NEWS
Fairport IDA

News articles about Fairport and other happenings in the Village

Fairport in the news:

Main Street merchants and community newspapers should collaborate to promote this event with ads, store window stickers and through word-of-mouth.

You can download and use campaign material from the  New York Press Association website. 

Let's make sure people Find It In Fairport!

29 Perrin Street, Fairport, NY 14450
The Village of Fairport IDA is seeking purchase offers for the IDA property at 29 Perrin Street in the Village of Fairport, Town of Perinton, County of Monroe, NY.

Offers for the property should be submitted no later than 12:00 pm on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 to: Village of Fairport IDA, 31 S Main Street, Fairport, NY 14450

The Agency, at its sole discretion, has the right to reject any and all offers.

Canal is filled and ready for boaters
Plenty of docks, freshly painted boater facilities and friendly dock masters await Canal cruisers in Fairport. Navigate the calm waters of the Erie Canal and stop in Fairport for some casual dining and quaint shopping. Dock masters will be on duty starting Memorial Day weekend.

Erie Canal numbers: 

1825: Year the Canal opened
363: Length in miles from Albany to Buffalo  
2001: Year of designation as nation's 23rd National Heritage Corridor  
2,319: Boat nights in Fairport in 2009
~ 300: Events along the Canal in 2009   

Fairport Canal events:    

Tuesday Car Cruz Nites featuring antique and classic cars  
Wednesday and Thursday outdoor concerts at Kennelley Park   
Fairport Canal Days  

Related articles: 

Canal Corporation PR in Fairport: Announces NYS Canalway Trail (June 15, 2010) Picture

Mark the date: September 19 - 24, 2010
The New York State Canal Corporation, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission, Canal Society of New York State, the City of Rochester, Monroe County, Bergmann Associates, and PIANC-USA welcome delegates to the World Canals Conference. 

The program will be a substantive and highly diverse, one of the highest caliber including content that should appeal to managers and engineers of commercially viable waterways, historians, academicians, boaters, and enthusiasts, as well as those interested in canals as engines of economic revitalization and tourism.

Kal Wysokowski, OCED Executive Director and NYS Canal Conference Chair, will deliver the Opening Remarks for the Wednesday workshop sessions. 

Lucien A. Morin II, OCED legal counsel, will hold a workshop on riparian rights on Wednesday morning. 

Thoughtful study tours will result in transportable concepts for the benefit of each delegate’s local inland waterway. Delegates will visit Fairport Wednesday afternooon!

Visit the official website www.wccrochester.org for details. 

Related articles:

Opposition to arbitrary tax that would hurt economic development
The 2009 – 2010 State Budget contained a maximum $5 million statewide “cost recovery” tax on IDAs. The purpose of the tax is to “… reimburse to New York State an allocable share of state governmental costs attributable to the provision of services to industrial development agencies.” Notices of the assessments were received by Industrial Development Agencies beginning Monday, February 8, 2010. The tax was calculated by multiplying the gross revenues of each IDA for 2008 by 4.7 percent. 

Related articles:
Legislative Gazette on "cost recovery for general government services" (February 22, 2010)
Buffalo News: "Taxing development agencies undercuts economic growth" (March 1, 2010) 
Rochester Business Journal: "County IDAs face tax hit" (March 5, 2010) 
Schimminger Bill to repeal "IDA tax" (March 5, 2010) 
Buffalo News: "Officials urge repeal of state tax on IDAs" (March 6, 2010)
Rochester Business Journal: "Council sues to stop NY from imposing IDA tax" (March 26)

In June 2010, the Fairport IDA received a reimbursement for the collected taxes. 

Locally owned independent drug store employs local staff

The business, founded two years ago by Paula Lewyckyj and a former partner, was celebrated recently with a grand opening at a new location in Village Landing. Lewyckyj moved her growing business from North Main Street to a larger space, which includes a new gift department and plenty of parking. 

Opening of the new pharmacy location came almost exactly two years from the day of the grand opening of the original store. Once again, the Fairport Office of Community and Economic Development provided a low-interest commercial loan to help with site work at the new space.

“The loan demonstrates that the OCED board strongly supports a locally owned and independently operated pharmacy in the village,” said OCED Executive Director Kal Wysokowski. “We’re very pleased to play a role in their success.”

