Posted on: 09/19/07 Written by: Jessica Harding, Schenectady County Reporter email: hardingj@spotlightnews.com
Town officials are trying to make the town inviting for small businesses through a variety of initiatives and state grants.
In the past, Rotterdam grew up with small, family-owned businesses, but now larger corporations such as the Galesi Group and the Golub Corporation have become staples. In recent years other large corporations such as Railex, Fedex and VonRoll have invested in the town, making it possible for Rotterdam’s Industrial Development Agency to fund the growth of smaller businesses. Each time a business invests in the town, the IDA receives a small sum.
“Our IDA has generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years, and right now they have a substantial bank account,” Supervisor Steven Tommasone said.
The IDA has agreed to help small businesses fix up their properties through a matching grant program.
According to chairman Angelo Santabarbara, the IDA would give up to $2,500 on a matching basis for small businesses which want to beautify their properties or make them handicapped accessible.
The grant money will hopefully allow business owners along Hamburg Street to spruce up their properties with the extra cash. Revitalizing the Hamburg Street corridor has been a focus of the town’s administration.
Frank DePalma, who owns DePalma’s Screenprinting and Embroidery and is one of the founders of the Hamburg Street Merchants Association, said if grant money was available for him to fix up his property, he would apply for it.
“I would take advantage of that, sure,” DePalma said.
The IDA is still hammering out the specifics of applying for the grants.
The town is also trying to help small businesses through Restore NY grant money. Restore NY is a state initiative that is designed to encourage economic growth and neighborhood development by providing municipalities with money to revitalize certain areas.
Rotterdam successfully won $2 million in Restore NY grants during the first round of funding, which will go toward the Rotterdam Commerce Park. Tommasone said the Galesi Group, which owns the Commerce Park, plans to use the state money to renovate buildings three and four and make them more conducive to small businesses.
Tommasone said he hopes to attract businesses that will go along with the larger corporations already at Commerce Park like the Golub Corporation, Railex and Fedex.
The town is also applying for Restore NY money during the second round of funding. Tommasone said the money would be used to rehabilitate the old Curry Road shopping plaza. The town agreed on a proposal by Polito Homes and Columbia Development Companies to turn the old plaza into a multi-use complex with 94 condominium units, retail and professional office space. According to the Restore NY Web site, $100 million is available for this round of funding.
Tommasone hopes that the Grand Union property on Hamburg Street will be the focus of the town’s application for the next round of Restore NY money. Tommasone said the property wasn’t ready for this round because there wasn’t a clear plan to restore it.
“Rather than put in an application that may not get funded, we want to be in the running to get funding every time,” Tommasone said.
The IDA voted to have Synthesis, the design firm that is already studying the corridor, create two proposals to restore the property. The idea is to turn the area into a mixed-use center that would be the focus of the Hamburg Street business district.
“I understand that the owners (of the Grand Union property) have put a lot of private investment into cleaning it up,” Tommasone said. “I want to make sure that I do what I can to revitalize Hamburg Street it has been a focus for me.”
EXCELLENT! Wonderful incentives for the small businesses! Good job!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Gee---maybe the owner of the citgo on Altamont ave would feel compelled to clean up their crappy property.....oh, that's right they dont need a grant run a damn lawn mower......hold your head high man!!!!!!
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
“I understand that the owners (of the Grand Union property) have put a lot of private investment into cleaning it up,” Tommasone said. “I want to make sure that I do what I can to revitalize Hamburg Street it has been a focus for me.”
Too bad these guys eventually decided to close up shop until the tax dollars come rolling in, and by that, I mean grants. They originally wanted to do this by themselves, now, they've put their entire life savings into the project and can't afford to do anything until the public dole comes in?
Too bad these guys eventually decided to close up shop until the tax dollars come rolling in, and by that, I mean grants. They originally wanted to do this by themselves, now, they've put their entire life savings into the project and can't afford to do anything until the public dole comes in?
