Planning council gets $250G grant; seeks more funding

The Empire State Development agency approved a $250,000 state grant Thursday for the cash-strapped Long Island Regional Planning Council, which continues its search for new revenue after both county governments pulled their funding.

Council chairman John D. Cameron also has asked the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency and the Suffolk County Economic Development Corp. for financing to continue outreach and research on regional issues like economic development, housing and education.

The council's request for money from the Suffolk agency ran into a roadblock after questions were raised Thursday -- leading to a funding resolution being tabled until next week. Meanwhile, the council's request to the Nassau IDA is in contract negotiations.

The financial fortunes of the council, a bi-county advisory group that has existed in some form for more than 40 years, faltered when Nassau pulled $200,000, almost half of the council's $500,000 budget in March 2011, because of the county's budget woes.

Suffolk then gradually phased out its financial support, noting both counties were supposed to equally fund the council. The council employs two staffers and still gets in-kind assistance from both counties.

In an outline of the grant, the Empire State Development group noted the council "will undertake activities to educate the public about the LI 2035 Sustainability Plan," which identified challenges facing the region and potential solutions. The council also has started an interactive website -- LI2035.org -- to advocate for affordable housing.

Yesterday, Joseph J. Kearney, Nassau IDA director, said it was negotiating a "professional services contract" of up to $125,000 with the council.

But the council will have to wait to receive support from the Suffolk County Economic Development Corp., where Cameron appeared yesterday seeking $125,000 this year and $250,000 next year.

Cameron told the development corporation that the planning group needs the money "not only to survive but to do much more than that."

He touted the group's 2035 Sustainability Plan and said Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's regional economic development councils initiative and area politicians' "buy local" requirements both originated with the planning council.

Several members of the Suffolk economic development corporation voiced reservations.

"This seems redundant with what we're already doing," said Steve Rossetti, a business broker in Huntington, referring to Suffolk's contract with the Regional Plan Association in Manhattan. "There haven't been substantial results from the regional planning council. What are their achievements?"

Paul J. Tonna, chairman of the development corporation who once served on the planning council, shot back, "They've provided a road map for development on Long Island and in Suffolk County. I take umbrage . . . They are delivering and they deserve to continue."