Huntington Notebook: Playground Dedication; Biz Center

The Town of Huntington plans to operate a Small Business Resource and Recovery Center at Town Hall which officials say will help stimulate economic development in Huntington.

The center, which is expected to open next week, is designed to provide small businesses with advice and tools that will help them succeed, according to Town Board members.

"Helping to boost the small business sector on the local level is something that each town across the country should embrace," said Town Board member Glenda Jackson.

Operating costs of the center to taxpayers and staffing requirements were not listed in a release by the town.

According to the plan, the center will help small businesses create and cultivate websites, provide computer tutorials, training, networking capabilities and opportunities to refresh business opportunities within the community.

Through the center, the town will direct businesses to local banks and service providers, according to the town.

By applying the innovative ideas generated by the center to pre-existing small businesses, the town said it hopes to bring forth and regenerate current slow markets.

"Small business is the bedrock of our economy, and the success of small businesses should lead our economic recovery," Supervisor Frank P. Petrone said in a release. "This center underscores our commitment to grow the Huntington economy by encouraging the formation of new businesses and helping guide businesses away from the pitfalls that could impede success."

Equipped to help entrepreneurs learn how to create business plans while linking them with contacts in financial services and research  sources such as local universities, the town hopes to help businesses grow.

The center will also provide advice and resources to help businesses with recovery strategies that will allow them to weather natural disasters and other unplanned business interruptions.

In other town news:

• Town Board members joined members of the Friends of Ann and Connele's Playground, Conrad Decker of Decker's Nursery of Greenlawn and members of the community to officially dedicate the playground at John Walsh Park in East Northport in the names of Ann and Connele Pabo on Sept. 10.
•  More than 100 people attended the Sept. 10 ceremony, held at the Town's 9-11 Memorial in Heckscher Park. Moderated by Mario Buonpane, chairman of the Huntington Veterans Advisory Board, which helped organize the event, the ceremony also included performances by the Huntington Mens' Chorus, a rifle salute by the Huntington Detachment Marine Corps league and a procession from the Northport Pipe and Drum Band.
• Suffolk County, in conjunction with NYS and the Federal Emergency Management Administration have joined forces to establish a Disaster Recovery Center to assist residents and businesses that have losses or damages caused by Hurricane Irene. The centers are staffed with disaster-recovery specialists who can provide information and answer questions about storm related disaster assistance and available low interest loans from the Small Business Administration. More information