The IDA Board of Directors voted to accept a proposal from Casale Public Affairs, of Cooperstown, to provide marketing and public affairs services...Herkimer County finally wised up and recognized EDGE's problem!
. . . Casale Public Affairs was the only firm that offered to provide marketing and public affairs services. The firm also agreed to represent the IDA exclusively to avoid conflict with other clients and interests . . .
Utica-Rome Metro (Oneida and Herkimer Counties) has three major areas of population concentration and economic activity: (1) Rome, (2) Greater Utica and (3) Southern Herkimer County. While there is some cross-between, they are relatively distinct from each other, with separate infrastructure issues, separate media outlets, and separate perceptions of "downtown."
A slave cannot serve two masters. EDGE was assigned to serve three . . . but, as could be expected, only did justice for one. This is the problem with "regionalization" and "consolidation" as practiced here. It cannot work without a merger of entities into one.
At least Herkimer County can free itself of the EDGE albatross. Unfortunately for Greater Utica, Oneida County will continue to take from Greater Utica to give to EDGE which will serve Rome.
(For more commentary on EDGE, check out Larry's post on Gotham City.)
6 comments:
OC should take a lesson from this and outsource our marketing/advertising (to a local firm). Probably would save a bundle and get a more consistent and professional job. Let local agencies come up with proposals and presentations on how they would market this county. Get rid of EDGE and the OCC&VB
Good for Herkimer County! Perhaps Utica should take note of what their astute Herkimer County neighbors have done and terminate their affiliation with EDGE. Utica needs to wakeup and realize that Edge may get its funding from many sources, but it primarily serves one . . . Rome (primarily Griffiss).
EDGE must go. Steve Dimeo is a poor example of leadership, if there ever was one.
All EDGE does is "grant" PILOTS while acting as bloodsuckers by taking the monies from their revenue sources instead of turning it over to the County where it belongs.
Where has Picente and the Legislature been on this matter? They too, need to be voted out of office.
Senator Bayh has it right, VOTE OUT OUR RESP "en masse!"
First, the county has had its own IDA and development staff for a long time. It was not relying on EDGE. Second, the new contract calls for an inventory of sites which should have been accomplished and updated long ago. finally, check out who got the contract. Here, the EDGE problem relates directly to the mission to fill Griffiss not to the structure of the agency. In that sense, EDGE could not serve two masters. You can't redevelope what amounts to a new town in Rome and hope to develop in other areas. We should have known this in 1995.
Good for Herkimer Co. Yes someone else benefits and who may be connect politically and that is what we need. Mr Casale is a standup type of guy and he has my vote. Lets give the IDA and Mr Casale our support and wish them well. It may be better than what EDGE has done. Change is good.
Change is not inherently good.In this case we hope it is.But, the fact remains that Herkimer County has been in the economic development business for decades with paid staffs from several organizations. Maybe it will be the singer, not the song.
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