CWC Board authorizes new programs, okays loans

MARGARETVILLE - Action taken by the Catskill Watershed Corporation Board of Directors February 28 has launched planning for two new water quality protection programs.

The board authorized the President of the Corporation to sign two contracts with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). One will expand the current septic repair and rehabilitation program to include provisions for clustered septic systems to serve groups of a few households in close proximity, and for septic repairs for small businesses. The other new program will create an institutional sand and salt storage facility program to assist colleges, schools and hospitals which may be required to cover their winter salt piles.

More information on these programs will be forthcoming in the coming months. They are expected to be up and running in late 2008.

Three new low-interest loans were also approved February 28.

CSA Properties (Florence and Joseph Barra, Jr.) of Fishkill will refinance and renovate 818 Main Street, Margaretville, a building they purchased in June of 2007. The building includes two storefronts occupied by gem and mineral retailer Rocko, and two apartments.

Culwell Development, Inc. (Brian and Colleen Culwell) of Ellenville will use their loan to purchase and renovate a former grocery store at 140 S. Main St., Ellenville where they will move their Ace Hardware store currently located at 16 N. Main St. The move will triple the available space for the busy retail operation. It currently employs 10 people and anticipates 24 employees by 2010.

A third loan will assist Cheryl Lins in the development of Delaware Phoenix Distillery, which will produce absinthe, an herbal liquor, at a Walton location. The product will be called Catskill Spirits Absinthe.

In other business, the CWC Board:

  • Approved a Stormwater Retrofit grant of up to $137,020 to the Village of Delhi to purchase a street sweeper to keep debris from washing into catch basins leading to local waterways. The machine, which is equipped with a vacuum to remove material from catch basins, will be made available to other municipalities that wish to use it.

  • Authorized a one-year, in-kind lease with SUNY Ulster to provide a Small Business Development Center outreach site at CWC offices, 905 Main St., Margaretville. Business counselor Sam Kandel is available to work with watershed business owners or prospective entrepreneurs to develop business plans, marketing strategies and operational plans that could make them eligible for low-interest CWC loans and other assistance. Call him at 339-0025, ext. 15 to make an appointment.

    The CWC is a non-profit, local development corporation responsible for several environmental protection economic development and education programs in the New York City Watershed West of the Hudson River. For more information, go to www.cwconline.org, or call toll-free 877-928-7433.





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