Schumer pushing a new bill to boost tourism in country
By CRISTINE MEIXNER
Editor
BLUE MT. LAKE — U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer is working hard to get the Travel Regional Investment Partnership Act passed.
The TRIP Act would provide $50 million over five years for public-private partnerships on tourism-related projects across the country. Grants of up to $1 million each would be issued to improve parks, build tourism infrastructure and market tourist destinations, Schumer says.
“Importantly, the legislation will benefit communities that don’t have huge budgets for tourism promotion, like communities in the North Country,” he added while speaking at The Adirondack Museum here Friday, Aug. 27.
Representative Sam Farr (D-Calif.) introduced the act in the House of Representatives Feb. 24. It was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, according to the website www.GovTrack.us.
Sen. Mark Begich (D-Ark.) introduced S.3225 in the Senate April 19. New York’s senators - Democrats Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand - are among its three co-sponsors.
It was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, www.GovTrack.us says. Schumer said the best way to help get the TRIP Act passed is to urge congressmen and senators to do so.
Schumer was asked to intervene in a plan to close 150 public campsites in Indian Lake before promised new ones are created, which would negatively affect tourism here. He said his New York State Deputy Director Stephen Mann would look into the matter.
Jeannie Puterko, who has mounted a campaign to bring Price Chopper to Indian Lake, told Schumer she had received a telephone call that morning saying the firm will send representatives to take a look at the former Indian Lake Market. The town currently has no grocery store.
Schumer said it might be possible to get a TRIP Act grant [if the legislation is passes], particularly for renovating the building, because tourists need a grocery.
An owner of Prospect Point Cottages here told Schumer they have been fixing up the cottages there one by one, and would like to be open year-round, but as the property is improved its assessment and taxes go up, making it a discouraging venture.
He wondered if something like a 10-year tax abatement program would be possible. Schumer said under the TRIP Act maybe money could be used to pay the increase in taxes.
A North Creek businessman asked Schumer if there is any way to get money to banks for making loans.
Schumer said the first thing the Senate is going to do when it convenes in January is take up the Small Business Lending Fund. The House passed its version June 18.
The fund would invest up to $30 billion of federal money in small banks and give them incentives to lend that money to small businesses.
Schumer said the money would come from repayments to the Troubled Asset Relief Program.