Owego Radio Station Seeks State Revitalization Cash

A Tioga County broadcasting company wants more than $2 million in state grant money to be used to boost a radio station and its advertisers.

The owners of WEBO Radio are seeking some of the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative funds to buy portable radios and batteries for each of Owego's 3,896 residents.

In a letter submitted with the village's application for the state grant, Radigan Broadcasting Group also proposed allocating more than $1 million for a "community advertising fund." The recommendation calls for providing 20 businesses with $52,560 each to advertise only on WEBO.

Company president David Radigan also is seeking $600,000 to pay for a news director and three business development employees for three years.

WEBO'S owners also recommend the station be given $305,000 for capital improvements and innovations. The company's letter says the money would be used for various projects including acquiring mobile broadcast and video production studios.

The Radigan Broadcasting Group officially launched its WEBO operations on July 1, 2006.

The Radigan "letter of support" was one of several submitted with the village of Owego's application for the $10 million downtown revitalization grant.

Tioga County legislature chair Martha Sauerbrey stood to the left of Governor Andrew Cuomo posing with a large prop check during Thursday's announcement of the grant to Owego. Sauerbrey's husband, Lew, is co-host of WEBO's morning show.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

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