As a new year dawns, Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director John Scarano said he is optimistic about the future of local businesses.
“We’ve had a few rough years previously,” said Scarano. “Our businesses - especially small businesses - have reacted better than other businesses in the country. We know how to adapt and survive. They’ve been around for quite a while.”
According to the state Department of Labor Web site, the unemployment rate declined to 8.6 percent in November - below the national number of 10 percent. The site also states the Utica-Rome area unemployment rate was 7.3 percent in November 2009, compared with 7.3 in October and 6.1 in November 2008.
Steve Dimeo, president of the Mohawk Valley EDGE, said businesses in Herkimer and Oneida counties have “cautious optimism” as 2010 approaches and hope the worst is behind them.
“Some businesses have weathered the storm, other sectors have been heavily impacted,” he said, noting the hardest hit have been the manufacturing, construction, automotive and retail sectors.
Dimeo said other parts of the country - such as fast-growing, metropolitan areas - have been harder hit by the recession than in the region.
“Our area has been somewhat resilient. The area has not felt the full blunt of the recession, but has been impacted because of an overheated economy,” he said.
Mark Feane, executive director of the Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency, said 2009 was a rough year for most businesses, but was highlighted by the addition of 200 jobs at Remington Arms Co. in Ilion.
“It was extremely encouraging, extremely exciting and well received. We needed that infusion,” he said.
Scarano said local small businesses have kept afloat by rethinking their game plan. For example, restaurants have started offering home catering services to bring in more profit. He also said they added 30 new members this year from both new and existing businesses.
“They’re seeing the need to get better and get smarter and take advantage of the things that are out there,” he said. The chamber offers services such as seminars ranging from taxes to human resources, to hosting after-hour parties at their business.
Businesses have also taken up to renovating their storefronts, such as the Pizza Hut on Albany Street.
“This is a snowball effect,” said Scarano. “When one business sees one business spruce up, they have to do the same,” he said.
Feane said 2010 should be a promising year for local businesses. He said the IDA has a $1 million loan portfolio for new and existing businesses to help stimulate growth. He also hopes to get gas and electric access to a business park development, off of Route 5S in Frankfort. He said the 200-plus acre site already has access to roads, water and sewer resources. He said once this project is up and running, this will be a great addition for both new and existing businesses in the region.
With the Empire Zone program ending in June, Feane said he hopes that the state will come up with some alternative.
“We need that Empire Zone or something like it in order to compete with other states and other parts of the country that have other programs,” he said. “In this day and age, in order to have an equal playing field, such as an Empire Zone, it is an absolute necessity.”
Scarano said he knows it has been a rough year for some business owners, but he finds optimism in more new businesses opening in 2009 then ones that closed.
“When times are tough, [business owners] get a little tougher,” he said. “They’re pretty upbeat. It’s giving them an opportunity to rise out of a bad situation.”
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As a new year dawns, Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director John Scarano said he is optimistic about the future of local businesses.
“We’ve had a few rough years previously,” said Scarano. “Our businesses - especially small businesses - have reacted better than other businesses in the country. We know how to adapt and survive. They’ve been around for quite a while.”
According to the state Department of Labor Web site, the unemployment rate declined to 8.6 percent in November - below the national number of 10 percent. The site also states the Utica-Rome area unemployment rate was 7.3 percent in November 2009, compared with 7.3 in October and 6.1 in November 2008.
Steve Dimeo, president of the Mohawk Valley EDGE, said businesses in Herkimer and Oneida counties have “cautious optimism” as 2010 approaches and hope the worst is behind them.
“Some businesses have weathered the storm, other sectors have been heavily impacted,” he said, noting the hardest hit have been the manufacturing, construction, automotive and retail sectors.
Dimeo said other parts of the country - such as fast-growing, metropolitan areas - have been harder hit by the recession than in the region.
“Our area has been somewhat resilient. The area has not felt the full blunt of the recession, but has been impacted because of an overheated economy,” he said.
Mark Feane, executive director of the Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency, said 2009 was a rough year for most businesses, but was highlighted by the addition of 200 jobs at Remington Arms Co. in Ilion.
“It was extremely encouraging, extremely exciting and well received. We needed that infusion,” he said.
Scarano said local small businesses have kept afloat by rethinking their game plan. For example, restaurants have started offering home catering services to bring in more profit. He also said they added 30 new members this year from both new and existing businesses.
“They’re seeing the need to get better and get smarter and take advantage of the things that are out there,” he said. The chamber offers services such as seminars ranging from taxes to human resources, to hosting after-hour parties at their business.
Businesses have also taken up to renovating their storefronts, such as the Pizza Hut on Albany Street.
“This is a snowball effect,” said Scarano. “When one business sees one business spruce up, they have to do the same,” he said.
Feane said 2010 should be a promising year for local businesses. He said the IDA has a $1 million loan portfolio for new and existing businesses to help stimulate growth. He also hopes to get gas and electric access to a business park development, off of Route 5S in Frankfort. He said the 200-plus acre site already has access to roads, water and sewer resources. He said once this project is up and running, this will be a great addition for both new and existing businesses in the region.
With the Empire Zone program ending in June, Feane said he hopes that the state will come up with some alternative.
“We need that Empire Zone or something like it in order to compete with other states and other parts of the country that have other programs,” he said. “In this day and age, in order to have an equal playing field, such as an Empire Zone, it is an absolute necessity.”
Scarano said he knows it has been a rough year for some business owners, but he finds optimism in more new businesses opening in 2009 then ones that closed.
“When times are tough, [business owners] get a little tougher,” he said. “They’re pretty upbeat. It’s giving them an opportunity to rise out of a bad situation.”
