sullivan county economic development committee

Sullivan County Economic Development Committee

April 1, 2021 AGENDA 10:00 AM

Committee Members:

Michael Brooks, Chairman Ira Steingart, Vice Chairman George Conklin Joseph Perrello Nicholas Salomone

SULLIVAN COUNTY IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Call to Order

Comments:

Reports:

1. Community & Economic Development- Freda Eisenberg

2. Partnership for Economic Development - Marc Baez

3. Center for Workforce Development - Laura Quigley

4. Visitor's Association - Roberta Byron Lockwood

5. IDA- Jen Flad

6. Chamber of Commerce - Jaime Schmeiser

Resolution:

1. To authorize the hourly pay rates for the Sullivan County Renaissance Youth

Interns.

Public Comment

Adjourn

Sullivan County Planning

SULLIVAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER PO BOX 5012

AddressCity, AddressState, AddressPostal


DIVISION OF PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY

REPORT March 2021

Land Use Planning

· Technical Assistance & Training

o March 29 virtual training session on Application of Form-Based Codes to

Rural Areas well-attended (70+). Processed certification for planning and

zoning board continuing education credits.

o Changed topic for April 27 Department of State training from Stormwater

Management in Site Plan Review to Hot Button Land Uses. Presentation

will address regulation and reviews of emerging land uses and issues that

have been the subject of inquiries to SC Planning, including short term

rentals, marijuana dispensaries, barn events, food trucks and composting

facilities.

o Continued technical assistance, committee participation, draft text,

administrative follow-up, etc. with respect to ongoing long-term projects

including Forestburg zoning committee, RT 17 and Skinners Falls Bridge

Planning and Environmental Linkage (PEL) Studies, Hazard Mitigation Plan,

2020 Census, new funding opportunities, etc.

· GML239 reviews

o 12 reviews received; details below

o Increased activity regarding the update of municipal land use regulations

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Recreation & Quality of Life

· National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Grant - Working with Friends of

the Upper Delaware, Trout Unlimited and the Town of Fallsburg to develop

project for 2021 NFWF funding application, due April 14. SC Legislature

authorized preparation and submission on March 18. If successful, project would

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entail preparation of a Neversink Watershed Management Plan, with

implementation of drainage improvements to sections of the Sullivan O&W Rail

Trail within the study area.

· Sullivan O&W Rail Trail

o Sullivan O&W Rail Trail Alliance: staff support, meeting coordination, cost-

benefit analysis of organizational structure

o Mountain Dale - Liberty connection: follow up on Neversink bridge final

concept plan and updated cost estimates. Anticipating development of

funding application through the 201 CFA round.

o Parksville-Livingston Manor connection: OSI agreed to conduct appraisal,

negotiate with owner for remaining piece of private R-O-W required for this

section.

o Event being planned with Sullivan 180, Morgan Outdoors and Senator

Martucci’s office to highlight the Sullivan O&W on June 5th, National Trails

Day.

o Website improvements continue to be made.

· Highland River Access Improvements:

o NYS DOT reviewed 100% design documents and approved the project

moving to the bid stage.

o Proceeding to develop bid package and identify potential cost reductions.

· LWRP/Upper Delaware:

o Participation Upper Delaware Scenic Byway meetings, discussions on visitor

center, organizational future.

o Developing member survey to support Enhancement Plan Update/Corridor

Management Plan.

· Other

o Initial draft and issues/options identification prepared for potential new

County program for funding tourism infrastructure.

Community Development & Revitalization

· Community Development Block Grant funding for first-time homebuyer

subsidies - promoted program through virtual events for both realtors and

homeowners, and publicity in the River Reporter and Sullivan Democrat;

administrative work for disbursements

· Monticello Downtown Revitalization:

o NY Main Street Grant: Continuing monitoring of grant sub-recipients; site

visits

o Support to new Sullivan Chamber of Commerce Main Street initiative, and

development of project to relocate downtown.

o Land Bank:

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§ Broadway Theater: Stabilization work has commenced and is ongoing.

Transferring US Postal Service lease of theater parking lot to the Land

Bank.

§ Strong Building: Stabilization work delayed; now pending approval from

HUD in order to maintain HOPE VI grant for the building.

§ Ongoing meetings of disposition committee to vet applicants and

complete sale of remaining home (15 Jordan Street, Liberty) and work

down vacant lot inventory.

§ Ongoing coordination with RUPCO and Enterprise re Broadway

redevelopment project.

o Zombie 2.0: Seeking to use a portion of the funding to outsource

administration of this program. Looking for contractor.

· Community Development Programs:

o Held committee meeting for RUSt program, to review eligibility of proposed

changes for one of the late 2020 awards.

· EPA Brownfields Assessment grant - follow up on Refuah site in Fallsburg,

Barnes landfill

· Other - Participation in Sullivan Renaissance municipal impact program project

review

Economic Development

· New funding programs: Distributed Northern Boarders regional Commission

funding opportunity to potential municipal applicants (County not eligible for

this round). Identifying projects for CFA.

· Emerald Corporate Center: Board met 3/11. Outreach to realtors.

