Schuyler seeks $5.2M in project funding

Jul 12, 2016 at 11:03 pm by Observer-Review


Schuyler seeks $5.2M in project funding ADVERTISEMENT

Schuyler seeks $5.2M in project funding

SCHUYLER COUNTY (7/13/16)--The Schuyler County Legislature passed two resolutions Monday, July 11, seeking $5.2 million in funding for two area projects. The first resolution seeks $5 million in funding for the proposed Ultra Premium Wine Beverage Center in the county business park, while the second was for $200,000 for Project Seneca. Both of these resolutions supported the Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development (SCOPED) seeking this funding from the New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process.
The Ultra Premium Wine Beverage Center is a project by Third Leaf Partners of California that plans to have multiple employers in the same building to use for production of ultra-premium wines. Ultra-premium wines are usually small-batch, high quality wines that generally see production of less than 20,000 cases. This project previously received $1 million in state Upstate Revitalization Initiative (URI) funding and will cost $5 million in additional private-sector leverage. Project Seneca is an economic development initiative between Schuyler County, Watkins Glen and Montour Falls to redevelop the use of the Seneca Lake waterfront and canal. This includes several projects like a regional wastewater treatment plant, a canoe and kayak launch and the development of new rentals and condos.
Legislative Chairman Dennis Fagan asked SCOPED Director Judy McKinney Cherry if the beverage center project was through the URI. Cherry responded it is, but SCOPED is "hedging our bets on both sides," adding the deadline for URI funds can be done later through a different resolution.
According to the resolution in support of the beverage center, if the CFA funding is secured, it will be "used for the engineering, permitting and construction necessary to complete the infrastructure and facility to house multiple premium wine production tenants." Meanwhile, the Project Seneca resolution states the $200,000 they are seeking in CFA funds will be used for the refinement of the Project Seneca conceptual plan completed in 2013 for the waterfront and canalway. This refinement will include feasibility, phasing and construction details necessary to implement the refined plan.
In other business:
• The legislature discussed work to be done on the Mill Street bridge crossing over Shequaga Falls in Montour Falls. County Administrator Tim O'Hearn said Highway Superintendent Ken Thurston has been researching the historic status of the bridge, learning it is one of seven similar type bridges in New York State. O'Hearn noted it is eligible for the historic registry, but is not formally on it. However, he said its eligibility makes it so "replacement without historic restoration won't be possible." The administrator mentioned Thurston is working to secure funding, which in some cases can cover 100 percent of the cost of this type of work, noting that restoration is the likely path that will be taken.
• The legislature approved a resolution in support of the URI application for a $1.5 million grant through the New York State Parks and Recreation and Historic Preservation. Fagan said this is for the construction of a park visitor tourist information center and the alignment of the state park entrance to the 10th Street intersection on Franklin Street. Fagan said this was at the request of Rebekah LaMoreaux of the Watkins Glen Chamber of Commerce.

$element(adman,groupads,YatesRight10)$


$element(adman,groupads,YatesRight6)$


$element(adman,groupads,YatesRight5)$


$element(adman,groupads,YatesRight1)$


$element(adman,groupads,YatesRight11)$

Sections: NEWS 1