By DENISE A. RAYMO
MALONE — John Tubbs will be the new director of the Franklin County Industrial Development Agency.
Tubbs is going from interim IDA executive director to acting executive director until February, then he becomes the new executive director.
Tubbs will take over from Brad Jackson, who is on assignment with the U.S. Army Reserve in the Middle East.
His contract expires Feb. 1, and the IDA opted not to renew the agreement.
Jackson has worked for the county since 2002.
Tubbs, who lives in Massena and owns JP Tubbs Co., said that having worked on and off for the IDA during several of Jackson's previous military deployments has been fruitful "and good for both of us, and I'm glad to be here."
He signs his one-year contract on Dec. 21. His salary will be around $70,000, according to IDA Board member Susan Schrader.
"John has already worked here and is familiar with our organization and board," she said. "And he has strong ties to St. Lawrence Gas," which is finalizing its plans to construct a $20 million natural-gas pipeline through Franklin County.
Hiring Tubbs is a good move, said County Legislator Timothy Burpoe (D-Saranac Lake), chairman of the Economic Development and Planning Committee, which oversees the IDA.
"As far as a seamless transition, I couldn't think they could've picked any better than John. In the past 36 months, he's been here more than the previous executive director.
"And because of his position, he is able to bring a lot of insight versus the board going out and finding somebody new.
"I expect a lot of great things from John Tubbs. We'll be getting a real experienced person, and I'm optimistic."
Along with the large-scale projects, such as the gas pipeline, Tubbs said jobs will be a priority at the IDA, as well as concentration on the county's individual communities.
"We think it's time to go out into the county to the little towns and talk about what the IDA can do to help them," he said.
"From time to time, we get calls from towns asking us about the processes, but this is a good time for us to develop relationships in the entire county and work with them on what they want to do in their community.
"That's not to say we won't work with large-scale industry, but that's just not out there. We want to work with the smaller businesses, too, and develop programs to fit the projects they have established for themselves."
That could involve new partnerships with existing agencies and programs, he said.
"We can't do this all by ourselves."
E-mail Denise A. Raymo at: draymo@pressrepublican.com