· Healthy Kids CDBG economic development grant: Processing first

disbursement.

· Revolving Loan Funds: Continuing to process, complete loans to Cycleworks,

Greenbush Acres, Roscoe Junction, Callicoon Business Association,

Narrowsburg Diner

· Agricultural and Farmland Protection

o Progress on grant to Ma & Pa Creamery; truck purchase, branding

o Farmland Protection Implementation Grant - awaiting response on easement

agreement from subrecipient

o Work initiated on eight Year review of Agricultural District 4

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Sullivan County Center for Workforce Development

SULLIVAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER 100 NORTH STREET

PO BOX 5012 AddressCity, AddressState, AddressPostal


Workforce Development Monthly Report April 1, 2021

Emergency Community Assistance Center (ECAC)

ü Staff from CWD and OFA have been located at the ECAC full time,

answering phones, registering people for Public Health vaccinations

clinics and providing information on other vaccine providers. We assisted

Garnett Health Medical Center in booking people for two clinics. ü The team is providing direct outreach to individuals on the notification

system that do not have access to computers or cannot navigate the

registration process. ü The team is also managing the notification list system, adding and

removing people as appropriate. ü The ECAC remains active with providing food assistance and deliveries. ü The Thursday Food Bank deliveries to the pantries continues as does the

Salvation Army box deliveries.

Workforce Development ü The American Rescue Plan was signed into law. One component is the extension of

unemployment to September 2021. Further guidance will be provided when received.

ü Estimated federal workforce funding (WIOA) for program 2021 shows a slight decrease

in adult and youth funding and an increase in dislocated worker funding. This funding

operates on a July through June cycle.

ü The NYS Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is looking to redirect a portion of federal

disaster funds that they received to help with the vaccine rollout and other COVID related

needs. In general, it will allow locals areas to temporarily hire dislocated workers to

perform various jobs related to the pandemic response. I was part of a statewide group of

Directors working with NYSDOL on program change recommendations. Approval by

USDOL can take up to two months. I am in conversation with Public Health and others

on support positions that may be eligible for this funding. Update: USDOL is working

with NYSDOL on this process.

ü We have been in conversation with Albany Can Code, an online software career training

nonprofit whose goal is to develop nontraditional talent for the tech pipeline. We are

looking to partner with them on a summer youth employment program project that will

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introduce youth to website development. We will also be working with them on their

upcoming trainings for adults.

ü The first virtual Career Readiness training that we developed in partnership with

Hospitality Green was successfully completed. The second session began March 25th.

ü We are moving the start date of the jail project serving incarcerated youth to mid-April.

This is due to making sure instructors are fully vaccinated. Through a contract with

ENGN, incarcerated youth will receive basic job exploration and life skills including

financial literacy, leadership and entrepreneurship. The CWD youth staff will work

closely with ENGN so that the youth will have an employment plan in place when they

leave. We also will be working with BOCES and other service providers so all the

services provided to these youth are coordinated.

ü Planning for the Summer Youth Employment Program is underway. Some of the projects

under development include website development with Albany Can Code, community

garden at SUNY Sullivan, projects with Callicoon Business Association and continued

work on the Bailey Commons (Monticello) project in partnership with the Planning Dept.

ü The Sullivan Renaissance youth internship program is set to start May 17. This will

provide 18 county youth the opportunity to gain work experience by working with

Renaissance groups throughout the county. Labor Market Information

ü Labor market data for January 2021 compared to January 2020: Sullivan

County had a decrease of -9.5% (-2,700) total nonfarm jobs and a decrease 0f

-9.9% (-2,200) in total private sector jobs. It should be noted that from December 2020 to January 2021 there was a net

month decrease of -400 nonfarm jobs and -300 private sector jobs.

ü For Sullivan County the biggest number of jobs losses remain in Leisure &

Hospitality with a -28.2% decrease (-1,100) followed by Government with a

decrease of -8.1% (-500) and Education and Health Services with a decrease

of -6.5% (-500). Trade, Transportation and Utilities with a decrease of -4.7% (-200) jobs. No sector showed job gains.

ü NYS showed a decrease of -11.1% (-1,068,700) in total nonfarm jobs and -

12.3% (-1,005,200) in private sector jobs. The biggest number of job losses

for this time period are found in:

· Leisure & Hospitality at -46.3% (-364,600) · Trade, Transportation & Utilities at -10.6% (-163,200) · Education and Health Services at -7.5% (-160,800) · Professional & Business Services at -8.3% (110,600)

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ü The Hudson Valley region showed a decrease of -9.0%

(-85,500) in total nonfarm jobs and a decrease -9.6% (-76,200) in private sector jobs. The biggest number of job losses for this time

period are found in: · Leisure & Hospitality at -25.6% (-22,400) · Education and Health Services at -9.1% (-20,000) · Trade, Transportation & Utilities at -7.4% (13,200) · Government at -6.0% (9,300) · Professional and Business Services at -7.6% (8,800)

ü Sullivan County’s unemployment rate was 6.9% for January 2021 up from

4.6% in January 2020.

ü The Hudson Valley’s unemployment rate for January 2021 is 6.5% up from

3.9% in January 2020.

