SEEC Welcomed New York State “Godfather” of Economic Development
Empire State Development Program Leaders Walked Industrial Site Tours
(January 24, 2025) Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corporation (SEEC) hosted senior program directors from New York State and Mohawk Valley Empire State Development (ESD) for in-depth tours of the industrial sites known as Highbridge Schoharie and Shad Point Commerce Center Cobleskill. Together, the projects were awarded more than $3 million Focused Attraction of Shovel-Ready Tracts New York (FAST NY) Track B ($390,700) and Track C ($2,790,000) grant funding, respectively. Guest Jeff Janiszewski was recently recognized at the New York State Economic Development Conference as the “Godfather” and architect of key initiatives led by ESD to include the FAST NY program.
Matching $1.6 million local American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) investment at the sites and poised to bring $100 million new construction private capital investment and 200 jobs to Highbridge alone, the industrial development efforts have become priority in Schoharie County. The delegation, which included Jeff Janiszewski, Senior Vice President | Strategic Business Development Global NY and Christian Mercurio, Senior Director Site Development at Mohawk Valley ESD was led by SEEC representatives Julie Pacatte and Ben Overing as Schoharie Town Supervisor and Werner Hampel, Cobleskill Town Supervisor, who guided discussions on development strategies and future opportunities. JIm Halios, Executive Director, Schoharie County Industrial Development Agency (SCIDA) and John Crescimanno, economic development coordinator, Schoharie County government were invited to attend.
SEEC was instrumental in supporting the approval process of the Highbridge development and served as primary advocate resulting in County leadership directing local ARPA allocations to both sites. SEEC later had a hand in securing the $2.79 million FAST NY award for the water and wastewater upgrades at the Schoharie Business Park.
Listening to resident feedback during Highbridge entitlement process, SEEC introduced a new Community Benefit Fund (CBF) and drafted policy changes to the SCIDA Uniform Tax-Exempt Policy (UTEP). SCIDA adopted the policy updates agreeing to allocate fees collected on all projects receiving tax incentives to capitalize the CBF. CBF investments should be directed to mitigate community concerns and bolster positive community impacts of new developments. SEEC continues to collaborate with ESD and other regional partners to advance transformative initiatives for industry diversity and sustainable growth in the region.
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Highbridge Schoharie located along the Schoharie County corridor, received approval for up to 540,000 square feet of logistics and light manufacturing space, complemented by retail and food service. This site benefits from its strategic location along key highways, including Interstate 88 and Interstate 81, making it ideal for industries such as light manufacturing, logistics, and distribution. The project, backed by significant private investment and local process navigation supported by SEEC, has potential to create 287 permanent jobs leveraging $92 million in direct capital investment and multi-million benefits to the local economy.
Shad Point Commerce Center has received $1,000,000 in local ARPA funding commitment for site control and pre-development. Located along the I-88 corridor, this site is poised to attract industries like food processing, advanced manufacturing, and logistics, thanks to its prime location and infrastructure access. In 2024, Schoharie County Industrial Development Agency (SCIDA) secured a $390,700 NYS FAST NY grant to further support the project. After a competitive selection process, Scannell Properties was chosen as the Preferred Developer for the Shad Point site.
Mohawk Valley | Empire State Development (MV ESD), a regional economic development organization, works to enhance the economic health and vitality of the region by supporting growth, improving infrastructure, and creating jobs. Through initiatives like these, MV ESD aims to attract new industries and foster long-term economic sustainability across its six-county region, which includes Schoharie County.
Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corp. Established by the private sector, Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corporation, commonly known as “SEEC,” was organized as a not-for-profit to strengthen Schoharie County by fostering economic growth. SEEC serves as a liaison to local municipalities and institutional leaders with the common goal of highlighting distinctive points of light within the community, cultivating entrepreneurial endeavors and enhancing the ability of local businesses to add value to their enterprises. SEEC is guided by social, environmental and financial principles that will accelerate growth and help provide sustainability through a collaborative and thriving business community.