JOHNSTOWN — Fulton County supervisors were recently briefed by the Fulton County Center for Regional Growth’ on its top 10 accomplishments of 2020. The agency also looked ahead this year.
CRG President/CEO Ronald Peters gave the report to the Board of Supervisors’ Economic Development & Environment Committee.
In going through the top 10 accomplishments, Peters noted Benjamin Moore & Co.’s 117,000-square-foot manufacturing expansion in 2020. He said the CRG was “lead” economic development organization for the project. The project buildout will take about two years and is an estimated $74 million expansion, including construction and equipment. He said that once completed, it is expected to create 50 jobs.
“They’ve already sent us a list of what jobs they’re trying to fill,” Peters told supervisors.
Regarding Fulton County business assistance, Peters said his staff worked hard after COVID hit. The CRG worked with businesses on submitting Small Business Administration assistance applications. Peters said the CRG also assisted in finding sources of working capital and was the primary information source for the “ever changing” federal and state programs.
Other top 10 accomplishments by the CRG last year included: CRG packaged financing for a major county company, helped with the transformational Local Five and Dine building renovation in Northville, successfully packaged eight Microenterprise Grants, was instrumental in financing for the Great Sacandaga Brewing Co., the CRG was an approved lender, assisted with finalization of the Caroga Lake Firehouse, and did workforce development. The CRG’s Advanced Institute Manufacturing Program, or AIM, was successful and “well accepted” with Fulton County’s major manufacturers, Peters said.
The CRG produced its first publication of the 2020-21 Initiatives Guide to Fulton County.
“It was very well received,” Peters said.
He said the AIM publication far exceeded all expectations as to content and production quality.
CRG 2021 initiatives listed by Peters were these eight items: Identify two target industry sectors, training, increase marketing capability, increase CRG membership, explore other possible grant structures, locate additional loan pools, broaden the CRG’s presence in additional municipal locations, and further seek development opportunities.
“”We have a robust training schedule,” Peters said, mostly involving Zoom.
