Otsego Now Announces

Website, Shovel-Ready Site

By LIBBY CUDMORE • www.allotsego.com

ONEONTA

Over coffee and pastries at Stella Luna early this morning, Otsego Now announced to their board that the Pony Farm site is nearing “shovel-ready” status to be listed on the brand new www.otsegonow.com website.

“With this website, we’ll be able to tell businesses ‘Give us your details and in 30-60 days, we’ll get you a building permit and get you in the ground’,” said CEO Sandy Mathes. “We’ve already had several inquiries about the site.”

Though the site plans at Pony Farm still need final approval from the Town of Oneonta Planning Board, Mathes is confident that they will be approved.  “We just have to update the site plan, downsize parking and add some solar,” said Mathes.  “But we believe the Planning Board will respond favorably.”

OtsegoNow.com and Pony Farm are just two of the initiatives detailed in the IDA’s annual report, titled “Planting the Seeds of Growth.”

“I see this title and I picture you frolicking through the county, planting seeds,” chairman Robert Hanft teased Mathes. “This is a good summary of what we’ve accomplished.”

Perhaps the biggest accomplishment was their transition from the county-owned COIDA to the private-sector Otsego Now last January.  “The financial result of these changes can be seen most prominently in increases in contractual expenses, salary and benefits, and leased office space and fixed asset acquisitions,” wrote Mathes in the annual report.

“We are at a critical stage,” said Mathes.  “We need to be visible.  It’s important that we have a seat at the table.”

Mathes also presented a Tactical Action Plan, which listed all the projects and where they are.  CFA funding was listed as a “Success” with plans to finalize partners and engage consultants, while plans for the Oneonta Rail Yards have “Progress,” with plans to focus on structure and finalizing with consultants.

“That is evolving into being our most prominent site,” said Mathes.

But there is still work to do, including preparing the workforce development program, which will work with local high schools, BOCES and job training sites.  “We want to transform the fifth floor of 184 Main Street into a high-end technical space with all the bells and whistles to train employees,” said Mathes.  “The need is out there, but that workforce is not trained.”

“We’re making progress,” he continued. “This does not happen overnight.  But we have a good image outside this county.  It’s a positive momentum, and we have to keep it going.”