Article Photos

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y, discussed the potential for economic development in the region and touched on some local issues - including the struggles of dairy farmers and the stalling of the proposed Walmart Supercenter - as part of her quick tour of the area Saturday.

Gillibrand, along with U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, stopped by the Fulton County Courthouse in Johnstown to discuss the potential for manufacturing and technology businesses to locate to the area.

Tonko introduced Gillibrand and said the area is poised for economic growth. He praised Fulton-Montgomery Community College for developing a nanotech program with clean room technology, and said with development on either side of the area, Fulton and Montgomery counties are in the middle of a great opportunity to grow in manufacturing and agriculture as well.

Gillibrand said the area has a strong manufacturing history and a well-trained workforce eager for jobs. She agreed with Tonko's assessment that the area is poised for economic growth.

"We have the will," she said. "We are very good at creating things."

She was welcomed by Amsterdam Mayor Ann Thane, Gloversville Mayor-elect Dayton King and Johnstown Mayor Sarah Slingerland, as well as members of the Fulton County Board of Supervisors. Outgoing Broadalbin town Supervisor Lee Hollenbeck questioned Gillibrand on the availability of stimulus funds for the area.

Gillibrand acknowledged that federal dollars are slow to arrive, but said her office is eager to help upstate municipalities apply for state and federal grants. She said there is financing available for a lot of projects, particularly ones focused on green energy and industrial development.

"We want to be your partner with this," she said. "I'm trying to make it as simple as possible. We can work with you on getting those [grant] applications done."

Johnstown resident John Bender questioned Gillibrand on what she is doing to help struggling dairy farmers across the state. Gillibrand said the plight of dairy farmers, who are consistently paid less for milk than what it costs to produce it, is an important one.

"It's absurd," she said of milk pricing methods. "Our dairy farmers are barely surviving right now."

Gillibrand, who is on the Senate's agriculture committee, said she wants the pricing system for milk to be revamped within the next four years.

"There is something wrong somewhere in the system [of price setting] and I plan on finding it," she said.

Gloversville 3rd Ward Supervisor Michael Gendron asked Gillibrand if she could aid Fulton County's two cities and the town of Johnstown in bringing the proposed Walmart Supercenter to the area. Plans for the project have stalled with the city of Johnstown's refusal to provide sewer to a number of parcels next to the site for the store.

Gillibrand said the area needs more businesses and said she would be happy to facilitate a meeting of all the involved parties. Tonko agreed and said he would try to help as well.

On a brief visit to Amsterdam, Tonko and Gillibrand joined Thane as she showed the pair plans for a pedestrian bridge across the Mohawk river. Gillibrand called the three bridge options "beautiful" and she would again lend her office's help in getting the area some funding to develop the space around the bridge.