Southampton tour highlights economic plans

In an effort to show others that Southampton is not all mansions and high-end restaurants, members of the town board took county, state and federal representatives on a tour of some areas the board is targeting for economic growth and development.

The six-hour minibus tour highlighted the Flanders-Riverside development zone, the Hamptons Business District at Gabreski Airport, the Shinnecock Inlets Commercial Fishing Dock in Hampton Bays, Hampton Bays Main Street and revitalization efforts there, and Stony Brook University’s Marine Sciences Research Center. It ended with a lunch at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, the site of the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open.

Among the participants were representatives from the governor’s office, both U.S. senators’ offices, Empire State Development, the county’s economic development and planning department, as well as town officials.

“We are hoping for a number of good things to come out of these efforts,” Southampton Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst said. “We have needs here as other townships in the area do.” The supervisor said that the town often was precluded from economic incentives given by the county and state, and the tour helped showcase some of the work being done in the town.

“I thought, OK, we need to be put on the map,” she said.