Forging Our Future
Canton, New York is a community with pride in its past and a plan for its future. The birthplace of artists, craftsmen and statesmen, Canton has been a haven for the entrepreneurial spirit since its founding 200 years ago.
Our new five-part "Forging Our Future" Initiative is your invitation to launch or grow your business in Canton, and become part of history yet to come. Designed to inspire, encourage and assist emerging entrepreneurs, "Forging Our Future" focusses on these goals and objectives:
Aggressively Encourage Job Growth through Retention, Expansion, and Attraction:
- Provide One-on-one consultation with large employers.
- Develop package of services to help current small businesses succeed.
- Work with social services to create jobs for those who need them.
- Develop a Canton Growth Fund to expand local sources of funding.
- Partner with Cornell Cooperative Extension to boost Canton's agricultural economy.
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Hmmm... I like this plan. I think I'll make my next million in Historic Canton. |
Continue to Emphasize Downtown Revitalization:
- Complete downtown parking improvements.
- Fill Canton Plaza with a focus on meeting the downtown grocery store need.
- Develop affordable retail space in the downtown area.
Develop and Implement a Comprehensive Housing Strategy:
- Seek grants for low to moderate-income home improvements to maintain resale value.
- Encourage neighborhood beautification efforts.
- Launch first-time homebuyer assistance program in the Village.
- Encourage moderate new housing development.
- Adopt appropriate housing tax exemptions.
Facilitate Quality-of-Life Improvements and Address Community Needs:
- Address public transportation needs.
- Address the needs of our youth - daycare, expanded recreation programs, etc.
- Upgrade municipal facilities - Canton Pavilion, Bend-in-the-River Park, and the Municipal Building.
- Address additional social service/community needs as they are identified.
Promote Canton as a Destination for Tourists and Visitors:
- Support the development and marketing of heritage tourism initiatives:
- Grasse River Heritage Center, TAUNY, Morley Grist Mill, County Historical Association, Cornell Discovery Center and Rural Life Museum, and Canton's Remington Art Festival.
- Research and market local outdoor recreation opportunities and events.
- Help the Country Chamber establish a tourism/welcoming center on Willow Island.
- Work with the Canton Chamber an annual community marketing campaign.
Forging Our Future Steering Committee
Chairperson
Evan Poole, Downtown Merchant
Members
Paul Backus, Town Board Member
Clark Carvel, Town Board Member
Peter Fitzrandolph, St. Lawrence County Legislator
Kathy Flanagan, Canton Chamber of Commerce Officer
Katrina Jacobson, Canton Central Schools Superintendent
Sylvia Kingston, Village Trustee
Kathy Mullaney, St. Lawrence University Finance Officer
Rita Ostrander, Community Representative
Carol Pynchon, Community Representative
Charlotte Ramsay, Village Trustee
Carson Smith, SUNY-Canton Finance Officer
View a listing of Canton's Strategic Advantages for business.
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Copyright Canton Office of Economic Development 2002 |
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