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| 2/23/2010 11:22:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | AIDA to seek proposals, weigh options
Jessica Maher
Reporter
After hearing presentations last week, the Amsterdam Industrial Development Agency plans to seek requests for proposals, after which a final decision can be made about the city's grant writer.
"It shows you there's more than one grant writer in the area that's interested in doing business in Amsterdam," AIDA Chairman Dan DeRossi said of the four presentations. "It gives the people of Amsterdam the best bang for their buck and that's the bottom line, because if we can get the same thing accomplished and for a reduced cost, we're ahead of the game."
On Jan. 1, AIDA retroactively eliminated city Grant Writer Nick Zabawsky, who they'd paid to provide grant-writing services at $2,500 a month.
Zabawsky offered a presentation last week in a joint meeting of the Common Council and AIDA board, who also entertained presentations from The Grant Writers, led by former Mayor John Duchessi, Geo-Environmental Management Solutions with representatives Jeremy Silverman and Fred Krone and The Valley Rural Housing Corporation with its executive director, Gino Santabarbara.
Still, Mayor Ann Thane pointed to Zabawsky's success and his willingness to work with AIDA and the city when it comes to payment. AIDA has called the decision to review the contracts, including that of the grant writer, a financial one.
"The fact of the matter is that you've had a very successful grant writer," Thane said Monday. "I don't think that is where the money is misspent."
Under the AIDA grant-writing initiative, Zabawsky has written over $8 million in grants for the city, the majority of which were grants requiring no local taxpayer match. Projects funded under Zabawsky have included a variety of rehabilitation programs for commercial and residential properties such as several rounds of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Renewal's HOME program, Small Cities grant and Community Development Block Grant program.
Once RFPs are received, DeRossi noted the importance of comparing the proposals in a way that's fair - apples to apples, oranges to oranges.
"We have to make sure what we have versus what was proposed to make sure they're the same," he said.
Duchessi declined to comment on past success in obtaining grants, saying TGW would submit that information as part of its response to RFPs.
"For me, it's not just a matter of local politics," said Duchessi. "That's how our company would approach any community issuing an RFP."
During his presentation last week, Duchessi said TGW would start with an opportunity audit to find out what the community's vision is and then would generate a report suggesting possible avenues for grant writing.
In addition to working on HUD grants including CDBG, which Duchessi called "routine grants," he said TGW would also look at grants of equal importance, specifically those that would benefit AIDA.
"I think [Duchessi] brought things to the table that we were never really exposed to before," said 1st Ward Alderman Joseph Isabel.
Fourth Ward Alderman William Wills said that he was pleased with all presentations.
"Competition is good, and you had four different sets of personnel that could do a good job for you regardless of who you chose," he said. "They all seemed very qualified and have had past successes."
Santabarbara said The Valley's specialty in its 17 years in existence has been in securing HOME and CDBG grants for clients, successfully securing grants in nine programs. According to Santabarbara, The Valley has been funded over 90 percent of the time that it's applied for grants.
As for GEMS, Silverman said the firm has recently worked with municipalities including the village of Frankfurt, city of Sherrill and village of St. Johnsville to write and manage CDBG and Restore NY grants. He declined to estimate his level of success with securing grants.
"We like to think we're successful and we add a value to the community," he said.
RFPs are currently being developed in AIDA committees, said DeRossi.
"The respondents will have the opportunity to send their answers to the RFPs and then we'll have our answer," he said.
A joint meeting between AIDA, URA and Common Council members will be held Monday. Originally scheduled by Thane to be in closed session, the 6 p.m. meeting will be open following aired concerns from constituents and aldermen.
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Contact Jessica Maher at jessica.maher@recordernews.com.
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