MASSENA -- Mayor Tim Currier says he will unveil a new economic development proposal tonight at a joint meeting with the Massena Town Council at 5 p.m.

He wants the town to fully fund the Business Development Corporation while the village takes money they were giving to the BDC and hires a grant writer.

“The Town of Massena receives gaming compact money that is earmarked for economic development. They have the money to support this endeavor and in the long term that is something I hope they will consider,” Currier said in a prepared statement. “Over time, and as soon as we can, we must dramatically change the way we are pursuing job creation and economic development."

Currier didn’t say if he is looking at a particular firm, only stating he wants one “that specializes in (grant writing) and has a proven track record of success.”

Currier’s statement in its entirety:

“The time has come to change the way we do economic development in Massena. We do this with planning, regionalizing our efforts, and aggressively pursuing grant funding”

I am urging the village board to hire a grant writing firm with the money that I have proposed in our budget this year. This shift in our approach is less about the BDC and more about the growing trend in economic development, which is grant funding, as well as state and federal dollars that are accessed through competition.

The Business Development Council (BDC) has worked hard for several years and when you look at the success they had in building and filling the industrial park, it is clear we have benefited from their work.

However in my view, regionalizing their efforts would bring greater success. Massena cannot go it alone as we simply do not have the resources to be broadly successful in economic development. The time has come to ask our neighboring communities to join us in taking a regional approach to developing the North Country.

To pursue grant funding, we must hire a firm that specializes in it and has a proven track record of success.

How do we fund this change?

The Town of Massena receives gaming compact money that is earmarked for economic development. They have the money to support this endeavor and in the long term that is something I hope they will consider. Initially, my hope is the town of Massena will fully fund the BDC, and the Village will fund grant writing. Over time, and as soon as we can, we must dramatically change the way we are pursuing job creation and economic development.”