Herkimer unveils community development plan, director to create 'more prosperous future'

Herkimer County has named a new community development director, along with a new strategic development plan to foster growth and tourism in the area.

On Tuesday, Herkimer County Chairman Jim Bono introduced the new "face of the county," Community Development Director Deborah Kessler.

"We think we picked the best person and that's Deb Kessler," said Bono. "She will be the face of the county when it comes to promotion, as far as businesses and organizations."

Alongside Kessler, Bono introduced the county's new strategic development plan, which has been three years in the making. The plan called for the creation of an advisory committee made up of government, non-profit, education and business leaders, with the goal of encouraging public-private working partnerships and fostering economic growth.

What is the development plan and how was it created?

The creation of the strategic development plan began in 2020, when the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, the Herkimer County government and several Herkimer County municipalities pooled their resources to sponsor a project to create a "more prosperous future for Herkimer County," according the plan's executive summary.

"With the advent of COVID, that sort of put things on the back burner," said Bono. "It was tough to meet in the initial stages, but we worked through it, and by mid-2021 we were able to get the plan up and going."

Composed of county officials including Bono and County Administrator Jim Wallace, municipal officials, such as the mayors and supervisors of Little Falls, Frankfort, Webb, Herkimer and German Flatts, and a handful of local business leaders as well as Cathleen McColgin, president of Herkimer College, the steering committee partnered with Fairweather Consulting in 2021 to collect data to gauge business leaders' and residents' thoughts on the state of the county and its future.

"We wanted to learn what was good about Herkimer County, and also what was not so good," said Bono.

The six most common themes in county residents' visions for the future were:

• vital villages and main streets

• affordable and livable communities

• thriving economies

• diverse recreational and social activities

• engaged and inclusive culture

• a dedication to preserving the area's history

To foster this vision for the future, the strategic development plan called for the creation of a Community Development Partnership, which would connect the county's business, community, education and government leaders, so that they can network effectively and collaborate on solutions.

A new advisory committee, composed of local legislators Bono and Kurt Ackerman, New York State Assemblyman Robert Smullen, Herkimer College Dean of Students Donald Dutcher, as well as various other business and non-profit leaders, will work to help Kessler lead the community's future development.

What is a community development director?

Kessler graduated from Utica College with a bachelor's degree in public relations, and has experience serving on the boards of the Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Empowered Pathways, and the Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce. She also works part time as the president of Kessler Promotions, her own promotions, consulting and marketing firm.

She was originally chosen by the committee to be the community development director in October 2022.

"We decided maybe we need somebody outside of the political people to promote the county," said Bono. "And not just tourism but events that were happening in the community."

Kessler's job will be to work with the advisory committee to help encourage partnership among the county's various businesses, non-profits, and municipalities, as well as to help promote county events. Kessler hopes through her efforts that the county will be made as attractive as possible for tourists, business owners and residents alike.

"My goal for Herkimer County is to collaborate, cultivate, communicate and connect," said Kessler. "I'm looking forward to taking this position to the next level and really putting our county on the map."

Over the coming weeks, Kessler will release a county-wide events calendar to promote tourism, as well as work with local governments and organizations to help create new social events and gatherings.

Kessler and the advisory board are organizing a community development summit, which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 4 at Herkimer College. The summit will be free and open to the public, with the goal of developing a collaborative action agenda for 2023.

This article originally appeared on Times Telegram: Herkimer County unveils community development plan: What it entails