2002 Headlines Archive

FOCUS Greater Syracuse Receives CNY RPDB's Rhea Eckel Clark Citizenship Award

FOCUS Board members and staff (left to right), Bob Haley, JoAnn Cucci, Elizabeth Nolan, Mary Thompson, Jinx Crouch, Judy Mower, and Charlotte (Chuckie) Holstein, accept the 18th Annual Rhea Eckel Clark Citizenship Award on behalf of the hundreds of FOCUS volunteers, at the CNY Regional Planning and Development Board's Annual Meeting, held on 12/11/02 at the Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y.

December 11, 2002—FOCUS Greater Syracuse was named the recipient of the 18^th Annual Rhea Eckel Clark Citizenship Award at the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board's (CNY RPDB) Annual Meeting, held on Wednesday, December 11, 2002. The CNY RPDB recognized the citizen-based organization and the hundreds of FOCUS volunteers for their efforts in promoting cooperation among citizens, agencies and local elected officials; providing leadership for regional growth; and enhancing positive community change.

"There is no doubt that FOCUS exemplifies positive community change throughout Central New York," states CNY RPDB Executive Director Gary Hayes. "FOCUS has played an integral role in forging our community's united strength, and possesses all the criteria for being named a Rhea Eckel Clark Award recipient."

Chosen from a number of nominees received from throughout Central New York, this award is bestowed upon the individual or group who best promotes regionalism for the betterment of the entire community. The award is dedicated to the spirit and motivation of the late Rhea Eckel Clark, one of the founders of the CNY RPDB and its first Chairperson. Mrs. Clark distinguished herself throughout her life by working in cooperation with all segments of our community to bring about solutions to problems, and to make Central New York a better place to live and work.

"FOCUS is proud of the hundreds of volunteers who are building this community to become a better place to live, learn, work, play, and raise a family," stated Charlotte (Chuckie) Holstein, Executive Director of FOCUS Greater Syracuse. "This award recognizes all the volunteers, past and present, who have helped make FOCUS a success."

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CNY RPDB Begins Work on Telecommunications Study for CNY

July 31, 2002—In a move designed to give Central New York communities additional information needed to assist with local business retention and recruitment efforts, the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board (CNY RPDB) has joined with local economic development organizations to complete a regional telecommunications study for Central New York.

The primary purpose of the study is to prepare a detailed inventory of the region’s telecommunications resources. The study will compare local telecommunication resources with other metropolitan areas nationally and will include recommendations for system improvements in Central New York. Finally, the project will conclude with a series of educational seminars designed to help local officials develop a better understanding of the telecommunications industry and the resources that exist in Central New York.

Funding for this study is being provided by the federal Economic Development Administration, the CNY RPDB’s five member counties, local economic development agencies, the Empire State Development Corporation, and Niagara Mohawk. The CNY RPDB has retained ECC Technologies, Inc., a consultant firm based in Rochester, New York, to complete the study that commenced in July 2002.

For more information on the study, view the Press Release.(This link opens in a new window.)

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CNY RPDB Approves Regional Economic Development Strategy; Project Priority List

June 20, 2002—The Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board (CNY RPDB) recently approved the annual update of the Central New York Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) at its 19 June 2002 meeting held at the CNY RPDB offices in Syracuse, N.Y.

The CEDS serves as a guideline for the CNY RPDB’s economic development activities for the next 12 months in Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego Counties, and provides a vehicle to identify key development projects that should be undertaken to support economic growth in the Region. Known as the “Project Priority List,” these development projects have been recommended by community representatives and economic development staff for funding consideration at the federal, state and local levels. All of the projects contained in the CEDS have been identified, in part, because of their potential to help foster economic growth in the Central New York Region.

For more information, view the 2002 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).   (Adobe PDF) (This document opens in a new window.)

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Two CNY RPDB Members Appointed to National Canal Commission

May 31, 2002—Board members Rocco J. DiVeronica (Chair, Madison County Board of Supervisors) and Kimberly Seager (Oswego County Legislator) were recently appointed to the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission. DiVeronica and Seager are part of a 27-member, community-based commission that will strive to enhance heritage tourism, education, recreation, and economic development along the more than 500-mile canal corridor.

“The Commission provides an extraordinary opportunity to build a network of partners dedicated to raising the national awareness of the importance of the past, present and future of the Erie Canalway,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton.

Congressman James Walsh, who was instrumental in securing the Federal designation of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, stressed the importance of this partnership, “which will work to preserve, protect, and enhance the cultural, recreational, and economic impact the canal system has today upon Upstate New York.”

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CNY RPDB Tours Madison County Windmills

June 1, 2002—The largest wind farm east of the Mississippi was what Board members and invited guests from throughout Central New York could not stop talking about at a recent meeting of the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board (CNY RPDB). Located in the Town of Fenner, the wind farm facility possesses 20 operating wind turbines (windmills) that stretch out along the northern ridge of Madison County. Most of the land where the windmills are situated is leased from local farmers, providing them with an additional revenue source. In addition to touring the windmills, the CNY RPDB’s April meeting featured a presentation from Mr. Bill Moore, Principal, Atlantic Renewable Energy Resources Corporation—the energy developer who completed the project, and Mr. Todd Shippee of CHI Energies, Inc.—owner and operator of the wind facility.

“The presenters’ insight on wind energy and windmill farm facilities, coupled with the extraordinary close–up view of the windmills, provided all those in attendance with a better understanding of what is involved in the development, maintenance and operations of wind projects, not just in Central New York, but throughout the Northeast,” said CNY RPDB Executive Director Gary Hayes.

The Town of Fenner facility is one of two wind farms currently operating in Madison County.

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