Herkimer County IDA boosts microenterprise awards, advances brownfield and water projects

Herkimer County — The Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency on an itemized agenda approved increases to its microenterprise grant program, advanced several water and infrastructure projects and voted to support a memorandum of understanding on the Charlestown brownfield site, agency officials said during the meeting.

The board approved a revision to the county’s microenterprise grant program that Home and Community Renewal (HCR) had approved allowing awards up to $35,000 per full-time position (previously the program allowed up to $14,000 per business under certain eligibility rules). Agency staff reported the microenterprise fund totals $255,000, with $150,000 already approved and a remaining balance of $105,000. Staff said that if prior awardees accept the additional amounts offered, the remaining balance could be exhausted; board members approved increases to specific awards on today’s agenda, including additional funds for the business identified in the agenda as “Susie Q.” The agency recorded that Susie Q had documented $40,269 in eligible equipment expenses and would receive an additional $21,000 without needing to spend more money.

The board also discussed other microenterprise recipients by name (ADOS, Sherpa and Juliana Farms) and staff said some had already submitted disbursement requests. Agency staff said they are contacting previously awarded businesses to see whether they need the increased amounts allowed by the revised HCR plan.

Agency staff described one ongoing contract tied to economic development work: an assessment feasibility study for the Remington site with a $180,000 vendor payment that will be reimbursed by the state when the project is complete. Staff said they expected that study to finish within about two weeks.

Infrastructure updates covered multiple projects in and around the county. Staff reported progress on the Skyler area entrance and gas station project: construction work has advanced and the state Department of Transportation accepted a temporary traffic-control plan that reduced near-term costs (staff had considered about $50,000 in temporary lighting but DOT approved a stop-sign approach instead). The agency also reported that bids are out for a 500,000-gallon water tank in the town of Skyler and that federal and state grants, including a FAST NY award and a possible Northern Border grant conversion, are expected to subsidize that work.

Separately, the agency authorized a $50,000 study to assess wells that are part of a village water system, which staff said could support later development across the village and into adjacent areas served by the county water supply. That motion was made and seconded and carried on voice vote.

On brownfields and larger redevelopment, the board voted to support a memorandum of understanding for the Charlestown site. Staff reported ongoing environmental sampling and said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had agreed to charge the agency $10,000 for the Charlestown parcel and would charge an additional $10,000 if the project were undertaken as an IDA project. Staff also stated during the meeting that they had received an EPA grant of about $13,980,000 in connection with broader cleanup and redevelopment efforts at the site. Staff described opportunities for energy and industrial uses at Charlestown, including potential battery storage or warehousing, and said additional developer interest and sampling are underway.

The agency received numerous project updates and marketing notes: interest from developers in park parcels (including inquiries about 150,000-square-foot and 200,000-square-foot warehouse projects), continued outreach on a countywide Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) nomination and scheduling for public workshops and a budget workshop in August. Staff also said they are updating IDA policies to accommodate federal review findings and that the agency is preparing grant applications later this year for additional assessment funding.

The meeting concluded with the board moving into an executive session to discuss a pending legal matter related to an eastern northbound water-lines project. The board said it would return to its LDC (local development corporation) meeting items briefly in order to take a related vote on the Charlestown MOU.

Votes at a glance - Approval of June 24 regular meeting minutes: passed (voice vote). - Acceptance of June financial reports: passed (voice vote). - Approval of microenterprise program guideline changes and individual award increases (including Susie Q): passed (motion and second recorded; voice vote). - Authorization of a $50,000 village water-system study: passed (motion by a board member, seconded; voice vote). - Approval to support the Charlestown MOU and related LDC action: passed by roll call (board recorded affirmative votes). - Motion to enter executive session on legal matters related to eastern northbound water lines: approved.

The board’s actions move several small-business awards and infrastructure studies forward but left some funding and implementation details for staff follow-up. Agency staff said they will reach back to grant program administrators and recipients to process disbursements and will return with additional details and contract documents as projects progress.