Queensbury approves WarrenEDC budget payment
The Queensbury Town Board passed a resolution to support the Warren County Economic Development Corporation to the tune of $171,000. The figure includes funds covering 18 months: the first six months of last year—$57,000—and $114,000 to cover July 1, 2021 through June of this year.
“We’re trying to get things in order,” Queensbury Supervisor John Strough said before the vote Monday evening Feb. 28.
In a subsequent interview, Strough said that the contract had been paid annually in January, but the town agenda is perennially full then, and Strough asked to pay mid-year instead. The payment for the first half of last year was to catch the town up to speed.
The unexpected death of Ed Bartholomew in 2020 left a large hole in the Glens Falls and Warren County economic development offices. Jim Siplon took over as President of the Warren EDC in early 2021.
"With all the turmoil of Ed passing and Jim taking it on...we owed him [Jim Siplon] for half a year," Strough said in the interview.
“A little late, but better late than never for the EDC," he said during the meeting.
The annual payment to WarrenEDC, a nonprofit organization, has been $114,000 for years, Strough and Ward 1 Councilor Anthony Metivier said.
The agreement that was ratified as part of the resolution lists the many activities that WarrenEDC completes as part of its mission in the area including: attracting and retaining business of all sorts, including manufacturing and commercial operations; facilitating communications with federal and state governments; and generally promoting the town and area for economic development purposes.
Strough has a seat on the EDC’s board of directors.
Town climate programs win $10,000, and that is all they’ll tell
The Town of Queensbury also officially accepted a $10,000 grant from the New York State Energy, Research and Development Authority for the Town’s Solar and Electric Vehicle programs, part of the town’s Climate Smart Communities pledge.
Last year, the town supplied NYSERDA with a “Community Campaign Scoping Document” as part of the town’s solar and electric vehicle programs.
“I can’t say anything more about it,” Supervisor John Strough said, adding that a press release would be coming shortly after approval from NYSERDA. They have the last revision on press materials.
The resolution last year that initiated this indicates work with solar companies Nexamp and Common Energy along with car dealerships that offer electric or hybrid vehicles, including: Della Honda, Glens Falls Romeo Toyota, Maltbie Chevrolet; Garvey Hyundai/Kia/Volkswagon, Warren Ford, North Country Subaru, Lia Nissan, and Nemer Ford/Chrysler Group.