Canajoharie speakers urge pursuit of quality jobs, note $4.5M state award and site constraints

Speakers from Canajoharie told the Montgomery County Legislature during the public‑comment portion of the July meeting that local officials should continue pursuing redevelopment opportunities that will bring high‑quality jobs and revive the local economy.

Michael Milbeck, introduced in the record as the Town of Canajoharie supervisor, told the legislature he wants the county, village and economic‑development partners to make sure redevelopment plans for the “Peach Nut” site prioritize high‑quality jobs that will help restore local spending and tax capacity. Milbeck said the area has seen rising tax burdens tied to declining tax revenue and urged continued cooperation among the village, town and county.

A representative of the Village of Canajoharie said the village recently received a $4,500,000 award from New York State for site readiness projects and is preparing applications for open project calls with a looming deadline. The speaker noted constraints that have complicated redevelopment of the Peach Nut site: many state grant programs are seeking developable parcels of roughly 40 acres that are not in a floodplain, not divided by a creek and not boxed in by a highway corridor. The village representative said those constraints mean the historic site may no longer be the best option for manufacturers and that local leaders are studying water‑and‑sewer consolidation and the possible creation of a water/sewer authority or new district to expand capacity in the county’s west side.

Both speakers urged continued county‑village collaboration. The village representative said local officials have previously pursued agricultural and other grants that did not produce a development outcome and that a broader vision for water and sewer capacity could open opportunities for a western business park or alternate sites outside the old manufacturing parcel.

Why it matters: The Peach Nut site has been a recurring topic in county economic‑development discussions; the $4.5 million in state funds and ongoing grant applications could affect which parcels are viable for future industrial or business‑park development. Local officials emphasized practical constraints — parcel size, floodplain and creek bisecting the site — that often determine eligibility for state grants and private investment.

Next steps noted in the meeting: the village is closing on project applications at the end of the week and county staff and economic‑development partners are continuing site readiness and grant work. Milbeck also requested greater town engagement in ongoing discussions about the site and county planning efforts.