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EDC says Queensbury, North Creek projects and broadband pilots are driving local growth; warns of 340B risks
Summary
County economic development staff said ongoing deals — a possible $190 million Queensbury project and about $40 million of private investment around North Creek sewer work — are expanding year-round tourism and private investment; staff also flagged potential threats to 340B funding for rural health centers and described broadband pilot work.
Jim Shipland, an economic development representative, told the Warren County Economic Growth & Development Committee on Nov. 30 that the countyis seeing sustained growth and several large private investments as a result of development efforts. "We've been involved... a potential investment of over $190,000,000 in Queensbury," Shipland said, and he described the Queensbury opportunity as the largest of its type in Northern New York in a decade.
Shipland credited the county's decision to support the Town of North Creek's wastewater system with catalyzing private investment. "More than $40,000,000 has been committed in North Creek in 8 months since you guys made the decision to stand behind the town, support the construction of that sewer," he said, highlighting a new lodge, property renovations and additional downtown activity tied to the sewer infrastructure.
Shipland also described Local Development Corporation (LDC) activity in the county, saying the LDC recently backed two loans that together represent about $15,000,000 in outside investment and that modest county-backed loans "generated literally a 100 times leverage." He said the LDC cleaned up nonperforming loans and continues to look for opportunities to support local projects.
Turning to health-care funding, Shipland warned that the federal 340B drug-pricing program, which underwrote construction of several rural health centers, is "always under threat." He said about 26 Hudson Headwaters centers exist in the Adirondack Park and noted the county benefits disproportionately from the health-care sector: "Roughly 40% of the economy in our area flows through healthcare and related services." Staff said the county will engage with partners to determine if and how to pursue advocacy to protect 340B beneficiaries.
On broadband, county staff reported progress: "Roughly 92% of the county is covered now with some modern broadband standard," Shipland said, and described a $2,000,000 cellular overlay pilot intended to create supplemental cellular capacity in high-peak areas such as downtown Glens Falls and Lake George Village. The pilot would create equipment allowing calls to route to an extended Wi-Fi network when cellular facilities are congested; if successful, staff said, the approach might be deployed across Warren County.
County officials emphasized the regional nature of many efforts and noted continued coordination with partners including the statebroadband office, CDTA for regional connectivity, and organizations such as Rensselaer and the Lake George Association. Shipland asked supervisors to "stay close to the work" around freshwater-protection concepts and other regional initiatives the EDC is pursuing.
The committee asked clarifying questions about funding mechanisms and board representation for regional transit (CDTA); county staff said nominations for CDTA board seats have been forwarded to the state's nominations director and may be finalized by the governor or, if required, through the legislature in January.
