Sidney Merchants Surveyed
In March 2002, the Center for Economic and Community
Development (CECD) at SUNY Oneonta conducted a survey of businesses in the
Sidney Main Street area. The
survey is designed to assess Main Street conditions from the perspective of
merchants. The results will be
used to d3evelop strategies that will improve the Main Street area.
Most questionnaires were complete thought the process of
face-to-face interviews with merchants.
A total of 226 merchants responded to the survey.
Merchants were questioned on a variety of topics including assessment
of local government serviced, signage, Main Street appearance, current and
future business operations, and business practices.
Also, a survey of Main Street properties was conducted that focused
on the condition of window displays, signage, storefronts, and overall
building appearance.
Thank you to all the merchants who contributed their
valuable time to complete interviews with the staff of the CECD.
Community Surveys for Sidney Completed
On February 15, 2002, community survey questionnaires were
randomly mailed to residents in both the Town and Village of Sidney.
Included in each packet was a cover letter explaining the Vision 21
project and purpose of the survey, along with two survey questionnaires for
each household, and two business reply envelopes for the convenient return
mailing of the surveys.
A total of 395 Town households and 347 Village households
received a survey packet. In
addition, 93 survey packets were hand delivered to a random number of rental
units in the Village of Sidney, increasing to 440, the number of Village
households surveyed.
Residents were asked questions on a variety of topics
including quality of life, economic development, assessment of services, and
local government. Included at
the end of the questionnaire was a section for additional comments.
This gave residents the opportunity to voice their opinion on
topic(s) covered in the survey or to address other issues important to the
individual and the community.
The target response rate for both the Village and Town was
established at 40 percent. At
the conclusion of the study, the Village exceeded the target rate at
forty-one percent and the Town fell short of the goal at thirty-two percent.
Since a return rate of forty percent is a high standard for survey
results, these return rates are good.
Small Cities Grant Programs Ideal for Tri-Town Area
Since the 1970's, the Small Cities Grant Program has been
effectively used by hundreds of towns, villages, and counties (as well as
cities) to promote housing rehabilitation, homeownership, public
improvement, and economic development projects.
These are purposes that are clearly a priority to the Tri-Town Area.
Since 2001, this program has been administered by the
Governor's Office for Small Cities, previously controlled by the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Municipalities can apply for up to $400,000 for "single
purpose" projects (one activity) of $750,000 for a
"comprehensive" program (series of related activities).
Applications are due in April of each year and are awarded in August.
Economic development projects are considered year around, and
municipalities must be invited to submit an application after preparing a
short questionnaire.
The Comprehensive Action Plans and Regional Economic
Development Strategy, which are the major focus of the Vision 21 project,
will yield project that could be funded using the Small Cities Program.
Vision 21 Schedule Updates
| March: |
Completion of Town and Village of Sidney Surveys
Village of Sidney Public Official Interviews |
| April: |
Quarterly Newsletter
Town of Sidney Public Official Interviews
Contact with major businesses and
community/business groups (e.g. Mead, Amphenol, Chamber of Commerce)
Town and Village of Sidney Community Survey Report
Village of Sidney Main Street Merchant Survey |
| May: |
Village of Sidney draft and final report of
Comprehensive Plan
Village of Unadilla Main Street Merchant Survey |
| June: |
Town of Sidney draft and final report of
Comprehensive Plan
Town of Una
dilla Community Survey |
Village
and Town of Bainbridge Conduct Community Survey
Residents of
the Town and Village of Bainbridge received a community survey questionnaire
in their mail beginning on November 17th. Separate Town and Village surveys
were mailed to a random sample of households to determine how residents
feel about government services, future economic development, land use planning,
quality of life concerns, public safety, and many other important community
issues.
The survey
is being conducted by the Center for Economic & Community Development at
SUNY Oneonta as part of the Tri-County Area Vision 21 Project. As part of
this project, the Center will be preparing comprehensive plans for the Village
and Town of Bainbridge. The surveys will give residents an opportunity to
have input into the development of these plans.
Bainbridge
Merchant Survey Completed
The Center
for Economic & Community Development (CECD) recently completed interviews
with 23 Main Street merchants in the Village of Bainbridge. Merchants were
asked their views regarding doing business in the Village, marketing practices,
the effects of community events, future business plans, and quality of government
services.
The survey
yielded many interesting findings. For example, most merchants commented
on the need to form a merchant’s association to promote Village businesses
and help organize community events. They also noted that the Flea Markets
held in Village Park and the Motor Coach Show held in General Clinton Park
generate the most customers for them. Most merchants also want to improve
the look of the Village by enhancing storefronts, cleaning the streets,
and attracting new stores. At least 6 merchants would like to expand or
improve their businesses. Merchants believe these efforts will significantly
alter the image of the Village and foster more shopping by residents and
tourists.
The CECD has
prepared a final report that includes a review of the many findings of the
survey and specific action steps to address merchant concerns. Central to
the report is the need for greater collaboration between the merchants,
government officials, the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce, and the Bainbridge
Development Corporation. The report will be officially released in January
2002 and incorporated into the Village Comprehensive Plan.
The CECD would
like to thank merchants who gave of their valuable time to be interviewed
and to share their ideas. In February 2002, the CECD looks forward to interviewing
merchants in Sidney and proceed with interviews with merchants in Unadilla
in May of 2002.
2000
Census Shows Tri-Town Population Decline
Within the
region a pattern has occurred that is very typical of rural areas throughout
Upstate New York. In most instances, over the last decade, Village populations
declined and Town populations increased. Thus, the population of the Town
of Bainbridge increased 7.44%, the Town of Sidney increased 4.83%, and the
Town of Unadilla increased 11.14%. On the other hand, all the Villages lost
population including Bainbridge (-11.94%_), Sidney (-13.81%), and Unadilla
(-10.91%).
Some factors
contributing to the trend include old and less desirable housing stock in
the Villages, space for new home construction in the Towns, openness of
Towns to mobile homes, less restrictive land use regulations, and lower
tax rates in the Towns. No single factor explains the trend, but in combination,
the factors have greatly influenced residential choices of current and new
residents.
This significant
population loss demonstrates the important need for the Vision 21 Project
because the trend impacts government services, the labor force, the economy,
the tax base of municipalities, educational institutions, and possibly the
future birth rate of the region. Vision 21 is designed to enhance the planning
capacity of the Tri-Town Area and to develop strategies to improve the quality
of life and economy of the area. Thus, this effort will help the region
to successfully address this serious demographic trend.
TCA
Vision 21, Inc.
P.O. Box 2183
9 River Street
Sidney, NY 13838
