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I completely agree! we need to stop talking and start doing something. It's amazing to hear everyone complaining about the area but not stepping to the plate, and the ones that are trying to help, (BID, Chamber, Mayor) are critisized and shut down by wanting to spend money or do anything different. If I hear one more complaint about the slate sidewalk issue, I could scream! Everyone talks change but nobody wants change.
I am not sure though that the city of Norwich should be the one establishing an "arts quarter" we do not need bigger government but I truly believe that something of that nature should be developed. I know the Arts Council is on board for anything like that along with many other non-profit agencies.
Get your thoughts on paper and get them submitted to all involved parties! Again, don't just talk it, walk it!

"and the ones that are trying to help, (BID, Chamber, Mayor) are critisized and shut down by wanting to spend money or do anything different."

You are kidding, right? How are they helping? BID extorts money, the Chamber does nothing, and the mayor sits and watches it all. Yea, they are helping alright.

precisely my point....and what are you doing Dave to help change Norwich and make things better?

What Norwich needs to do to really change is to take several steps. They should dissolve both the City of Norwich and the Town of Norwich. Do away with the present charters and laws, etcetera. Make a new charter with only the necessary and best from each. Then it should become the Greater Norwich Area. Divide it into 4 or 5 districts by population and have a couple of elected officials from each district as a Common Council. They could choose one of their own to head the council. Make the schools, fire department and police department into area wide groups giving equal powers to all peoples of the area. The police could hire a couple of new officers to help cover the entire area as needed.

This would effectively do away with all the ( city/town/fire dept/school/police dept ) friction and give everyone a say in all of the day to day matters. Then and only then will the area ever grow to be anything more than it is today, just a bunch of little groups of people who are trying to hold onto their little piece of the action. If and when this all melts away, maybe The Greater Norwich Area can grow forward into a place that others might seek out as a place to come to with some type of development.

Me? Not a lot, other then make comments on here like everyone else. I have no interest in holding office, as I will be moving out of the area. I have done my time here.

r23nor, nice ideas. If only they could get set in motion. That all would do this place up Niiice.

Downtown comebacks don’t just happen. It takes community participation. Norwich must be well positioned to catch the wave by having the information, the strategic assets, political will, and the financial resources necessary to do so. And Norwich must also be ready to “move” to deploy them at the right time. In other words, Norwich needs to take a strategic approach to downtown opportunities in order to
leverage them for maximum advantage – to enhance the city of Norwich as well as the
region where it is located.

Downtown Norwich: Right Time, Right Place

Norwich is certainly ready to take a strategic approach to downtown – to leverage the
opportunities for the city and the region. The city, its business partners, and its
citizens all recognize and understand that it’s “downtown time” – and that Norwich is well positioned to use “downtown time” to kick the regional economy into high gear.

It has been decades since Downtown Norwich served as the epicenter of the regional economy. So it’s not surprising that downtown has not served as the vibrant heart befitting a true All-American city.

I truly feel its citizens and community business leaders are both ready for change -- remember it "takes driven community participation" by all its citizens and community business leaders to really "build a community for the 21st century."

I'm a 24 year old from Binghamton. I have a ton of interest in revitalization efforts in Chenango County. I'm currently planning a move to Greene and would love to get involved in that community. Is there anything for Chenango County as a whole? I am an outsider to this county as of right now, but it doesn't seem like there is a whole lot of interaction between towns in the county. I understand they are a little away from one another, but there seems to be no (other then the Chamber) interaction between them. Is there?

And also, without thinking about it too much.. Norwich sits almost dead center of the triangle between Binghamton, Syracuse and Albany according to Wikipedia. Wish two things. 1.) Winter's didn't exist up here and 2.)SkyFarms didn't cost so much. Norwich has the people to make this happen, just not the money (I don't even think Binghamton has the money) to start a SkyFarm and distribute fruits and vegatables to Binghamton, Albany, Syracuse and Chenango County all year round. That would create a distribution industry as well. Winter sucks.

