Pieces In Place For Downtown Initiative

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Over the past seven months, I have been working with Carolyn Lewis from Otsego County Economic Development, city officials, and the leadership of Main Street Oneonta to set the ground work for greater economic development in Downtown Oneonta.
As I contemplate being sworn in on Friday, Jan. 1, I am excited by the relative opportunities that present themselves to our community. 
I say “community,” because whether you are downtown, at the east or west end, or at Southside, in the eyes of the consumer, there is only one Oneonta ... There is no distinction between City and Town.
I say “relative” because we have the same challenges as all upstate New York, and all cities across the Northeastern United States for that matter.  But we are well-positioned to do better than most in recruiting new jobs because of the quality of life, our colleges, natural surroundings, plentiful water supply, business parks, transportation, and proximity to major markets.
I am “excited” because we are already the regional shopping hub between Binghamton and Albany with significant tourist traffic and the opportunity to generate even more.
Oneonta can become an even greater destination, recreational, retail center.  There are already new and expanded businesses on and near Main Street. 
There is space and parking, and the resolution of the Bresee’s building challenge is underway.
By encouraging and assisting new businesses downtown (and we have the ideas for them), we will make a big jump up the competitive ladder, with our goal being to capture more leisure and shopping dollars from customers who reside outside zip code 13820.
We have grant money, low-interest loans, business planning expertise, and ideas. We need people who want to become entrepreneurs, those who are willing to take modest economic risk and invest sweat equity in starting their own businesses.
To support them, Main Street Oneonta is being strengthened.  Plans are underway to develop, for the entire Oneonta Community, a brand, tag line, and web based marketing materials to draw people here.  We need one brand, and then support it wall to wall.  Wall to wall support is critical. The City, Town, County, Chamber of Commerce and our employers, including retailers, must promote only one Oneonta.
In the months and weeks ahead, I will be working with city and county officials, Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Oneonta, individual businesses and community leaders to expand our community’s marketing/sales effort. 
There is an adage:  Nothing happens until something is sold.
Together we must sell Oneonta to ourselves, those who already visit as tourists, and others within a day’s drive. There is plenty of room for all to join in.
Oneonta is already a good and interesting place.  Together we can make it even more exciting.