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Interim economic development director outlines lending, Main Streets and ag loan plans
Summary
Leslie Wellington, interim director of Ulster County Economic Development, updated the committee on a relaunched revolving loan fund, a proposal to shift Main Streets aid toward direct municipal grants, and plans to launch an agricultural revolving loan fund to support local food businesses.
Leslie Wellington, the interim director of Ulster County Economic Development, told the committee she has prioritized listening and building partnerships with municipal leaders, businesses and regional partners since taking the post. "We officially relaunched the county's revolving loan fund," Wellington said, noting a live pre-application and a full application due in the coming weeks.
Wellington described several near-term program priorities. She said the office is considering a small redesign of the Main Streets program to provide direct grants to municipalities rather than county-led comprehensive planning studies, with the goal of moving money quickly to local priorities. She also noted a partnership to support a planned expansion by Ronnie Brook in Kingston that could create cold-storage infrastructure useful to smaller food businesses, and confirmed the department is finalizing an agricultural revolving loan fund with administrative partners. Wellington asked members to expect future briefings and invited legislators to meet individually with the department.
