public input at meetings in all seven counties.

The state has not provided any funding to help the Regional Councils develop their strategic plans. The Regional Councils are also prohibited from using their own funding or hiring outside consultants to help develop the plan.

Douglas said he believes the state's economy is on the path to recovery, which could make more funds available in the future. Creating the best possible strategic plan could set a community up for even more economic-development success in the years to come, he said.

Email Dan Heath at:

dheath@pressrepublican.com