Lewis County IDA Board Chairman, Joe Lawrence, said “It is good to acknowledge that while each organization has a strong history of serving Lewis County, their current structures also have some fundamental limitations. A more formal collaboration offers the opportunity to bolster the impact of their respective strengths in growing our community.”
Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Chairman, Nick Mir, said “The merger of these two entities is a natural fit. The Chamber and Naturally Lewis have been working together on collaborative projects for years now. Many of the services they offer compliment and even overlap with each other. Bringing all of these services under one umbrella will help streamline these processes, capitalize on resources, and result in even better opportunities for Lewis County businesses.”
Lewis County Development Corporation Chairman, Tim Petersen, said “The [potential] merger of the organizations provides an effective means to leverage the unique capabilities of each organization into a single entity that otherwise would not be possible if the organizations continued to operate independently. This merger only strengthens ability to grow the economy in Lewis County.”
Executive Director of the Lewis County IDA, Brittany Davis, said “Our continued collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce has led to great opportunities for our business community. A merger of the economic development and Chamber organizations would streamline, consolidate resources, clarify staff roles, eliminate any duplication of efforts, and provide Lewis County communities with even greater opportunities for the future.”
Executive Director of the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce, Kristen Aucter, said “Looking at both of our agencies, from very high-level strategy down to daily tasks, we identified many potential opportunities for a more unified and efficient structure to help serve our local businesses and communities.”
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About the Lewis County IDA – The Lewis County IDA has been in operation since 1973 and is a state authorized public benefit corporation that has the ability to provide certain NYS sanctioned tax benefit programs, such as Payment in Lieu of Taxes, and more. The Lewis County IDA is currently the lead economic development agency for Lewis County, promoting living, working and doing business through its Naturally Lewis brand.
About the Lewis County Development Corporation – The Lewis County Development Corporation is a 501c3 development corporation empowered to construct, acquire, rehabilitate and improve for the use by others, industrial or manufacturing facilities, make loans, and work closely with municipalities and IDA’s on more flexible economic development projects and initiatives. The LCDC has worked primarily on the demolition of the Lyons Falls Mill Site over the past ten years, and currently contracts with the LCIDA for staff services.
About the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce – The Lewis County Chamber of Commerce is an association of businesspeople designed to promote and protect the interests of its members. The Chamber is supported by membership dues and provides educational and networking opportunities for members. The Lewis County Chamber of Commerce is also the Tourism Promotion Agency for Lewis County, promoting visiting the region through its Adirondacks Tug Hill brand.
