Schumer, Gillibrand, Owens focusing on initiatives

PLATTSBURGH — North Country representatives in Washington have been busy touting programs aimed at aiding workers and small businesses.

U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman William Owens all are supporting programs and initiatives to help businesses and keep workers in the area.

All three representatives are Democrats and seeking re-election this year.

BUSINESS LOANS
Schumer, who has served in the Senate since 1999, announced the creation of seven regional lending groups that will use capital from banks all over the state to increase the amount of credit available to small businesses.

The program, based on Ulster County's Credit for Success program, will establish regional loan pools — to be committed by local banks — to provide a critical source of funding for local businesses seeking to grow that have not been able to secure funding due to the continuing credit crunch.

Schumer said lending decisions will be made by the New York Business Development Corp. pursuant to rigorous underwriting standards — all loans will have to comply with Small Business Administration lending criteria — but the program's structure will enable banks to increase their small-business lending.

Schumer said 25 banks across the state have agreed to join regional consortiums, pledging about $7 million.

Seven of those banks are from the North Country, and they have committed about $1 million.

"Small businesses will be at the tip of the shovel that digs out of this down economy, but only if we can get them the resources they need and prevent the credit crunch from strangling their efforts to expand," Schumer said in a statement.

"This program will give businesses, which during normal times would have had access to credit, the tools they need to grow and continue to be the backbone of the economy and the force behind the recovery."

Applications for the program will be accepted only from small businesses located in a region served by the consortium.

More information on the program is available at www.nybdc.com.



GRID JOBS
While Schumer was focusing on small businesses, Gillibrand was busy trying to save jobs at National Grid.

The power company is considering outsourcing much of its information-services work, including software programming, computer networking and other functions.

As many as 1,200 jobs in the Northeast could go.

Gillibrand sent a letter and made a telephone call to National Gird President Tom King, urging him to reconsider.

"I cannot emphasize enough the importance of keeping these dedicated employees on the National Grid payroll," Gillibrand said in a news release.

"Even outsourcing locally to subcontractors that do not provide good benefits or a living wage would have negative effects on our local economy."

According to the release, Gillibrand, in her phone call to King, expressed her disappointment that a company that made almost $1.5 billion in profits last year would look for ways to increase profits at the expense of its competent and capable employees, especially during this economic time.

ENERGY COSTS
Owens, of Plattsburgh, was touting the release of $45 million for the state in contingency funding to help low-income homeowners and renters meet home-energy costs.

The grant was made through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"As New Yorkers work our way out of these tough times, this assistance serves as a great help to families hit hardest by the recession," Owens said in a statement.

"In the North Country, where home-heating costs are some of the highest in the country, this grant could not have come sooner."

Those interested in applying for energy assistance can contact Rosa Chapman at the Region 2 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program office at 1 (202) 260-6424.

ROUSES POINT GRANT
Owens was also pleased to learn of a grant for the Village of Rouses Point.

An Economic Development Initiative Special Project grant of $95,000 for the preservation of the rail station in Rouses Point has been awarded.

"Grants like this are an investment in both the future of our economy and infrastructure of upstate New York," Owens said.

"This will cut costs for our local government when they are tightening their belts more than ever and create jobs for our community when we need it the most."

OWENS STAFF
Owens, who was elected last November to fill the one year left on John McHugh's term, added six new staffers to his office.

Molly Ryan of Champlain will work as constituent-services representative in the Plattsburgh office; Karen Brayton of North Bay, in the Canastota office; Jana Fultz of Evans Mills, in the Watertown office; and Helen Myzal of Johnstown, in the Mayfield office.

Capt. Rebecca Collins of Watertown will serve as the military-affairs representative in the Watertown office. Collins has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded a Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal and an Army Commendation.

Also, Sean Magers of Huntsville, Ala., has been named the new communications director, replacing Jon Boughton, who moves to senior legislative aide.

E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com