Mineola, NY - The Nassau County Legislature's Democratic Majority announced today that it will be proposing several "BRIGHT IDEA" initiatives over the next five weeks prior to the 2004 budget vote, the first of which will be a proposal for the creation of a "Nassau County Campus Store," modeled after stores in New York City and Broward County, Florida.

"Stores of this type can earn up to $1 million a year," said Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury). "It would make sense then that Nassau County, which is among the 'greatest counties in the country,' should be part of this merchandising phenomenon."

The County has many resources including numerous tourist attractions, 19 full service parks, seven golf courses, 10 museums, an aquatic center and a workforce of 10,000 people, said Jacobs. All of these resources can be promoted through the County Store and its merchandise.

The County Store would offer such items as t-shirts, sweatshirts, caps, coffee mugs, water bottles, umbrellas, mouse pads, tote bags and other gear that would carry the "Nassau County" logo. Other merchandise would include "Blue Books" of names of County officials and contacts, tax maps, GIS information, plans and specifications for construction projects, technical specifications, property record cards and Leisure Passes. "Nassau County is home to 1.3 million people. That translates into a lot of tee shirts…and a lot of cash," said Jacobs.

"Merchandising your product is the American way," said Legislator Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington), "and with the Internet and online shopping, we can take this county global."

The Majority Democrats are calling for an advisory board of business people, tourism experts and county officials who will determine where the store should be located, identify the start-up costs, launch a web site and catalog, select profit-making merchandise and create the Nassau County Blue Book.

The proposed Nassau County Store is just the first of several "BRIGHT IDEA" initiatives that the Majority's Office of Finance has suggested. Other ideas will be announced over the next five weeks as they Legislature conduct budget hearings leading up to the October 30 budget approval deadline.