Only in America could they have done this.....they will be rewarded I'm sure if they can hold out.....it doesn't sound like they are 'cookie cutter' guys....they sound like they live here and they are staying.....I have no idea who the folks are on the Curry Road developement....do they live here?.....
As long as us resident's stay the course and keep our officials ,lawmakers and all, feet to the fire(this is what they ran for the office for), and watch and see how things are done---we will have no problems......Sewers sewers sewers, sidewalks sidewalks sidewalks lights lights lights..................................SHOW ME THE $$ TRAIL NYS, COUNTY, TOWN.........
ROTTERDAM Grants going for upgrades BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net.
Scott Newberry isn’t quite sure why his father pounded an unsightly chain-link fence into the blacktop in front of the Rollerama. The Hamburg Street business owner suspects it was to keep prying eyes away from windows that once looked into the roller skating rink. But today, Newberry said, the fence only detracts from the streetfront appearance of his business. “We’re trying to make it look more presentable,” he said of Rollerama’s facade. His effort to spruce up the rink will get a helpful push in the form a small-business grant through Rotterdam’s Industrial Development Agency. Newberry is among a group of nine small-business owners approved for the $2,500 matching grants designated for facade improvements, building sidewalks, adding landscaping and bettering handicapped accessibility. “It’s going to help Rotterdam businesses look better and it will also help push the economy,” IDA Chairman Angelo Santabarbara said Wednesday. “It’s going to encourage people to fix up their buildings.” Among the nine grants approved by the agency, six were awarded to small businesses along Hamburg Street, an area of the town that has been the focus of revitalization efforts over the past year. Just a short distance from Rollerama, Samuel’s Formal Wear owner Sam Valvala aims to spruce up the side of his shop, install a new window and repave the front lot. Valvala said he’s already invested nearly $50,000 into the building’s interior and didn’t have enough capital to complete his vision for the outside. With the added funding, he’ll have enough cash on hand to make the entrance to his business more attractive to customers. Santabarbara said the grants require an equal match from the business owner. Each recipient will submit contract estimates to the IDA and then be reimbursed up to $2,500. Newberry plans to use a second grant he received through IDA to fix up the front of his other business, the Carman Car Wash, which is located next door to Rollerama. He purchased the dilapidated car wash last year and has since spent nearly $200,000 in fixing it up. “It’ll certainly help defray the cost,” he said of the grant, which will go toward replacing a sign for the car wash. Frank DePalma, the owner of DePalma’s Screening, plans to put the grant toward re-siding the front of his store and repairing several flower boxes. He estimated the project to cost $4,000. “It was a big motivator when it was offered,” he said. “It was something I always wanted to do, but didn’t have enough money on me to do it.” Regency Jewelers on Altamont Avenue was awarded a grant to fix up framing in the storefront, resurface its parking lot and build a ramp for the handicapped. In the Rotterdam Corporate Park, Huff N’ Puff plans to construct a new, more visible sign in front of the the insulating business. On Hamburg Street, Linda and Dave Deluke, the operators of a new massage therapy business, were awarded a grant to aid front porch and entry stair improvements. The business owners also intend to install a new sign and improved lighting. Tracey’s Hair & Beauty Salon was approved for a grant to reface the storefront with stucco and replace several windows. The Hamburg Street salon is also planning to repair curbing and install a new ramp for the handicapped.
PETER R. BARBER/ GAZETTE PHOTOGRAPHER Kelly Vavala, co-owner of Samuel’s Formal Wear at 2705 Hamburg St., in Rotterdam, stands on Wednesday in front of the store, one of the area businesses receiving a facade improvement grant.
There's a start---how about the giant for sale sign at the old Grand Union? anyone want to upgrade that?---oh, that's right---it's the sewers Beaver.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
It's encouraging to hear the businesses taking advantage of this matching grant program. I mean who wouldn't?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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