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Partnership Helps lead Casino INSIDE: Push in Albany President’s Message page 2
Mohegan Sun CEO Mitchell Grossinger Etess, right, visited Sullivan County last week to discuss his company’s plans for a casino at the Concord. With him was Cliff Ehrlich, Mohegan Sun’s local consultant.
s the deadline for applications fast approaches – only 10 days from today – the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development is still hard at work, rallying local support and making sure our two remaining applicants have all the support they need. “It has been a very busy six
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months,” Sullivan County Partnership President and CEO Marc Baez said. “Our team has worked hard to insure that all of our casino projects have as much local support as possible.” The Partnership teamed up with the Sullivan County Visitors Assn. and Sullivan County
.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced a $84,975 federal grant for The Center for Discovery in Harris. This investment, allocated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program, will be used to expand telemedicine services to adults and children with autism and severe disabilities living in rural areas. In July 2011, Senator Gillibrand toured the
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Chamber of Commerce to enlist local businesses and individuals to write letters of support for inclusion in the applications. A $29,000, 205-page study detailing the Strategic Geographic/Economic Advantage Analysis was also commissioned by the Partnership on behalf of the Sullivan County Legislature, who funded the effort. “It is clear from the study that Sullivan County will circulate the most money the fastest and have the biggest impact on New York State’s economy [by siting casinos here],” Baez said. “The study only looked at six counties where casinos are currently proposed – Sullivan, Orange, Ulster, Albany, Rensselaer and Tioga. The last three counties are not competing with Sullivan County for a casino license. As Orange County’s casino players continue to push forward, the Acting Director for the New York State Gaming
Commission, Rob Williams, wrote a letter to New York State Senator John Bonacic stating, “I firmly believe any conclusion that Orange County has a competitive advantage over Sullivan County is just plain wrong. “For those proposed locations that are more affluent, a project would have to provide a considerably greater overall direct and residual economic benefit to the host municipality and surrounding region than a smaller project sited in a disadvantaged region,” Williams’ letter continued. Sullivan County’s economy is “among the most challenged in the state,” Williams continues. “A lower investment in Sullivan County could have a higher impact on economic need than a larger investment [in Orange].”
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The Study “There is a lot of information in the study which we all
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ND Pro Media wins top advertising award page 14
Center for Discovery Gets Federal Grant center, meeting with program participants and discussing opportunities for the Center to grow. “I have seen firsthand the great work of The Center for Discovery,” said Senator Gillibrand, who visited the facilities in 2011. “They offer individuals with disabilities innovative educational, clinical, residential and social and creative arts experiences designed to enrich their lives through personal accomplishment. With autism affecting more and more American
children, The Center for Discovery provides initiatives to help improve the lives of children and families living with autism.” “We see great potential for this project to not only reduce overall costs but more importantly to increase care coordination and better meet the health care needs of children and adults with significant developmental disabilities and their families,” said Patrick H. Dollard, President and CEO of The Center for Discovery.
Currently, individuals in need of services in rural areas have to make long, costly trips to care centers. The Center for Discovery is addressing the shortage of specialty care, primary care and mental health professionals. They will use the funding to support development of the tele-medical home network program, including a cost analysis and needs assessment as well as education and training to fund research and fill the need for specialty care, primary care, and mental health professionals.