Coordination between feds, state sought for updated Chemung flood maps

To save some Chemung county property owners the cost of unnecesary flood insurance, efforts are under way to coordinate the work of two federal agencies so the county's levee system will be included in updated flood maps.
"The Corps fo Engineers' standards are different than FEMA's, and that's a mystery to us," said Janet Thigpen, flood mitigation specialist with the Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board.  (Read the full article)

Watkins Glen High School gets grant for solar panels

Watkins Glen, N.Y. —The Watkins Glen Central School District has received a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to bring alternative energy into the district’s curriculum.
The district announced Tuesday it had received an $86,000 grant to install solar panels on the roof of Watkins Glen High School.Tom Phillips, superintendent of the Watkins Glen school district, said students will be able to gather information from the solar panels that they could then use in their science, math and technology classes.
Earl F. Gohl, federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, hailed the project as an example of integrating the jobs of tomorrow into today’s schools. (Read the full article) (Watch the video)

New York’s Southern Tier Closer to Securing High Speed Broadband for Rural Residents

A $24 million federal grant proposal to install 600 miles of fiber optic cable across the southern tier of New York has advanced to the “Due Diligence Phase” of federal review, making it a serious contender for approval. (Read the full article)

Schuyler seeks better Internet connection, supports wine sales

WATKINS GLEN -- High-speed broadband Internet service could become available to rural Schuyler County residents if a request for federal funding is successful.
Schuyler legislators voted unanimously Monday night to join at least six other counties in the region in applying for millions of dollars in federal stimulus funds to expand fiber optic cable systems. The broadband project is being developed by the Southern Tier Central and Southern Tier East Regional Planning and Development boards. The focus of expanded broadband access capacity in Schuyler County would be on improving emergency communications, County Administrator Timothy O'Hearn said. But the system could become available to Internet service providers, he said. A study late last year of agriculture in the county strongly recommended expanding broadband service to rural areas. "The expansion could go a long way to building a backbone we can build off of," O'Hearn said. (Read the full article)

A Community Conversation: the Census

The United States Census is a decennial census mandated by the United States Constitution.  The population is enumerated every 10 years and the results are used to allocate Congressional seats (congressional apportionment), electoral votes, and government program funding.  Some states or local jurisdictions also conduct local censuses.

Guests for this program: Dr. Martha Farnsworth Riche, Director of the Census Bureau from 1994-1998 and a Fellow at the Center for the Study of Economy and Society and Cornell University; Vaughan Neiley, Local Census Office Manager, Elmira Regional Census Office; and Victoria Ehlen, Economic Development Coordinator for Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board.  (Listen to the hour long broadcast)

River Vision Project Underway

Riverside, N.Y. - Ideas were generated Thursday night for the Southeastern Steuben River Vision Project. It's designed to explore river related recreation opportunities and development along the Chemung and Cohocton Rivers. (read more) (video coverage)

How you can help the census

FINGER LAKES—Less painful than income tax but just as necessary, a form for the U.S. 2010 Census will be mailed out to every household in the nation mid-March. Its 10 questions should take no more than 10 minutes of time to fill out and a postage-paid return envelope should make returning it easy. (read more)

State Announces $1.7 Million in Clean Water Planning Projects

The federal stimulus funding will help communities develop and implement an array of projects, ranging from collecting water quality data to improving stormwater management to analyzing opportunities for installing "green" infrastructure. The 11 awards were selected through a competitive process.

Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board was allocated $285,000 to develop a regional action plan for the Chemung and Susquehanna River Basins for eco-system based management. (read more)

Rochester Institute of Technology manufacturing center visits Corning

CORNING -- Armed with a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Rochester Institute of Technology's Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies, known as CIMS, is criss-crossing the state to market its services to the troubled manufacturing sector. To purchase the entire article from the Star Gazette, click here.

