State Offers New Irene Grants for Small Businesses

Separate from $12 Million Announced by Cuomo

New York State has announced another lifeline for businesses affected by Hurricanes Irene and Sandy and Tropical Storm Lee. For this area, it is a welcome sight for commercial interests crushed by Irene two years ago. The new program, separate from the Community Reconstruction Zones offered by Governor Cuomo in his visit to Cobleskill Tuesday, offers another option.

The New York State Small Business Storm Recovery Program is offered to all small businesses with fewer than 100 employees affected by storms Irene, Lee, or Sandy. While much of the money is expected to travel Downstate, it is available to a total of 30 counties, including Schoharie.

The grants, which could total over $50,000 per business are meant to cover losses and expenses not covered by other sources. The program also offers low-interest loans of up to $1,000,000 for other costs. The grant costs are not capped, except for 100% of loss estimates, making this potentially one of the most generous that the state has offered in two years.

This program takes place under the wide umbrella of the NY Rising series of projects. This includes the $12 million in CRZ funding announced by Cuomo.

Desmond Featured in National Press over SAFE Act Stance

Schoharie County Sheriff Tony Desmond has made no secret of his disdain for the recent New York Safe Act. The Sheriff joined the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors in condemning the legislation while citing its perceived unconstitutionality.

Now the Sheriff has made it clear that he will not impose a law that he believes is against the Second Amendment. Desmond has been campaigning against the SAFE Act for weeks now, but has taken another step forward by announcing that he will not prosecute Schoharie County residents that violate the law.

This has been noticed in gun forums across the country, leaping into the pages of Reason, the nation's foremost libertarian magazine. Reason pulls a quote from the Oneonta Daily Star and make Mr. Desmond a centerpiece of the story.

“I’m not going back on my personal conviction,” he said. Residents have told him this is what they want, he said, and “I’ve stood up for them, and I will continue to do so.”

Governor Cuomo Announces $12 Million Grants for Schoharie County

Following a previous announcement concerning the distribution of Community Reconstruction Zone grants to four Schoharie County municipalities, Governor Andrew Cuomo addressed an invitation only audience of fifty public officials, residents and local media at SUNY Cobleskill's Frisbee Hall this afternoon to further detail the program in attempt to assuage local worries over state heavy-handedness in how funds will be allocated.

The grants, which total $12 million, will be evenly distributed between the Town of Esperance and the three Villages of Esperance, Middleburgh and Schohaire, and although Governor Cuomo stated that he believes "that the people that know best are in the community," all projects submitted must be approved first by the CRZ committee.

Speaking on the value of the $3 million his Irene devastated municipality will receive, Village of Schoharie Mayor John Borst said, looking positively to the future, "We have the opportunity to empower ourselves to our own path of recovery." His sentiment was seconded by CRZ Committee Co-Chair Sarah Goodrich, who emphasized that the state government wont dictate how funds are spent and that local communities will make their own plans. 

Governor Cuomo, who was introduced by Town of Middleburgh Supervisor Jim Buzon, arrived shortly after twelve via helicopter and stayed for roughly an hour, speaking for fifteen minutes in mostly general terms concerning the CRZ grant program, which can be summed up by one specific statement that "We have funding that's available for the community."

Now comes the real work for local officials and the CRZ committee alike: decide where and how much of these funds should be directed towards what project and why. And once that process is completed, only then can the significance of these grants be truly measured by the competence displayed in utilizing these valuable funds towards our local communities. 

The Brief: Cuomo's Visit to SUNY Cobleskill

Governor Cuomo's visit to Schoharie County today came out as a bit of a surprise. The visit was announced late yesterday afternoon as Cuomo's office declared that the Governor was going to be speaking on flood issues.

A lengthier article will be available shortly, but some brief information here.

Dignitaries from the County included many elected officials, members of the Community Reconstruction Zone Committee, the Planning Department, among others. Altogether there were about 50 residents of Schoharie County represented in the lecture hall at Frisbee Hall on the SUNY Campus.

The program started at 12:06 as the interim SUNY Cobleskill President introduced State Senator Jim Seward. Seward introduced Schoharie Mayor John Borst who introduced Middleburgh Supervisor Jim Buzon who introduced Governor Cuomo. Cuomo spoke for about twenty minutes, describing his desire to keep flood determinations local. After the Governor's comments, both CRZ Committee Co-Chairs Georgia van Dyke and Sarah Goodrich spoke briefly.

More shortly, including quotes from the crowd. And remember that you read it here at the Schoharie News first. Subscribe by writing in your email in the right hand column!