LIBERTY, NY — Allan Scott, chief executive officer, and Jen Flad, vice president at the Sullivan County Industrial Development Agency (IDA), made a presentation to the Town of Liberty board at their regularly scheduled meeting on February 18.

Flad and Scott have been asked by the IDA to visit all 15 Sullivan County towns and make them aware of available projects and programs. Liberty Supervisor Charlie Barbuti, who serves as IDA treasurer, also spoke on behalf of the organization, to make it clear that the IDA has loan programs for people who want to open smaller businesses, as well as for large-scale projects.

Also present was Sullivan County Legislator Cora Edwards, who advised the board that a special discussion and panel presentation will be held at SUNY Sullivan on March 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Empire State Development Agency will be present as well as several other funding agencies from state and federal levels.

Edwards said that the event will be an opportunity “whether you’re a not-for-profit or a municipal organization, to look at different funding streams that are available.” Edwards specifically mentioned funding for broadband access, saying, “Broadband has many different pockets of funding: under the USDA Rural Development Program, Empire State Development, under economic development, and... under public safety. Broadband access is sorely needed for economic development in the county.”

Following the regular meeting, board member Russell Reeves brought The River Reporter up to date on the progress of a planned marketing campaign. “We’re planning a journal that shows all the businesses in the town, what Liberty has to offer, what’s in Liberty and why you should come to Liberty.”

Additional marketing ideas include full-page ads in magazines that are distributed outside of the town. The ads would target potential businesses and homeowners.

Liberty CDC Report

On Monday, March 3, Community Development Corporation (CDC) Executive Director Heinrich Strauch told the town board about the organization’s direct mailing, scheduled to take place in the next couple of weeks. The mailing will list the major projects and programs undertaken by the CDC, and call for volunteers and support.

Strauch listed several of the CDC’s ongoing projects, including the community kitchen at Cornell Cooperative Extension, which will be ready to go in May; the Liberty Skatepark, which has an expected completion target of this spring; the Liberty Main Street Program; the Liberty community garden; the Liberty bike trail; the free summer movies at the Liberty Main Street Stage; and others.

The highly successful Touch-a-Truck, an event that allowed children of all ages to get up close and personal with trucks and service vehicles of all kinds, held its inaugural event in May of 2013, and will make its return this May, said Strauch.

To get involved with the Liberty CDC, call 845/292-8202 or write info@liberty-cdc.org.

Further discussion on the marketing plan will take place at work sessions immediately following regularly scheduled department-head meetings on the first Monday of the month at 4 p.m.