This report will be presented to the county Planning & Economic Development Committee when it meets Feb. 15 in Belmont.
Alfred State College
February 2017
Report for Economic Development• Lawyers are in process with GE on the GE Lufkin facility donation to the Allegany County IDA to support light manufacturing. Takeover would not be before April 2017.
• The first company decided not to pursue locating in the GE Lufkin facility. We now have discussions with three other companies regarding the facility. The regional company is very serious along with another out of state company. We continue to discuss with state and federal legislative staff and ESD assistance regarding transition for a manufacturing company start up in that facility.
• The economic strategy and objectives are being implemented including marketing.
• We are continuing to review the website updates and State Book mini website.
• SELECT USA follow up continues with one potential company working with ACCORD on a business plan. We are now planning for the June 2017 SELECT USA event.
• The Allegany Development Team is planning to meet with human resource directors on February 17 to discuss how we can better connect with employees in the county.
• We continue responding to notices from Invest Buffalo Niagara when they are looking for property and leads for companies that want to reside in Western NY.
• Planning to attend the Site Selectors Guild March 2017 event to further connections and discuss opportunities with site selectors.
• Discussing with the two selectors who visited the county on November 21 and 22 regarding target marketing and long term planning for the county economic development.
• The next Allegany County Economic Development Steering Committee will be held in late February. This will include reviewing next steps and discussing progress on how to use the Athens, Ohio model for developing better ways to attract current students and alumni to develop businesses and to be employed in existing businesses in the county.
• The EDA Bioenergy Development and Commercialization Center (BDCC ) $4 million grant submitted is with Senator Schumer and Congressman Reed’s economic development staff for support and we also are working with governor’s staff on additional state funding.
• The $1.5 million POWER + ARC grant for coal impacted communities is in process and we have heard it should be approved to submit a final application.
• Friendship engineer has noted that they have conducted water leakage test on tank and now will be testing lines for leaks.
• We have started again work with new Seneca Nation staff on furthering a partnership that includes filling the Tracewell building with a manufacturer.
• Reviewing the letters of intent from hotel developers we have received and discussing with developers on their timelines.
• The Crossroads park and ride has FTA approval and initial design drawings are being reviewed with plans to construct the summer of 2017.
• Annual ACIDA audit is underway.
• START UP NY software development company contact has resulted in meeting with Incubator Works regarding locating an office in the Incubator Works facility and will work with interns at Alfred State.
• Spent two weeks in Saudi Arabia developing connections with companies and institutions on college articulation agreements with Alfred State, cooperative projects and working with commerce section of US Consulate. Jubail Industrial College appears to be a good partner with their innovation center similar to our incubator and START UP NY project.
Summary: GE Lufkin project still a priority.
BDCC progressing.
Data for website is being refined
Hotel developers progressing
Economic development plan is being implemented.
