Each Thursday, we put one of our local newsmakers On The Spot. This week: Cayuga County legislator Dan Schuster
While it may seem to some that little has been done on this topic because no high profile votes have taken place, many people have been working for quite some time on coming up with an arrangement that will work for all involved.
In the 2008 County budget, money was set aside for a new economic developer position. The original plan was to have this position housed in the Cayuga County Planning and Economic Development Department. However, that plan has since changed - partly because many feel that a position of that nature, although necessary to advance economic development in Cayuga County, could do more to unify efforts put forth by the city and the county if structured under a coordinated economic development entity.
In response, the Planning and Economic Development Committee, upon the recommendation of Planning Director Stephen Lynch, has unanimously supported the concept of having that position hired by the Cayuga County Development Corporation (CCDC) rather than Cayuga County itself.
The CCDC is a local public benefit corporation, organized as an instrumentality of, but separate and apart from Cayuga County. It is governed by a seven-member board of directors that currently includes one county legislator and six other private citizens. With significant public money going to an outside agency, it will be necessary to expand and integrate the CCDC board to include a couple more legislators to ensure accountability. The board can be expanded further to allow representatives from the city to be appointed as well.
Thus constituted, the CCDC, governed by a majority of private citizens with additional representation by some city councilors and county legislators, will be in a position to become the go-to agency for anyone looking to do business in Cayuga County. It will have accountability while being somewhat isolated from both city and county government.
The next step is to have the county enter into a contractual relationship with the CCDC that will enable money to be transferred to the organization so that a developer can be hired. My goal is to have a resolution to enter into this contract brought before the Legislature and voted on by the end of summer.
If you have an On The Spot
question, call news editor Mike Dowd at 253-5311 ext. 234 or e-mail michael.dowd@lee.net
In the 2008 County budget, money was set aside for a new economic developer position. The original plan was to have this position housed in the Cayuga County Planning and Economic Development Department. However, that plan has since changed - partly because many feel that a position of that nature, although necessary to advance economic development in Cayuga County, could do more to unify efforts put forth by the city and the county if structured under a coordinated economic development entity.
In response, the Planning and Economic Development Committee, upon the recommendation of Planning Director Stephen Lynch, has unanimously supported the concept of having that position hired by the Cayuga County Development Corporation (CCDC) rather than Cayuga County itself.
The CCDC is a local public benefit corporation, organized as an instrumentality of, but separate and apart from Cayuga County. It is governed by a seven-member board of directors that currently includes one county legislator and six other private citizens. With significant public money going to an outside agency, it will be necessary to expand and integrate the CCDC board to include a couple more legislators to ensure accountability. The board can be expanded further to allow representatives from the city to be appointed as well.
Thus constituted, the CCDC, governed by a majority of private citizens with additional representation by some city councilors and county legislators, will be in a position to become the go-to agency for anyone looking to do business in Cayuga County. It will have accountability while being somewhat isolated from both city and county government.
The next step is to have the county enter into a contractual relationship with the CCDC that will enable money to be transferred to the organization so that a developer can be hired. My goal is to have a resolution to enter into this contract brought before the Legislature and voted on by the end of summer.
If you have an On The Spot
question, call news editor Mike Dowd at 253-5311 ext. 234 or e-mail michael.dowd@lee.net
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Brian33908 wrote on Jun 17, 2008 12:30 PM:
This one-stop-shop approach to economic development makes the most sense. The CCDC is the most effective tool in the Legislature's belt, and it’s best to focus your energy on that organization.
In Binghamton, where I lived recently, provincialism and political bickering prompting legislators to form a handful of splinter economic development groups all competing for the same prize. Needless to say, it's been a disaster.
Well done. Keep it up. "