MASSENA — Massena Town Board has decided to discontinue all funding for Business Development Corporation.
During the meeting on Wednesday, board members approved reducing the amount given to the BDC to zero. This is done through budget revisions.
After the Massena Townboard agreed to reduce funding from $ 75,000 to $ 40,000 in March, the Business Development Corporation was already running with reduced funding.
Executive Director James A. Murphy requested and received $ 75,000 in 2022 when he appeared in front of Massena Townboard during a budget work session in 2021. He said it was a 25% reduction from traditional funding from the town.
However, since then, town board members have said they have not seen enough return on investment to justify maintaining the $ 75,000 allocation.
The Massena Village Board previously chose to stop funding the BDC and instead use that funding to pay for its granting services.
Currently, BDC is no longer in operation. Friday was Murphy’s last day as a full-time executive director before moving to a per diem deal, ending his current grants and giving him time to answer questions. BDC President Daniel S. Peas also suggested that last week’s meeting was likely to be the organization’s last official meeting.
But town supervisor Susan J. Beller said the focus needs to be on economic development.
“After reading the article that BDC will not hold any more meetings, what I want to do now is invite anyone here, the general public, or the board, if they are interested in taking any action. Plan to continue doing something at BDC or develop some strategy to bring business to Massena. Let your friends know about it and get in touch with them, “she said.
“I think we need to accept it. It’s an opportunity for all of us,” said Mrs. Beller. “Everyone in the village or town board feels they have a strategy to bring some businesses here in Massena and build some businesses, contact us. please.”
She said she had done some historical research on BDC.
“In 1984 it was called the Industrial Development Agency. In 1987 it was called the Massena Industrial Development Corporation. In 1992 it was called the Massena Economic Development Council. In 2006 it was the Business Development Council. “It became,” said Mrs. Beller. She “returned to the information found in the town clerk’s office with the help of Jeannine (Brouse) and the minutes of the website.”
She said the marketing plan was undertaken in 2006 but has since been shelved.
“Maybe we can get in there, see it and revive it,” she said. “Do you know?”
Deputy Mayor Matthew J. Rubir also discussed the situation at BDC at the Mayor of Massena on Tuesday.
“This board is confident that the mayor and supervisors are already in talks to understand the next steps for the two organizations in terms of economic development,” he said.
Mayor Gregory M. Pakin said he and Mrs. Beller had met Mr. Pease for preliminary discussions.
“Sue asked some of the BDC members to continue to support brainstorming on how we approach this,” he said. “There’s nothing specific, but obviously we keep posting to everyone.”
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