SEEC has its eyes on the Schoharie Business Park.
First up:
Funding for a trail from the I-88 Park & Ride.
After that?
Finding ways to draw new businesses “and people who see the potential that we do with this site,” SEEC’s grants writer Jerrine Corallo said Thursday.
The Town of Schoharie’s been struggling with roads and water and sewer issues at the privately-owned business park nearly since it was built.
And in efforts to make the largely-vacant land marketable, the Planning Board is reviewing sign regulations and other restrictions in an effort to modernize them.
The potential is there.
“SEEC sees the Business Park as a real asset and an opportunity for development,” Ms. Corallo told Supervisor Alan Tavenner and councilmen.
At the very least, she said, that means reviving plans for a walking trail off the I-88 Park & Ride—something that could serve as a gateway to not only the Business Park, but other trail alignments down Route 30.
SEEC and Ms. Corallo are seeking up to $250,000 through the state’s Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic to establish what they’re calling the Schoharie Valley Gateway Trailhead and Schoharie Business Park Connector Loop.
The $375,000 project would require a $125,000 local match, which could be met with in-kind services and volunteers.
The grant would go toward preliminary and final designs, easements, constructing a half-mile multiuse connector trail, establishing a SVG trailhead facility at the Park & Ride, signage, repositioning the Business Park and welcoming access for new visitors.
In the years before Hurricane Irene, the state Department of Transportation awarded funding for a trail near the Park & Ride for fishing access at the Schoharie Creek.
That’s since been withdrawn and because of work on the I-88 bridge there, the creek is no longer safely accessible.
Deadline for the OPRHP grant is July 31.
After that, Ms. Corallo said, she’ll step up her work on a DOT Transportation Alternatives Program grant that has a September 29 deadline.
If successful, that grant could award up to $5 million—but would require a 20 percent local match.
It would be part of the SVG Multiuse Trail Expansion & Complete Streets Redevelopment of the Schoharie Business Park, Phase 2.
Another source for funding would be a Community Development Block Grant.
“We’re looking at this all as place to stop and learn about what the Schoharie Valley has to offer,” Ms. Corallo said.
It would also make the Business Park more attractive to potential new businesses.
The trail loop would also be an asset to services and businesses already in the Business Park, including Mental Health, the Office for the Aging, and Morning Star Day Care, she said.
The Town of Schoharie gave its support to SEEC’s efforts—not required for the application, Ms. Corallo said, but something that will make it more attractive for grants.