Roundtable discussion focus is Erie Canal revitalization

"Can the historic Erie Canal stimulate investment in local communities as it did 177 years ago," mused Mike Heftka, vice chair of the Western Erie Canal Heritage Corridor Planning Commission. Heftka serves as a business advisor in the Small Business Development Center at Buffalo State College.

Attracting that investment, from private and public sector sources, is the goal of a series of Economic Opportunity Roundtables being organized by the Planning Commission.

The first roundtable was held in February at SUNY Brockport and involved representatives from Federal and New York state agencies. The U.S. Small Business Administration, Empire State Development, New York Department of State, Department of Agriculture and Markets, Department of Transportation and Canal Corporation were among the groups participating in the session.

A second roundtable, with over twenty local elected officials, was held on May 16 in Lockport. Mayors from the communities of Palmyra, Middleport and Spencerport, as well as representatives from the towns of Amherst, Greece and Sweden and the cities of Rochester, Buffalo and Lockport shared their vision and needs for a revitalized Erie Canal Corridor in Western New York.

A third roundtable will be held in the Village of Fairport on June 27 and will focus on private business issues. Chambers of Commerce, lodging, recreation, restaurant and visitor destination managers will take part in this session.

"What we are hearing is that there is a strong desire to maximize the large public investment that has already been put into the canal infrastructure, but access to public funds and attracting private investment is a real challenge for many communities," Heftka stated. "The Planning Commission can serve as a catalyst to target business planning and investment in the 46 communities that are located on the Erie Canal today," he added.

William Condo, coordinator for the Planning Commission based in Rochester, noted that the commission has recognized that revitalized and thriving canal towns will bolster the Heritage Corridor as a local, national and international destination." The historical and architectural appeal of these towns offer great potential," he said. "Their rebirth can strengthen a sense of pride with residents, which in turn will offer curb appeal to businesses looking for space. It might also open the door for new, innovative local entrepreneurs to start businesses that serve a larger local and visitor consumer market."

The Western Erie Canal Heritage Corridor Planning Commission was created by New York State legislation in July 1999. The heritage Corridor includes Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Monroe and Wayne Counties. The commission is charged with developing a management plan for the five county Heritage Corridor based on preservation of historic and natural resources, economic development, recreation and promoting greater awareness of the area's rich history, which is unparalleled in the United States. Twenty-two planning commissioners have been appointed to the body. The Heritage Corridor Management Plan must be completed and approved by county legislatures and New York State by July 2003.