WAWARSING – Having just crossed over into the new year with the news that the United States has indeed found itself in a recession, the question of economic development and revitalization seems more important — and more difficult to answer — than ever. To start down the path of finding a solution, Wawarsing Town Supervisor Ed Jennings has drafted an economic development vision statement, which offers a blueprint for the economic future of the town.

"One of my longstanding dreams is to recreate the D&H Canal, offering a glimpse of life as it was during the mid-eighteen hundreds, complete with a canal boat ride, traveling through one or two locks," writes Jennings in the vision statement. "It's a potential tourist gold mine. Other interesting attractions related to the canal could include: a museum, general store, ax and knife factory, and a canal barge building company."

Jennings elaborated on some of these ideas in an interview, stressing that much of what's in the vision statement are just germs of ideas for now, but that he's working to get in touch with companies and businesses in the tourism industry.

"I've written some letters to see if anyone would be interested in coming here and looking [the D&H Canal] over, and to see what we can do to clean it up, re-flood it, and use it as a tourist attraction," said Jennings.

"I'm looking for some dreamers…people that might have their own ideas."

Also discussed in the vision statement are the hopes that small manufacturing facilities could be brought back to the area, as well as encouraging the growth of niche, 'mom and pop' stores.

"I think that [such stores] would be a big help to the area, and I think that they would do well here. We don't have an awful lot of the big supermarkets and the big department stores in our area, so I think they would do well," said Jennings.

As to how these goals will be accomplished, part of the problem in figuring that out lies in the national economic downturn, and the lack of resources available in the town at the moment.

"This is very preliminary. Perhaps I can light a fire under somebody."

In a similar financial situation is Mamakating Supervisor Robert Fiore, who just this year worked with his town board to balance a major budgetary deficit he inherited from the previous supervisor, the late Charlie Penna. He offered his own insights into how his administration hopes to tackle the tough economic development question.

Fiore acknowledged that part of the problem the town faces is the negative reputation it's gained for not being "development friendly" — a bad reputation to outsiders is a problem many in Ellenville and Wawarsing would not find hard to imagine or sympathize with.

Fiore said Mamakating needs to "change the image of the town, and not necessarily radically, but we have to give a balanced presentation of the town seeking to get in the right businesses in the right locations. I think the time is right to do that."

To accomplish this task, Fiore said Mamakating has put together a master plan revision committee and plans to put together an economic development committee. "Those two will liaise with each other, and perhaps working in tandem, will be able to come up with a plan," he said.

Like in Jennings's statement, among the businesses Fiore hopes come to Mamakating are those in the eco-tourism and historical tourism industries, as well as smaller 'mom and pop' businesses.

"I don't think there's any one approach, I think there has to be a blended approach—that's the secret," said Fiore. "We have to have rateable businesses in our area to provide a tax base to be able to finance infrastructure changes necessary, and it's just not one particular business we're looking to get in."

As to how all of this will be accomplished, Fiore hopes that the work of the two committees will be able to come up with solutions. Likewise, Jennings and the Wawarsing Town Board has in recent months converted their revolving loan fund to a Local Development Corporation. Hopefully, these moves will aid in making these visions a reality.

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