By FRITZ MAYER, River Reporter
ROCK HILL, NY — The new chairman of the board of the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development was formally introduced to the membership on October 8 at a packed event with more than 200 guests at the Lodge at Rock Hill.
Josh Sommers, the president and CEO of Focus Media, is taking over the reins from Suzanne Loughlin, who led the board for three years.
In his remarks, Sommers said that the work of the Partnership in bringing new businesses and development to Sullivan County is more important than ever because of the recession. He repeated the idea, which was also put forward by Partnership president and CEO Tim McCausland, that the organization backs the development of gas drilling in the county as long as the environmental impacts are mitigated.
Also, perhaps with a reference to the seven-year battle that Yukiguni Maitake has waged against environmentalists to open a mushroom factory in Mamakating, Sommers said that while the organization seeks to protect the environment and does not promote economic development at all costs, the Partnership must be a voice supporting development projects, especially those that are opposed from a not-in-my-back-yard position.
He said, “We cannot allow any single organization, using the guise of protecting the environment, to justify their opposition to any economic development project. Sitting silent will only put a closed for business sign on our door. This means ramping up our organization’s dialogue in a rational and educational tone at public hearings and countering grassroots opposition’s misinformation and attacks on positive economic development projects.”
On another topic, although the prospect of off-reservation casinos coming to the county seems to be fading as a group of powerful senators has come out against the expansion of such facilities, the hope is alive in the Partnership. Sommers, in a reference to a pro-casino campaign that was waged several years ago, said, “Just call me ‘room for five.’”
The sentiment was repeated by McCausland, who said he believed the claims of people who have told him that “the greatest time to live in the county was when the resorts were booming.” He said of casinos, “we are truly hard wired for this industry.”
Thompson supervisor Tony Cellini, who received the organization’s Rhulen Award, also put in a word of support for gaming, saying, “These proposed casino projects are instant stimulus without government funding.”
Also highlighted in the speeches was the county’s push for green jobs. There are several solar farms and wind farms on the drawing boards, and there is a push by the Partnership and other county organizations to bring a solar panel manufacturing operation to the area.
Also, several new projects that were aided by Partnership efforts were mentioned, including the Dancing Cat Distillery that is coming to Bethel, the Shelburne Plastics facility that is opening in Bridgeville and the Boreal Water company expansion that is proceeding in Kiamesha Lake.
