In this month’s edition of the G/FL Economic Recovery Series, we are featuring small business information, flood recovery, regional supply chain analysis and upcoming webinars.
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Make sure to complete and share the NYS Broadband Assessment Survey
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Please continue promoting your community members to participate by filling out this brief survey.
This online survey is an interactive tool which community members can access in a host of manners ranging from computers, tablets, cell phones, and, if applicable due to lack of broadband, hard copy.
The survey documents issues with respect to availability, as well as adoption, and enables communities to better understand broadband issues from the resident's perspective. Is broadband available? Do they use it? If not, why? In general, is broadband in the community effective at meeting the needs of the community?
For those with internet access, the survey will allow them to submit the results of internet speed tests to further document the actual availability of service (and not just the claims of availability made by service providers.) This interactive methodology generates statistically valid information which is also overlaid into the GIS program for accuracy.
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Regional Supply Chain Analysis
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The G/FLRPC, along with consultants MRB Group, have completed a regional supply chain analysis. This report explores supply chains in the Genesee/Finger Lakes Region in order to identify opportunities and potential vulnerabilities that could impact the regional economy in the future. It includes an overview of the existing supply chains in the region, an analysis of industries that may be beneficial to grow within the region based on excess supply and/or unmet demand, potential opportunities to localize supply chains, and the key supply chain drivers impacting high importing/exporting industries within the region. While this report is just a starting point, it can help to guide regional partners in anticipating disruptions and improving economic resilience.
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NOAA and Syracuse University Advancing Community Resiliency on our Lake Ontario Shoreline
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As Lake Ontario has had flooding events in 2017 and 2019, residents and community leaders need decision-support tools to accurately determine the risks future floods pose to property and livelihoods. Initiatives such as New York State’s Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI) have made major strides in developing projects to sustainably rebuild New York’s Lake Ontario shoreline, including a $325 million-dollar investment in public projects and at-risk infrastructure. Even with these investments, Wayne County communities still need the best available tools to learn about potential flood and financial risks to property owners and communities.
This project through Syracuse University and other partner, including the Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council, has the following goals:
- Identify economic vulnerabilities of flooding to: individual community members and businesses, and residential and commercial properties.
- In collaboration with Wayne County communities, develop recommended actions and policies.
- Develop strategies to communicate recommended actions, policies, and tools effectively.
For more information, check out their Storymap detailing their research and findings as well as a resource page for both homeowners and other interested parties.
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Small Business and Economic Recovery
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Businesses in New York were severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020, and the negative impacts on small businesses with less than 500 employees persist. Small businesses continue to report new challenges with hiring difficulties and with supply chains. Nevertheless, the data published by the New York State Comptroller show positive signs of economic recovery for NYS small business.
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Cornell University Receives AgTech Accelerator EDA University Center Grant
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We would like to congratulate Cornell University and their team in their successful EDA grant award from the "Build Back Better" Regional challenge for an AgTech Center. The project enhances the economic qualities of the region and fosters the goals and objectives of the recently completed Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) that GFL developed last fall. Please see the attached announcement from Cornell University. GFL looks forward to working with the team in the coming months, especially on the regional summits.
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GFLRPC 2022 Regional Summit Series
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GFLRPC is excited to announce a new, quarterly online and in-person seminar series devoted to topics on economic recovery and resilience. We are hoping to hold at least three sessions over the next nine months – capping off the series with a Regional Summit in the Fall of 2022.
Our goal is to host a wide range of speakers from elected officials to non-profit executives to share their unique perspectives on the topic at hand. Each session will be held in a hybrid model conducive to both virtual and in-person attendees. We invite in-person attendees to join us for a catered lunch and interactive Q&A sessions with our speakers.
We anticipate the first session will focus on rural economic development including infrastructure and compliance with New York State funding opportunities. Please stay tuned for a special announcement for more information on the first session and registration instructions.
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Clean Energy Communities updated PON Webinar
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In November, NYSERDA released updates to the Clean Energy Communities PON. Not only do these changes make the program more accessible to municipalities of all sizes across New York State, it also creates new pathways to help villages, towns, cities, and counties access the top levels of grant funding available through the CEC Program. Please join us to learn about these changes, and how the updates to the PON can benefit your community.
Please join us on Wednesday January 12th at either 1pm or 7pm to discuss the changes.
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"A Geothermal Story" with Rob Richardson
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Interested in geothermal for your home or business? Do you have questions about the technology & how it works? Are you curious to find out if there are, in fact, benefits to going geothermal?
Please join us for "A Geothermal Story" to hear a firsthand account from someone who utilized the Clean Heating & Cooling Program to upgrade their HVAC system to geothermal. Rob Richardson, the Clean Energy Communities Coordinator from the Genesee/Finger Lakes Region, will share his experience from assessment to activation and the benefits he's experienced since his system went live September 1, 2021.
Wednesday, January 19th, 2022 | 7 - 8 PM
The presentation will be followed by Q & A, so feel free to bring questions!
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Clean Energy Communities Spotlight
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Village of Rushville Earns Clean Energy Communities Designation, $5,000 Grant
The Village of Rushville recently earned recognition as a Designated Clean Energy Community through the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Clean Energy Communities (CEC) Program. In doing so, the Village also earned a $5,000 grant to assist with future Clean Energy Initiatives.
To earn designation, the Village needed to complete four (4) of the High Impact Actions included in the CEC Program. They chose to complete Benchmarking, Advanced Reporting, Energy Code Enforcement Training, and adopt the Unified Solar Permit.
The Village of Rushville plans to use their $5,000 Designation Grant to further the Clean Energy Goals of the Community.
Congratulations to the Village of Rushville!
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