ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE – Meeting Minutes

January 9, 2008

4:00 p.m., SCEDC Office

The Economic Development Committee of the Comprehensive Plan met on January 9, 2008. Those in attendance included: Jeff Silka, SCEDC; Lance Sturni, Laurel Highlands Financial Services; Kathy Bisko, Meyersdale Renaissance, Inc.; Steve Spochart, Redevelopment Authority; Mike Friedhofer; Brad Zearfoss, Planning Commission; Kerri Burtner, Comprehensive Plan Coordinator.

1. Future of Agriculture – Kerri has been invited to sit on the Leadership Committee for the Future of Agriculture. Headed by Miguel Saviroff of Penn State Cooperative Extension, the committee is preparing to do a survey of 80 farms/members of the County’s agriculture community. The goal is to have 25 pairs of two (one from the agriculture community and one from the business community) trained to conduct the surveys. Training will take place on Feb. 26 and surveys will be conducted during March. Jeff Silka and Lance Sturni volunteered to participate. Debbie Gary-Taskey, SCEDC Asst. Director, also agreed to participate.

2. Meyersdale Redevelopment Pilot Project – COLONIAL HOTEL – Steve Spochart met with representatives of DCED’s Section 108 program on Dec. 28^th. They briefly toured the hotel and then met to discuss funding. Section 108 is a viable option but there are some issues that will have to be addressed. For example, the new market tax credits they in their plan probably won’t materialize because it’s not a large enough project. They will also need to bring 10% cash to the table over what they’ve already put in. Section 108 requires that the business create one full-time job for every $35,000 they put into the project. They recommended the Meyersdale Council pass a resolution to join the consortium so they are eligible for Section 108 funds. Kathy Bisko will take care of that task.

In light of his meeting with DCED, Steve recommends we stay on this project a while longer. He would also like to find out if the owners, Adam and Cherie Thomas, are willing to have silent partners. Kathy Bisko is going to have a conversation with them about this.

Steve informed us that Cathy McCollom of the Progress Fund and Linda Boxx from the Allegheny Trail Alliance are currently working on a master plan of regional trail town development to send collectively to state agencies. The plan is currently in its final stages. In it, a $2 million ask has been identified for the hotel.

3. Other Business – Jeff reported that he had three inquiries within the last week from young people looking to purchase farms.

Dave Kemp from the Conservation District has agreed to join this committee and bringing his expertise and knowledge of the one million tree project that will hopefully turn into an alternative energy industry for the County.

Our next scheduled meeting will be on February 13, 2008, at 4:00 p.m. at the SCEDC.