I think we need young enthusiasm around here Scott! I think you can't rely on what is already here, (interaction with towns and county) we need to bring it.....sort of the "if we build it they will come" mentality. I am unsure of what SkyFarms is, but if you have the motivation and willpower keep it happening. I think there are a lot of people that would hop on board if someone starts! I for one am willing to anything to help change occur. I believe in this area and the city....out with the old and in with the YOUNG! I say~

Thanks itsjustme. I am currently looking to start something in Greene right now, maybe my efforts will bring me out to Norwich or just in Chenango County in general. I've always talked about it, but I'm in the middle of doing some things. It's intimidating to talk to the Binghamton Chamber of Commerce (every Chamber for that matter) when everyone is like 20 years older then you, but I push forward. :)

Don't let anyone intimidate you or your ideas...mostly they love "fresh ideas" be respectful (which I am certain you are) tell them your ideas and ask what you can work on together. Don't expect them to do your work, they are a tool and and asset....they love new business. Get involved with the young professionals group. there is one starting up in the area the website is www.tcypgroup.org Binghamton has one, www.styp.org and Chenango Chamber has a promising sounding class starting now check on their site for details www.chenangony.org. We will prevail, stay positive and focused! good luck!!!

I have agree that something needs to be done. But what exactlly. Maybe we need to just present our unused space for what it is. (no app. for revamps or curb side appel.) Take the P&G location for example. That is a stae of the art facility. For crying out loud someone in the pharmacutical biz has need of expansion. Maybe a new position on the board of directors is requierd. One that is geared towards marketing norwich's very useible/ vaccant realestate. Try to invite new revinew = more local economy.

A key element for Norwich in becoming a creative destination for high-tech companies/industries is to offer a 'connected community' that is attractive to knowledge workers, young entrepreneurs and early retirees. A 'connected community' that blends a "sense of place" with traditional streets and modern amenities is attractive to people of all generations.

The reason why high-technology companies, like Google, move to rural or smaller communities like Norwich is because these communities offer a quality of life that is unmatched in urban settings.

Norwich should (at some point) be readily available to offer security for high-technology companies' employees in the form of a safe, quiet, walkable community.

Norwich could also offer these high-technology companies proximity to larger urban areas without the problems associated of actually being located in a large urban area.

Such incentives, along with the bottom-line advantages of low property and payroll costs, encourage larger high-tech companies to expand into rural communities like Norwich. The only significant barrier that Norwich may face in recruiting new technology industry is the lack of basic IT infrastructure currently available, infrastructure that businesses need to support communications, education for their workforce, and basic operational functions.

So where do WE start. can we draft a proposal for something like this? I think it needs to be drawn up and presented as a start. Sorta get the ball rolling? Maybe start contacting the high-tech companies that expand in rural communities and find out what they would want. let's start the market research!

Participate in your local government and have them look into and apply to the following acts introduced by Senator Clinton:

These bills focus on investing in rural America, including:

• The Rural Investment to Strengthen our Economy Act (Rural RISE Act). The Rural RISE Act will help spur rural economic development by expanding access to capital and strategic advice for rural entrepreneurs and small businesses. The legislation will help create a more efficient grant process for small businesses through a National Board on Rural America, which will develop a national strategic investment plan, oversee the disbursement of all planning and innovation grants, and submit an annual report on program performance.

The bill will also bring together businesses, colleges and universities to help develop and implement effective programs to ensure workers have the training needed to compete in the global economy. The bill also provides small business tax credits to increase wages and raise low job growth rates by creating a special classification of employer tax credit for small businesses that locate in rural counties.

• The Rural Broadband Initiatives Act. This legislation will extend and improve access to broadband services in small towns across America. It creates a policy and action framework to ensure that the federal government employs an effective and comprehensive strategy to deploy broadband service and access in the rural areas of the United States. The bill will also establish a Rural Broadband Innovation fund to explore and develop cutting edge broadband delivery technologies to reach underserved rural areas. The Rural Broadband Initiatives Act has been endorsed by the Communications Workers of America.

• The School Food Fresh Act. The School Food Fresh Program will coordinate and better direct the commodity foods programs for school children by linking local and regional farmers with local schools. The program is similar to Farm to Fork, an initiative established by Senator Clinton that links New York State growers, distributors, retailers, restaurateurs, and others to expand markets for New York's diverse array of agricultural products, particularly in downstate regions such as New York City. The legislation also creates a taskforce that will be responsible for making the commodity foods programs more efficient and beneficial. Thirdly, the School Food Fresh Act will establish a grants program to evaluate and recommend product specifications for a variety of different commodities used in United States Department of Agriculture feeding programs.

I fear the biggest problem facing the City of Norwich today, as well as most towns and villages in the state, is they're located in New York State. Until such time our local and state legislators have the courage to say NO to massive overspending, pork barrel funding, and excessive mandating with inadequate or no funding at all, I fear that upstate New York as a whole will continue its decline, both economically and demographically.