Referred to: The Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit Committee (Chairman Woltman and Legislators Archer, Delaune, Litts, Maio, Joseph Maloney, and Rodriguez), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairwoman Archer and Legislators Gerentine, Maio, Joseph Maloney, Petit, Rodriguez, and Ronk)

Chairman of the Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning, and Transit Committee, Brian J. Woltman, and Deputy Chair Lynn Archer offer the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted by the County Executive on behalf of the Department of Planning; and

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 314 of 2015 authorized execution of a contract between the County of Ulster and the Ulster County Economic Development Alliance for one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) to implement the recommendations of the Ellenville Million Committee: and 

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 295 of 2017 authorized the reallocation of funds as identified below:

a)         Water and Sewer Infrastructure Improvements: The original allocation of $150,000 is reduced to $45,000. This component will support sewer and water infrastructure improvements in the Village of Ellenville and the Town of Wawarsing so that additional water and sewer capacity will be available to businesses seeking to locate in Ellenville and Wawarsing. Projects may include engineering and environmental services, rate studies, and the development of an Intermunicipal Agreement, and/or may be used to leverage funds from other federal or state sources.

b)        Economic Development Fund: The original allocation of $175,000 is reduced to $125,000. This component is renamed as the “Jump Start” Fund. This component shall be used to provide grants for developers and new business enterprises within the Village of Ellenville and the Town of Wawarsing, including awards offered to promising new business ventures identified through a business plan competition. UCEDA shall create this fund and establish and maintain rules for its use, which shall include but not be limited to the requirement that new jobs shall be created in the Village of Ellenville and/or the Town of Wawarsing. “Clawback” provisions shall be included in the fund’s rules, to ensure that all requirements of the fund are complied with.

c)         Tourism and Marketing Campaign: The original allocation of $100,000 is increased to $151,500. This component shall be used to assist the Village of Ellenville and the Town of Wawarsing’ s businesses to conduct joint efforts to promote area recreational opportunities, special events, historic sites, and other tourism-related attractions.

d)        Improvements to Outdoor Recreational Opportunities: The original allocation of $150,000 is increased to $174,600. This component will seek to improve and expand outdoor recreational opportunities such as rail trails and parks in the Village of Ellenville and the Town of Wawarsing.

e)         Historic Preservation Projects at the Shadowland Theater in the Village of Ellenville: The original allocation of $75,000 remains unchanged. This component will support necessary repairs and maintenance at the historic Shadowland Theater in the Village of Ellenville.

f)         Capital Preservation and Improvement Projects at the Hunt Memorial Building in the Village of Ellenville: The original allocation of $100,000 remains unchanged. This component will support capital preservation and improvement projects to restore the Hunt Memorial Building in the Village of Ellenville, in order to develop a centrally located community, tourism and cultural center.

g)         Main Street Improvement Project: The original allocation of $25,000 is increased to $50,000. This component will support improvement projects for the historic downtown district. These projects may include, but will not be limited to, new street lighting and façade upgrades.

h)        Project Management, Grant Writing and/or Similar Services: The original allocation is reduced to $48,900. This component will be used to provide project management, grant writing and/or similar services as needed to leverage additional support for economic development projects.

i)         Improve Access to High Speed Broadband Project: The original allocation of $150,000 is reduced to $75,000. This component will support improvements to the availability of high speed internet access in the Village of Ellenville and the Town of Wawarsing.

j)         Vocational Training and Workforce Transportation:  Drawing from reductions in allocations for other components, this new component is allocated $50,000. Consistent with the original goals of the Ellenville Million Program, this new component will be used to provide training to prepare residents of Ellenville and/or Wawarsing for re-entry to the workforce and/or to provide limited transportation services for residents of Ellenville and/or Wawarsing to their place of work, where such assistance will help residents to secure a job.

k)        Grant Matching and Grant  Writing Assistance: Drawing from reductions in allocations for other components, this new component is allocated $105,000. Consistent with the original goals of the Ellenville Million Program, this new component will be used to provide assistance with identifying grant opportunities, preparing grant applications, and    meeting local cash match requirements of grants awarded to businesses, nonprofits and units of local government located in Ellenville and/or Wawarsing; and

WHEREAS, to date, approximately $887,000 of the original allocation has been spent and/or obligated within the above components, resulting in tangible improvements in Ellenville and Wawarsing, including renovations at the Hunt Memorial Building, Shadowland Theatre and three commercial facades on Canal and Center Streets; improvements to the Smiley Carriage Road Trailhead in Berme Road Park and extension of the Town’s O&W Rail Trail through the NYS DOCCS property; new tourism marketing and promotional materials; a study of the feasibility of interconnecting the Town and Village water and sewer systems; and the development of two grant applications, including a successful application to the Hudson River Valley Greenway; and

WHEREAS, funding remains available from the one million ($1,000,000.00) allocation, and is dependent on final bills associated with the unobligated and obligated amounts; and

WHEREAS, health care in the Ellenville area is intricately tied to economy and quality of life within the community with the Ellenville Hospital offering critical services including those related to opioid use; and

WHEREAS, prior approval from the Ulster County Legislature is required before any funds may be reallocated from the components of the Ellenville Million Program; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature hereby approves the following addition to the original descriptions and allocations for the Ellenville Million Program:

l)         Health Care Sector Capital Assistance:  Drawing from the remainder of the unobligated or unused funds from all the other allocations consistent with the original goals of the Ellenville Million Program this new component will be used to provide capital assistance to health care organizations for the delivery of critical health care needs to the Ellenville Community,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:    

Passed Committee: Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit on ________________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on _______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY ALLOCATION