by Bea Peterson
Forty people attended the third Hoosick Rising meeting at the HAYC3 Armory Tuesday evening, July 22. It wasn’t just a meeting of Hoosick Falls residents. Besides facilitators from Camoin Associates, Hoosick Falls Mayor David Borge pointed out that there were representatives from the Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce and Rensselaer County Development as well as Town of Hoosick Supervisor Mark Surdam.
[private]In her visual presentation Camoin’s Christa Franzi had succinctly crossed out economic development to read community development. After her short presentation and another by Robert Camoin they heard a listing of Hoosick’s strengths – such as small town, community minded citizens, great schools and youth programs/facilities, abundant history and natural resources and, of course, Hoosick Rising. Hoosick’s weaknesses include a declining population, no proximity to large markets, a small labor pool and limited consumer demographics and, something of importance to a community’s vibrancy, no higher educational institute nearby.
Opportunities arising today include regional partnerships, growing artist and entrepreneurial interest in the area, a trend back to urban and small city living and various agricultural initiatives such as the Made in NY movement.
Threats include the increasing tax burden on residents, the loss of large employers and an aging population.
Fortified with that information those attending the meeting broke into groups to discuss ways to promote entrepreneurship and small business development opportunities and networking, ways to promote and build on the Hoosick environment, marketing Hoosick and the region, promoting historic and natural resources, education and workforce and, in all these discussions, thinking beyond local borders.
Afterwards several ideas were briefly discussed such as promoting farm tours, putting up trail markers, taking an inventory of available buildings in the area and promoting them, on line or wherever, to let people know what is available in the area, public access to WiFi somewhere downtown, promoting an online calendar listing the many and varied events in this area.
Mayor Borge said one of his specific goals is promoting the 1 Mechanic Street property. “That is an 80,000 square foot space that can support multiple businesses; perhaps small startup businesses,” he said. Working with a commercial realtor to promote that property is a big priority for him.
Franzi and Camoin said their task now is to compile all the information put forth at the meeting and select what they feel can be accomplished and who can accomplish it and present that information at the next meeting, which will be in mid September.
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