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		Home Join Us Order Publications News Recent News Newsletter Programs and Initiatives 2007 Highlights Annual Reports Strategic Plan Strategic Action Blueprint People and Place Staff Board Members Project Partners History Service Area Contact Us		Delegation Presents North Country Agenda in Washington By DAN HEATH, Staff Writer, Press Republican Thursday, May 29 2008 PLATTSBURGH - A 14-member delegation recently met with federal leaders for the annual North Country Day in Washington. The group was headed by Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas. "The North Country has been punching above its weight in Washington for the last several years, but it takes a coordinated and pragmatic agenda backed up with consistent messaging for a small area like ours to be effective," he said. "North Country Day is an important part of the formula, just as follow-up over the next several months is. The chamber is already set to return in July and September." The delegation had meetings with Sen. Charles Schumer, Rep. John McHugh and representatives of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand and New York Gov. David Paterson. CVPH WAGES Douglas said one of the top priorities for the region is adjustment of CVPH Medical Center’s Medicare wage index. That index is used to determine Medicare reimbursements to hospitals. Hospitals are grouped by regions, which should have similar reimbursement rates. CVPH is in a region tied to Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Douglas said, and should receive the same rate of reimbursement. That isn’t always the case, as some hospitals have received higher rates through congressional intervention. That has allowed Fletcher Allen get their wage index tied to the Boston area. That brings the Burlington hospital millions in additional revenue each year. A similar index adjustment for CVPH would do the same in Plattsburgh, Douglas said. McHugh and Schumer are leading this cause in Washington, he said, and local leaders are cautiously hopeful the adjustment will be included in the next Medicare bill. ORDA CENTER The Olympic Regional Development Authority is seeking $6.2 million to fill an expected funding gap for its new conference center due to sharply rising construction costs. "We’re hoping Washington will fill the gap. We need to get the federal spigot turned back on for the ORDA facilities," Douglas said. Federal funding dried up while former Rep. John Sweeney was in Washington, he said. Lake Placid is one of only two places in the United States -- along with the Salt Lake City area -- with a full complement of world-class winter sports facilities, Douglas noted. "This is a nationally significant project that should be maintained." He said Gillibrand and Schumer are working toward this goal. STRAND RENOVATIONS The North Country Cultural Center for the Arts is seeking $800,000 for its continuing Strand Theatre restoration efforts. Douglas said the project is vital for regional economic development, not just for downtown Plattsburgh but also as a recruiting tool for local employers. A culture gap is one of the big issues in attracting workforce members, he said, and the Strand project is one of the "crucial niches" that needs to be filled. The project did receive $100,000 in federal funding last year, thanks to the efforts of McHugh and Clinton. TRAIN STATION The next logical step in creating the Port of Excellence at the Canadian border is restoration and development of the Rouses Point train station, Douglas said. He said the present station is a disgraceful gateway to the United States and lacks adequate space for U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel. "We are taking a two-track approach, no pun intended." That includes a formal request for a $600,000 congressional earmark and a proposal written by Rouses Point Community Development Director Melissa McManus for a Transportation Enhancement Program grant. The hope is that one or the other, or a combination of the two, will allow the railroad project to move forward. TRUDEAU RESEARCH Trudeau Institute is seeking to maximize its federal funding, which primarily comes from the National Institutes of Health. Trudeau Institute is also working with the U.S. Navy on pandemic flu vaccines, which would be crucial for front-line responders. "This is vital research. We are looking for continued funding in the Defense Appropriations Bill," Douglas said. Those efforts are being led by McHugh, Gillibrand and Clinton, all members of congressional defense committees. MASS TRANSIT With the region’s growing mass-transit industry, Bombardier in North Country Day took part to stress the importance of federal investment in mass transit. Douglas said he expects to spend even more time in Washington in 2009 as the next Federal Transportation Authorization bill is finalized. Funding for metropolitan transit authorities around the country provide opportunities for companies like Bombardier and Nova Bus to bid on contracts. Douglas said he will go back to Washington with Nova Bus representatives within the next 60 days. Other initiatives included seeking support for the Adirondack North Country Association’s region-wide Green Planning and Technology Initiative, Plattsburgh International Airport and a discussion of flow times at the Canadian border. dheath(at)pressrepublican.com DELEGATION The 14 members of the delegation that attended North Country Day in Washington May 14 and 15 are Terry Martino of the Adirondack North Country Association; A. Oakley Brooks and Daniel McNamara, Bombardier Transportation; Canadian Consulate General Stephen Brereton; Stephens Mundy, CVPH Medical Center; Delegate General of Quebec Robert Keating, Michael Abensour and Jean-Stephane Bernard of the Government of Quebec; Susan Daul, North Country Cultural Center for the Arts; Ted Blazer, Olympic Regional Development Authority; Garry Douglas, Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce; Sylvie Nelson, Saranac Lake Chamber of Commerce; Terry Gach, Trudeau Institute; and Melissa McManus, Village of Rouses Point.