CLDC CONTINUES WORK ON REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE
The Canandaigua Local Development Corporation; a joint economic development venture of the City and Town of Canandaigua and the Ontario County Chamber of Commerce, continued critical work toward investigation and advocacy on infrastructure-related issues to support the region’s economic development goals.
As part of its 2020 – 2025 Strategic Plan, the LDC identified infrastructure advocacy as a priority policy area on which to focus. As Canandaigua continues to work to attract investment and jobs, and bolster quality of life for its residents, clean drinking water, protection of the Canandaigua Lake watershed, reliable electric and natural gas, and a strong transportation network have all been identified as accelerators.
Since identifying and adopting infrastructure advocacy as a priority, the CLDC has assisted the Canandaigua community in:
· Convening regional stakeholders: The LDC Board, in partnership with the Ontario County Industrial Development Agency, convened regional municipal leadership in communities that rely on local infrastructure for water and wastewater capacity. The session was designed to illustrate the impacts of regional growth and development on local infrastructure, and to engage regional leaders in dialogue about opportunities for collaborative service delivery approaches. At the conclusion of this session, County leadership concurred that Ontario County would have a lead role in future convenings and development of a regional solution.
· Engaging with infrastructure providers: The Local Development Corporation met with leaders from AvanGrid; the parent corporation of Rochester Electric and Gas – the region’s supplier of power. The session was designed for Avangrid to understand growth goals of the City and Town, and for local leaders to learn more about constraints and opportunities for growth. Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan was on-site to gather critical information for legislative opportunities, and the Ontario County Board of Supervisors was briefed on the effort. Local leaders continue to work with Avangrid to address infrastructure gaps that affect development and investment.
Additionally, LDC staff met with leadership from the Finger Lakes Railroad to gain insight into the condition and availability of rail capacity, and opportunities for Canandaigua property owners and businesses to leverage proximity and access to rail infrastructure to boost productivity and profitability.
In follow up to these meetings, LDC staff is preparing an infrastructure white paper for distribution to key elected and appointed leadership in the region.
· Pursuing critical funding: The LDC is eagerly awaiting announcements on the Downtown Revitalization Initiative; the Governor’s economic development program, aimed at reinforcing downtown districts as economic engines for our communities. This year’s DRI application includes funding to address critical infrastructure elements, including connectivity between downtown and the lakefront, as well as other elements of the Waterfront Active Transportation Plan.
The LDC Board will reconvene with the Canandaigua City Council and Town Board in FY2025 to re-evaluate priority policy areas, and to determine critical action items for the next several years. Monitor www.canandaiguameansbusiness.com for updates on these efforts.
