MONTICELLO — Tourism projects have boosted Sullivan County's economy this past year with historically low unemployment rates, but according to Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development (SCPED) President/CEO Marc Baez, “We can't put all of our eggs in one basket, we must diversify our economy.”

At Monday's County of Sullivan Industrial Development Agency (CSIDA) meeting, Baez and Delaware Engineering presented the idea of developing the Old Route 17 corridor between exits 101 in Ferndale and 102 Harris.

SCPED is looking to attract more of a variety of industry sectors to the county like logistics, light manufacturing, assembly, and others according to Baez.

A study named, “Old Route 17 Economic Development Corridor Study” was done last year by Delaware Engineering at the cost of $140,000 and was funded by the county and the Towns of Thompson and Liberty.

The study looked at three and a half miles on Old Route 17—which included Harris Road and County Road 174 and the space between exits 101 and 102—and sought to identify “opportunities and constraints” to the economic development of the corridor.

“What we saw unique here is that you already have industrial area [zoning], but there is something missing, you don't have water and sewer,” said Delaware Engineering Partner Mary Beth Bianconi.

Six potential industrial park sites were chosen, which include several parcels with a stand alone potential for large-scale development.

SCPED is looking for the “expertise and resources” of the CSIDA to work with the county to create a Local Development Corporation (LDC) to help develop the corridor.

“We are not here to compete with the private sector, the idea is to catalyze it and get it going,” said Baez.

The next step would be to do an in-depth Geographic Information Systems (GIS) study. Not just in one site but multiple sites so the SCPED can better market the parcels, according to Baez.

The LDC will be funded by the CSIDA according to Baez with an initial investment of $250,000.

The LDC -- which according to Sullivan County Manager Josh Potosek and CSIDA Counsel Walter Garigliano would most likely be made up of the nine members of the CSIDA board -- would be in charge of hiring one or more appraisers to conduct evaluations of targeted parcels along the corridor.

Furthermore, the LDC will execute the options for the purchase of parcels of land that have identified themselves as having development potential.

SCPED will identify those parcels to bring them to the LDC and will negationate option terms.

“This seems like a good plan,” said CSIDA member and Sullivan County Legislator Joseph Perrello.

Potosek said during the presentation, “There is certainly a demand for these type of projects. I feel that if we move forward, it could be a lot of jobs for the corridor.”

“We had a focus on tourism, but we need to diversify, and we need other industries to balance that,” added Potosek.

The CSIDA will mull it over the next few weeks before making a formal resolution and voting on it.

“The sooner, the better we start moving,” said CSIDA Chairman and County Legislator Ira Steingart.

The CSIDA will reconvene at the Sullivan County Government Center on February 26 at noon.