Kendall receives re-grant for marina construction

Construction could soon begin on the Eagle Creek Marina renovations. The Kendall marina will offer all the amenities a boater could wish for - and more.

The Town of Kendall Supervisor John Becker said on March 30 that town officials heard they were successful in their re-grant efforts for the $562,000 to get the project up and running. The funds were approved more than a year ago but because Eagle Creek Marina owner Jim Freemesser was unable to secure the remaining private financing within the 18-month time limit, the funds went back to the state. The Town of Kendall re-applied for the funds in early March.

"We received verbal confirmation that the town has been re-awarded the economic development funds for the marina project," Becker said. "We'll be drawing from the funds over the next 18 months as the project moves forward."

Freemesser, owner of Eagle Creek for the past 10 years, said his marina will offer all new state-of-the-art floating docks and each dock will feature water and electric and many of them will offer telephone and cable television hook ups.

"I'm thrilled that the second response came through positively and thank everyone involved with the grant process," Freemesser said. "As soon as all of the paperwork is finalized we are ready to get started. We're shooting to get a majority of the project done by middle to late August."

Eagle Creek, once its upgrades are complete, will be a destination for boaters who are looking to stop, dock and spend some time either relaxing or docking to escape a storm or high waves. Freemesser said he took advantage of his frequent cross country travels to scope out marinas to see what they offered boaters.

Boaters stopping at Eagle Creek will find private bathroom facilities and swimming pool and splash water park for the children to enjoy. There will also be an arcade area, a lounge area that will feature a 150-inch television with surround sound, laundry facilities and a ship store that will carry convenience foods. The second floor of the marina will feature a full service restaurant with designated docking facilities.

The announcement that the funds were once again approved for the marina's construction caps a more than three year project for Freemesser. In 2002, the Town of Kendall received a $562,000 economic development grant through the Office for Small Cities Community Development Program to help with the expansion of Eagle Creek Marina and create 38 new jobs, making Eagle Creek the largest employer in the town.

The funding to the town would assist with the expansion plans at Eagle Creek Marina, located on Lake Ontario, one of only two facilities on the western shore of the lake that can handle larger vessels for repairs.

The expansion project will consist of the construction of a storage building for boats, a wastewater treatment facility, an increase in the number of boat slips and construction of a new marina facility with a pool, restaurant, boat store and shower and restroom facilities. In addition, the owners plan to expand the mechanical and fiberglass repair facility. The Small Cities funding will be used for construction of new docks, construction of the new marina building, a new sewer plant and electrical upgrades.

In addition to the funding being used to help Freemesser expand and enhance the marina, Becker said one of the benefits of the Small Cities funding is that the town is allowed to keep the funds paid back by Freemesser as part of his loan agreement and will use those funds as seed money for other individuals interested in opening businesses in the Kendall area.

Information on Eagle Creek can be found at www.eaglecreekmarina.com or by calling Freemesser at 723-5788.