No one is more tired of hearing about revitalizing the Catskills”™ Borscht Belt more than the people who live and work in one of the most economically depressed areas of the Hudson Valley.
Allan Scott, new president and CEO of the Sullivan County Partnership, is hoping that with the help of a new administration in Albany and renewed interest in the Catskill gaming by the Stockbridge Munsee Indians, economic development leaders can start turning things around.
Scott, who served for 16 years as town of Bethel supervisor and worked with Alan Gerry on Bethel Woods for the Performing Arts, also serves as CEO for the county”™s Industrial Development Agency. He praised Gerry”™s determination to build a world-class performing arts center and to help restore economic stability to his native county.
“Bethel Woods has been a crowning achievement,” Scott said. “Since it opened, we have seen more business come into the area and needless to say, are hoping to see a hotel come on board. The area near the performing arts center would really benefit. It already attracts thousands of people a year and a hotel would be the icing on the cake.”
To entice a hotel franchise and new business to the area near the arts center, the town has recently put in a $4 million sewer expansion to accommodate future growth along the town”™s main corridor.
But even with Gerry”™s multimillion-dollar investment in Bethel and the new businesses slowly sprouting up around it, Sullivan faces the same challenges its sister counties in the Hudson Valley contend with: the need for viable jobs and a sustainable economy.
“Basically, we envision a county economy that will offer opportunities for our children; we don”™t want to send them off to college and see them leave the area,” Scott said. “Through our economic partnership, the IDA and our county manager, David Fanslau, we are working together as a cohesive team to stimulate economic development wherever possible.”
Scott supports the Stockbridge-Munsee Indian Tribe”™s move to bring casino gambling to the area. “It will be a plus. We are also hoping to see some projects that have been stopped in their tracks as a result of the economy to restart. We”™re looking at this situation as a cup that is half-full, not half-empty.”
Scott is also optimistic about Gov. Andrew Cuomo”™s plan to create 10 regional economic development corporations. “Our financial capabilities are not as strong as some of our sister counties; we have had to be very careful of our expenditures. This will definitely help us if we can partner with other counties around us.”
One obstacle the county is contending with is the need for more broadband service. “There are talks going on in the county about improving it,” Scott said. “We know this is one of the main keys in helping us attract more business to Sullivan.”
Scott says the partnership is focusing on the village of Monticello due to its proximity to future Interstate 86. Streets and storefronts have received a major makeover and businesses are moving back to the village. “Unfortunately, there are no more grants. We are struggling as a result of the government shifting away from grants to low-interest loans, but we”™ll manage. We are not going to let this get in the way of bringing jobs here and rebuilding our infrastructure. It”™s just going to take longer, but this is a statewide problem, not only our problem.”
“Allan has been involved in government and in economic development for many years, and it was the right move to make him president and CEO of the partnership,” said its former president, Tim McCausland, who is now with Orange County Trust in Middletown. “I”™m still very active with the partnership, and I know we have a dedicated leader in Allan.”