Read whole article

Read press release

8 days to take down structures
Demolition on the former DPW site started on February 22nd and it took eight days to take down over 17,000 square feet of space. This was the first step towards the realization of the private and public investment project named Towpath Park. The next steps will include engineering, design and site plan development.

Read more about the project.

View more demo pictures.

More than 2,500 tons of soil was removed and back-filled in an effort to clean up the project site on Parker Street. 

New law that effects IDAs takes effect March 1, 2010
The Public Authorities Accountability Act of 2005 (PAAA) aimed at increasing transparency of authority operations. The Authority Budget Office (ABO) was established to collect fiscal and operational data and make it publicly available. 

The Public Authorities Reform Act of 2009 (PARA) is designed to enhance authority operations and oversight. 

Related articles:
NYSBA Government, Law and Policy Journal: "PARA" (Fall 2009)
PR: "Gov. Paterson signs Public Authorities Reform into law" (December 11, 2009)  
Messenger Post: "Not all IDAs are created equal" (December 21, 2009)
NYS Municipal Bulletin: "Industrial Development Agency Reform" (Jan/Feb 2010)

Supporting the Fairport/Perinton Senior Living Council since 2001
This unique crafts supply store was established as a fundraiser for senior services like the Elderbus Transportation System and Counseling . All items in the store are donated and the manpower is provided by volunteers. The not-for-profit store on North Main Street has become very popular among residents and provides substantial funding for important senior services. Last year, $56,000 were donated. What a great effort on behalf of the volunteers and the shoppers who support this worthy cause.

Read the article in the Democrat and Chronicle (October 20,2009).

Visit the store's website.

Fairport welcomes new stores
* Fuzzy Calipitter - Infant & Toddler Consignment Essentials: www.fuzzycalipitter.com

* Tone Bender Music - Stringed Instrument Services: http://tonebendermusic.com

* Portside Pizza: www.portsidepizzeria.net

* Walker's Celtic Jewelry: www.walkerscelticjewelry.com

Come and visit these new businesses in the heart of our Village!

Fairport receives $156,000 for demolition on former DPW site
The money will be used for the demolition of the existing buildings on the project site. OCED is pleased to announce that this grant will help move the mixed-use redevelopment project Towpath Park forward. 

Read the press release.

View all grant recipients and project descriptions.

July 21st, 7 - 8 pm
Fairport Village Hall Board Room

The design team of SRF & Associates, Steinmetz Planning Group and Ingalls Planning & Design will introduce concepts for the Fairport Downtown Transportation and Parking Study.

You are invited to attend all or part of the workshop as your schedule permits. No reservations required.

Meeting Minutes

First-time entrepreneur takes over prime location business
Neil Clark left his sales career to run the now-called Towpath Café located right on the Canal by the Liftbridge. He worked at the business part-time under the previous owner, and when it became available he decided to give it a shot. His long-term goal: to make Towpath Café a destination for coffee and lunch and to become an essential business in the community. He believes in competent staff and treating the customers the way they deserve to be treated. 

Read the Rochester Business Journal article (June 12, 2009)

LiDestri wins award in category '10-699 Employees'
The awards recognized employers’ efforts to encourage and support employee wellness. Those companies foster a healthy workplace through a mix of programs or policies.

LiDestri encourages employees to take the stairs,  with motivational posters, trivia board and music in the stairway. In 2006, all properties became smoke-free and LiDestri offered classes and support groups for smokers who wanted to quit. Participating in fitness activities can earn employees up to three days off per year or cash back as part of the Wellness Days Off Program. In 2008, 914 off were issued, up from 827 in 2007. 

Read Rochester Business Journal article (June 9. 2009)

John LiDestri is one of the six 2009 inductees
The Rochester Business Journal announced this year's fall induction. The ceremony will be held October 7 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. 

May 22, 2009: Rochester Business Journal
John LiDestri was president and CEO at Cantisano Foods Inc. when he purchased all outstanding shares from the Cantisano family in 2002, changing the name of the company to LiDestri Foods Inc. The company makes more than 2 million sauces and salsas each day under proprietary brands such as Francesco Rinaldi and Santa Fe Chili Co. and private labels such as Newman's Own Brand.