ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE – Meeting Minutes

November 14, 2007

4:00 p.m., SCEDC Office

The Economic Development Committee of the Comprehensive Plan met on October 10, 2007. 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. Meyersdale Redevelopment Pilot Project – Kathy Bisko and Jeff Silka arranged for our committee to tour the Colonial Hotel in Meyersdale, which is in the early stages of being renovated and is a vital part of Meyersdale’s plan. Hotel owner, Adam Thomas flew in from Colorado to give us a tour on Nov. 9 at 2:00 p.m. The purpose was to show us how they plan to completely gut and rebuild the structure and to discuss a funding strategy for a $2 million gap they will have on this project. In addition to the tour, we also met with Henry Cook of Somerset Trust and viewed a movie Adam and his wife, Cherie, have put together about the hotel.

Sean Garrigan was a part of the tour on Nov. 9^th and teleconferenced into today’s meeting. After the tour he spoke briefly to Linda Boxx of the Allegheny Trail Alliance about the project. They are going to meet within the next two weeks to talk in greater detail about the project.

The next logical step in this process is for Adam and Cherie Thomas to secure their private funding. A conversation should be had with a Somerset Trust Company (STC) lending officer. Once that is in place, Linda Boxx should be brought in.

Sean suggested the Commissioners invite Linda to Meyersdale to tour the hotel with Adam and with Henry Cook present. He suggested to do this in December, if possible. In addition to touring the hotel, The Thomases, Henry and Linda should have a conversation about the funding.

Sean also talked with Cathy McCollum of the Progress Fund and she suggested using some creative project funding structures (ie dividing up the project into separate entities/LPCs like the café, conference center, apartments, lodging to attaing more funding). Cathy has some examples of funding structures that have been used on other projects and will work with Steve Spochart on this aspect.

Once these steps are in action, the Commissioners should invite Sen. Kasunic to tour the hotel and inform him of the details of the project. Once he understands the project and it’s impact on Meyersdale and the County, he could be a strong champion for funding.

Sean informed us that the Progress Fund/ATA are updating their spending study on the trail in the Spring of 2008, so those results could serve as a useful tool as we move forward with the Colonial Hotel project.

2. Meyersdale Redevelopment Pilot Project – Part II – Kathy Bisko shared with the committee that the Thomases have talked with other lodging businesses in Meyersdale about creating a joint reservation system and having a joint housekeeping pool to utilize. They have verbal agreements with the Levi Diehl Mansion and the potential new owners of the Main Street Inn. This demonstrates yet another way the Colonial Hotel will provide a positive impact on the community.

3. Cathy McCollum’s participation – Cathy McCollum recently asked Kerri Burtner if she could switch her committee participation from the Tourism Committee to the Zoning & Land Development Committee. In light of today’s conversation it was suggested that Kerri invite Cathy to join the Economic Development committee instead (or in addition to). Cathy had suggested Amy Camp from the Progress Fund replace her on the Tourism Committee. NOTE: Kerri invited Cathy to join the Economic Development Committee and she agreed. She will join this committee for all future meetings as her schedule allows.

4. Laurel Highlands Business Park – Jeff Silka has had a conversation with a group out of Pittsburgh with experience marketing business parks similar to the LHBP. He will keep us posted on future conversations/decisions.

5. Four Year Higher Education Institution – Lance Sterni suggested the idea of bringing a satellite campus of a four year college to Somerset. He spoke of the many positive impacts it would have on the community – economically, culturally, and socially. He has affiliations with two small, rural towns, similar to Somerset, who have benefitted greatly from having small four year campuses.

6. Water Park – Someone questioned the status of the water park at the Turnpike Interchange. Mike Friedhofer said he will talk with the contractor to see if he can get us an update.

In anticipation of a visit to the Colonial Hotel in December with Linda Boxx and the Commissioners (in which at least some members of this committee will participate), our next scheduled meeting will be on January 9, 2008, at 4:00 p.m. at the SCEDC.