Mission:

Our mission is to attract and enhance industrial and economic development, help create jobs and maintain economic stability within Lewis County.  To promote and enhance the economic conditions, recreational opportunities, prevent unemploymnet and economic deterioration, ensure the prosperity of the businesses, industries, communities, and citizens, leading to an overall better quality of life.

Goals:

• To create new employment opportunities through the attraction of or the creation of new businesses;

• To create new employment opportunities through the expansion of existing businesses;

• To retain existing employment opportunities;

• To enhance and encourage capital investment by new and expanding businesses;

• To increase the County’s tax base;

• To help stabilize and diversify the County’s local economy;

• To help facilitate the development of essential services or businesses generally lacking in the County;

• To target financial assistance to key industrial clusters critical to the County’s economy, including manufacturing, health care, education, tourism, energy, and agribusiness;

• To leverage the greatest level of private and non-IDA financial assistance as possible;

• To work cooperatively with local governments and school districts to further economic development progress; and

• To improve the quality of life in Lewis County.
  

Objectives:

• The issuance of Private Activity Bonds (tax-exempt or taxable bonds) to finance eligible manufacturing and commercial projects. The issuance of Civic Facility Revenue Bonds (tax-exempt or taxable bonds) to finance eligible not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizations’ projects.

• The issuance of tax-exempt bonds for pollution control facilities.

• The issuance of tax-exempt bonds for other projects that are eligible for financing in compliance with Federal and NYS legislation.

• Providing to eligible and qualified businesses exemptions from real property taxes, sales and use taxes, and mortgage recording taxes consistent with the County of Lewis IDA’s Uniform Tax Exemption Policy.

• Serving as a conduit, as appropriate, to apply for and secure Federal and State government grants for economic development projects.

• Collecting and distributing PILOT payments to taxing authorities in accordance with the General Municipal Law of the State of New York.

• Complying with the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) on all projects assisted by the County of Lewis IDA.

• Working in partnership with government, education, labor, business and economic development agencies to maximize development potential and sustainability of the economy in Lewis County.