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Otsego Now Launches Highly Anticipated New Web Site

Web presence provides enhanced communication with local citizens & Site Selector community June 25, 2015 (ONEONTA, NY) — Otsego Now today announced the launch of its highly anticipated new web site at www.otsegonow.com. The site, which is the culmination of a six-month branding project that began last September, is expected to enhance the IDA’s refurbished image and message, packaged under the Otsego Now brand. OtsegoNow.com provides simple and intuitive navigation for any site visitor, whether a local business owner, a site selector, a job seeker in search of training, or an interested community member. “We are thrilled to have a … Read More

Pony Farm Completion, New Website Announced At Otsego Now Meeting

By Libby Cudmore, Staff Writer, AllOtsego.com Over coffee and pastries at Stella Luna early this morning, Otsego Now announced to their board that the Pony Farm site is nearing “shovel-ready” status to be listed on the brand new www.otsegonow.com website. “With this website, we’ll be able to tell businesses ‘Give us your details and in 30-60 days, we’ll get you a building permit and get you in the ground’,” said CEO Sandy Mathes. “We’ve already had several inquiries about the site.” Though the site plans at Pony Farm still need final approval from the Town of Oneonta Planning Board, Mathes … Read More

IDA Launches New Website, Sees Progress

By Denise Richardson, Staff Writer, The Daily Star Otsego Now, a brand initiative that includes the Otsego County IDA, launched its new website and reviewed projects and other business during an annual meeting in Oneonta on Thursday, officials said. The website, www.otsegonow.com, is the culmination of a branding project that began in September last year, according to a media release. The site is expected to enhance the IDA’s refurbished image and message and be accessible for entrepreneurs, business owners and representatives and other visitors, officials said. “We are thrilled to have a professional website as a dynamic communication tool,” Elizabeth … Read More

A Milestone in the Marathon

On Monday, November 16th, the Oneonta Town Planning Board approved the proposed site plan for the Oneonta Business Park, clearing the way for future business expansion. The Planning Board approved a plan for mixed use development that translates into up to 400,000 square feet of building space, 170 parking spaces, and an opportunity to attract businesses that will create new, high-quality jobs. Sandy Mathes, CEO of Otsego Now, said in his press statement: “Gaining these approvals is critical to the ability of the Otsego IDA to effectively market the site and give confidence to the development community that a shovel … Read More

IDA 101

What is an IDA? IDA is an acronym for Industrial Development Agency or Authority. So, for example, COIDA is an acronym for County of Otsego Industrial Development Agency. IDAs were created in the State of New York back in 1969 for the express purpose of developing industry within an IDA’s particular jurisdiction. An IDA is created by legislation (the Otsego IDA was created by an act of the Otsego County Board of Representatives in 1973). It is a public benefit agency. There are actually quite a lot of public benefit agencies and authorities and we’re sure you’ve heard of some … Read More

COUNTY IN ‘HUNGER GAMES’ FOR $1.5 BILLION IN FUNDING

COOPERSTOWN – For the past month, four delegates from Otsego County have been part of a six-county task force seeking to win $1/2 billion in state funding, and to do so must out-compete at least four other regions of Upstate New York. The four representatives are county Rep.Craig Gelbsman, R-Oneonta, who as owner of First Choice Cleaners is also representing small business; Cooperstown Mayor Jeff Katz, representing municipalities; Sandy Mathes, representing economic development efforts, and Dan Robinson, president/CEO of New York Central Mutual, representing the county’s larger enterprises. The task force is participating in Governor Cuomo’s version of “The Hunger … Read More

Town to Consider Pony Farm Site Plan

Posted: Sunday, August 16, 2015 1:06 pm | Updated: 6:24 am, Mon Aug 17, 2015. By DON MATHISEN Contributing Writer The town of Oneonta Planning Board is scheduled to vote Monday on the Otsego County Industrial Development Agency’s site plan for 25 acres of vacant land at Pony Farms Industrial Park. If the board gives the plan the thumbs-up, the IDA said, it will begin aggressively marketing the shovel-ready site. According to IDA Chief Executive Sandy Mathes, that could mean up to $50 million in private investment, three new buildings totaling 400,000 square feet, and creation of as many as … Read More