| Sept. 13,
2006: “Spotlight on Our Economy” Monthly
Column for The
Palladium-Times
By L. Michael Treadwell, CEcD, Executive Director of Operation
Oswego County
Team Approach is Essential to Economic Development
Though Operation Oswego County is the official economic development
authority for Oswego County, the City of Fulton Community Development
Agency (CDA), the City of Oswego Community Development Office (CDO)
and the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism
and Planning provide support for economic development strategies,
programs and projects in order to help my office provide comprehensive
assistance to both existing businesses and those seeking to locate
here.
Working cooperatively with OOC, the Fulton CDA and the Oswego CDO
utilize a team approach to economic development for the city of
Fulton and the city of Oswego respectively, by:
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Administering state and federal grants for community development
and public improvement projects that enhance economic development
and job creation potential for the cities of Fulton and Oswego;
-
Securing state and federal grants which have helped redevelop
housing and revitalize businesses;
-
Providing loans to eligible businesses to assist in new construction,
renovations, expansions and equipment acquisitions to create
and retain jobs;
-
Marketing economic development opportunities in Fulton and
Oswego through various national, international and regional
trade publications, by utilizing the Internet, and by directly
targeting prospects;
-
Co-administering the Fulton and Oswego Empire Zone programs
through which financing and incentives are available for eligible
projects; and
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Providing technical assistance to start-up and expanding businesses.
My office also works cooperatively with both agencies and SUNY
Oswego’s Small Business Development Center to provide a Micro-Enterprise
Training Program which guides entrepreneurs through all aspects
of starting and managing a small business. Step-by-step classroom
instruction is presented by area business professionals on topics
including business planning and financing, accounting and tax issues,
marketing, and business insurance. Graduates of the program are
eligible to apply for a Micro-Enterprise loan to expand or start
their business in Oswego County from the IDA’s Micro-Enterprise
Revolving Loan Fund or similar loan programs from the Fulton CDA
or Oswego CDO if the projects are in either of the two cities.
The Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism
and Planning coordinates activities in land use, comprehensive planning,
Brownfield redevelopment, environmental management, and community
development, and provides planning information including Geographic
Information System (GIS) mapping, demographic and census data to
local government and to the general public. The department also
administers federal housing assistance and public transportation
programs, conducts zoning reviews and provides planning assistance
to municipalities. OOC is the lead agency for the economic development
component of the county’s comprehensive plan, and works with
the department in addressing issues related to zoning, environmental,
infrastructure and development.
Sound economic development requires a team approach to implement
projects successfully. The economic development process can be complicated
as all projects are significantly different and there is no “cookie
cutter” or “one-size-fits-all” approach that will
work effectively. We are proud and honored to have many team players
at the federal, state, regional and local level that provide essential
input, services and assistance to economic development projects
in Oswego County.
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