Local officials tour the Chemung River in plan to improve waterway

"It was great for people to see the river up close and realize the challenges and exciting opportunities it offers," Jen Fais, principal planner with Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board, stated in prepared remarks. Jen helped secure a $26,430 New York State Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Grant for the project. (read more)

Friends of the Chemung River Trail seek to improve river access and trail connectivity

The ‘Friends of the Chemung River Watershed’ want everyone to know what the Chemung River has to offer. Recently, they were awarded a grant from New York State to make improvements and now with their collaboration with Steuben County they are on their way to making the Chemung River an outdoor attraction. (read more)

Governor Patterson announces $10 Million in Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program Grants

Through the dedicated efforts of the community and STC staff, Nomination Study Funding for the Town of Erwin, Village of Painted Post, Village of Riverside Brownfield Opportunity Area was secured in the amount of $135,000.  This funding will be used to plan for the most appropriate future development in the BOA.  (read more)

 

Work begins on $45.4M upgrade to Interstate 99

"Businesses are looking for proximity to interstates. This will answer a lot of our problems," said Marcia Weber, executive director of the Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board. To purchase the entire article from the Star Gazette, click here.

 

Southern Tier Central planning board gets federal grant

Congressman Eric Massa announced a US Dept of Commerce grant for the Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board. This Economic Development Administration (EDA) planning investment supports development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) in the region served by the Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board, which is comprised of Chemung, Schuyler, and Steuben counties. The CEDS process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy. This grant will cover half of the total cost of $140,378 for the project. (read more)

Former legislature chairman Flory remembered as 'major factor' in Chemung

Mr. Flory was a founding member of the Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board, and also chaired the Chemung County Industrial Development Agency for many years until his death. To purchase the entire article from the Star-Gazette, click here.

Gillibrand pushes stimulus in visit to Corning

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand urged local government and business leaders Wednesday to apply for federal stimulus money still available to help create jobs and improve infrastructure.
While her children toured the Corning Museum of Glass, Gillibrand met briefly with about 20 community leaders as part of a series of talks and fundraisers in the Southern Tier.  (read more)

Governor Patterson announces $17.9 million in stimulus funding for Southern Tier transportation infrastructure

Governor David A. Paterson today announced the certification of an additional $17.9 million for transportation projects in the Southern Tier through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). These investments will provide for essential highway and bridge repairs and other long-term improvements that will create an estimated 429 jobs. The area is expected to receive $89 million in economic recovery funding for road and bridge projects in Allegany, Steuben, Yates, Schuyler, Chemung, Tioga, Broome, Chenango, Otsego, Delaware, Schoharie and Sullivan counties. (read more)

River Trail Partnership rethinking philosophy

July 1, 2009
Star - Gazette - Elmira, N.Y.
Programs that were started under the partnership were launched by groups like the Chemung River Watch, a volunteer group dedicated to preventing river pollution and dumping and getting existing dump sites cleaned up, she said. 
To purchase the entire article, click here

New highways could spur development

June 26, 2009
Star - Gazette - Elmira, N.Y.
"Three Rivers Development Foundation worked with seven municipalities along the corridor to create an economic development blueprint that will properly channel that growth and provide a marketing tool for prospective developers and businesses."
To purchase the entire article, click here

Scouts help keep pollutants out of storm drains

Thursday, May 07, 2009
Star - Gazette - Elmira, N.Y.
"The purpose of the Rural Storm Water Coalition, made up of local agencies and municipalities, is to develop coordinated educational and implementation projects to reduce storm water runoff in the three counties."
To purchase the entire article, click here

Unsung agency toils behind the scenes

Star - Gazette - Elmira, N.Y.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
"Since its inception, STC has not only secured millions of dollars in federal funds for the region, but also has established several spinoff agencies that have assisted in energy research, housing development and other programs."
To purchase the entire article, click here

Newly formed group outlines plans for Chemung River

By Derrick Ek Corning Leader
Friday, April 17, 2009
"A newly created non-profit group has outlined its ambitious plans for the Chemung River. The Friends of the Chemung River Watershed, formed in December, has a $70,000 budget, a seven-member volunteer board of directors and one employee – Jim Pfiffer, its director."
View the full article online at the-leader.com by clicking here

DEC honors 2 area agencies

Star - Gazette - Elmira, N.Y.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
"Among the award recipients were the Chemung County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board."
To purchase the entire article, click here

State funds will help market sites

By Jeffrey Smith Corning Leader
Monday, March 17, 2008
"A push to redevelop about 500 acres of land in Painted Post, Erwin and Riverside has received a boost."
View the full article online at the-leader.com by clicking here.

Chemung County business leaders upbeat about ’08

By Sarah Grossman Corning Leader
Thursday, February 07, 2008
"Business leaders in Chemung County were upbeat about the area's economy in 2007 during an annual economic forum Thursday, and seem to have high hopes for continued growth in 2008."
View the full article online at the-leader.com by clicking here