ü NYS’s unemployment rate was 9.4% in January 2021 up from 4.1% in

January 2020.

ü The January 2021 unemployment rates across the 62 NYS counties ranged

from a low of 5.3% for Tompkins and Saratoga counties to a high of 17.7%

for Bronx County. Sullivan County with a 6.9% rate ranked 31st in the State

along with Cayuga, Hamilton and Seneca counties.

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Visitor's Association Monthly Report

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IDA Monthly Report

ACTIVITY REPORT - MARCH 2021 COUNTY OF SULLIVAN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY,

SULLIVAN COUNTY FUNDING CORPORATION, THE SULLIVAN COUNTY

INFRASTRUCTURE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

March 29, 2021 At its regular Board meeting on March 8, conducted via teleconference, the County of Sullivan

Industrial Development Agency (IDA) authorized the first quarter 2021 payment to the

Partnership for Economic Development in Sullivan County, Inc. The Board also approved

an amendment to the Adelaar Developer, LLC Payment in Lieu of Taxation (PILOT)

Agreement, to accept a financial guaranty from EPR Properties (Adelaar Developer LLC’s

parent company) as security for the 2022 PILOT relating to the Kartrite Resort and Waterpark

in the Town of Thompson. Next, the Board authorized an increase in the sales and use tax

abatement relating to the Amytra Development LLC, Eldred Entertainment LLC, and

Eldred Hospitality LLC Project, for the development of a hospitality facility at the site of the

former Eldred Preserve in the Town of Highland. The Board continued discussion of the proposed Commercial and Industrial Park Uniform

Tax Exemption Policy, but has not yet taken action on the policy. The March 8 meeting was

recessed and reconvened on March 10. At that time the Board adopted a resolution authorizing

and approving mortgage financing in an amount not to exceed $505,000,000 related to the

Montreign Operating Company, LLC; Empire Resorts Real Estate I, LLC; and Empire

Resorts Real Estate II, LLC Projects in the Town of Thompson. The IDA has now collected and distributed all 2021 PILOTs. We collected over $6,765,000

from 61 projects, and distributed these funds to the County, fifteen towns, five villages, and ten

school districts. Staff continues to work with our internal auditors, RBT CPAs LLP, as they complete the annual

audits of the IDA, SCFC, and TSCILDC. We are also working to prepare the annual Public

Authorities Reporting Information System (PARIS) reports to the New York State Authorities

Budget Office (ABO), for all three agencies.

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The ABO continues its review of economic development in Sullivan County, and staff is

making every effort to provide documents and information as requested. Separately, we are

working with the Office of the State Comptroller as that office conducts an audit of the Sullivan

County Funding Corporation.

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COMBINED: LEGISLATIVE MEMORANDUM,

CERTIFICATE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

AND RESOLUTION COVER MEMO

To: Economic Development Committee

Fr: Loreen Gebelein, CWD Director

Re: SC RENAISSANCE YOUTH INTERNS PAY RATES

Date: April 1, 2021

Purpose of Resolution:

To authorize the hourly pay rates for the Sullivan County Renaissance Youth Interns

Is subject of Resolution mandated? Explain:

No

Is this a renewal of a prior contract? No

Date of prior contract? N/A

Amount authorized by prior contract $0.00

Does Resolution require expenditure of funds? Yes

If “Yes”, provide the following information

Amount to be authorized by Resolution: $71,341.12

Are funds already budgeted? Yes

If “Yes” specify appropriation code(s): A-6293-10-1011 & A-6293-80-8001

If “No”, specify proposed source of funds:

Estimated Cost Breakdown by Source

County: $0.00 Grant(s): $0.00

State: $0.00 Other: $71,341.12

Federal Government:$0.00 (Specify): Reim by Renaissance

Specify Compliance with Procurement Procedures:

N/A

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Person(s) responsible for monitoring contract (Title): Loreen Gebelein CWD Director

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RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

TO AUTHORIZE THE HOURLY PAY RATES FOR THE SULLIVAN COUNTY

RENAISSANCE YOUTH INTERNS

WHEREAS, the Center for Workforce Development administers the Sullivan County

Renaissance Youth Intern program that puts youth into seasonal positions throughout the

County; and

WHEREAS, the Sullivan County Renaissance and the Center for Workforce

Development have worked together for many years. The Renaissance beautification program

throughout the County allows youth to earn money over the summer season while assisting our

local County, Towns, Villages and not-for-profit organizations; and

WHEREAS, the Sullivan County Renaissance has set the 2021 season hourly pay rates

based on 1st year Intern $13.00; 2nd year Intern $13.50; 3rd year Intern $14.00 and 4th year or over

Intern at $14.50. The Youth Interns are seasonal County employees and paid through the County

of Sullivan. All salaries and benefits paid out are fully reimbursed at the end of the program to

the County of Sullivan; and

WHEREAS, the Center for Workforce Development is requesting authorization to agree

to pay these hourly pay rates as requested.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Sullivan County Legislature

hereby authorizes and agrees to the hourly pay rates requested.

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sullivan county economic development committee

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