Mouth That Roars

Bill Liblick has made a name for himself of National TV Talk Shows where he spouted his outspoken views from the front row. Now he offers you his opinion every week in the "MOUTH THAT ROARS" Column in the Sullivan County Post.

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October 15th, 2010

Hinchey makes slaughterhouse a reality

Thank you Congressman Maurice Hinchey for delivering federal funds that will make a slaughterhouse a reality in Sullivan County.

Hinchey, who increasingly is becoming a more powerful and influential member of Congress as a ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, secured $800,000 in funding awarded through the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) to the Sullivan County Industrial Development Agency (IDA).

Although a slaughterhouse is not the dream type of economic development Sullivan County needs, it will nonetheless promote economic development and help farms stay in business.

Legislator Elwin Wood who heads Sullivan County’s IDA said the monies secured by Hinchey “has made this dream a reality. As chairman of the IDA, I want to thank Congressman Hinchey, without his hard work and support this project would not be possible.”

The new investment will be added to two previously announced federal investments made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in order to begin construction on the $1.7 million, 5,000 square foot food processing facility.

Hinchey secured $175,000 from USDA in 2005, along with an additional $50,000 in 2009 in large part due to Sullivan County’s inclusion in the Sullivan-Wawarsing Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) Zone that Hinchey worked to establish in 1999.

Michele Klugman, Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther’s Chief of Staff, pointed out to me that back in 2003 Gunther was able to secure after her first election $10,000 towards the first phase of the project.

Jeremy Gorelick, Chairman of the Board of the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce, echoed the sentiments of our business community, “The leaders of Sullivan County are starting to sit up and take notice of the strength and value of the agricultural sector in rebuilding a strong regional economy.”

Gorelick added, “As part of a continued effort to pull away from dependence on a single industry type or sector to provide employment for the majority of the county, all of the economic development agencies, particularly under the auspices of the recently-formed Economic Development Corporation, are pulling together to put their support behind meaningful projects that make Sullivan County unique in the Greater New York metropolitan area.”

Legislator Jodi Goodman who represents Liberty and the site the project will be build on, told me, “This is a very exciting time for Liberty. This is another wonderful example that the community of is creative, diverse and proactive. I only wish my uncle Nat Kagan (of the famed Kagan’s meat market) could have been here for this announcement. He would have gotten a kick out of this project.”

Stuart Salenger one of our premier Agricultural leaders said, “Sullivan County has finally been able to begin this important project, and as a farmer it seemed logical to me to have a facility here to serve the local market. The agricultural community finally has a chance of growth.”

The Red Meat Slaughterhouse project will begin construction in the spring and be completed sometime during 2012.

Once again, thank you Congressman Hinchey and all those involved for making the slaughterhouse a reality.

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