[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 147 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2043]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING VIJAY MITAL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 14, 2002

  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the retirement of Vijay 
Mital, the City of Auburn, New York's Director of Planning and Economic 
Development. Vijay, who retires next month, has been a dedicated public 
servant in the Auburn community for 32 years. Having worked with this 
exceptional individual for 14 years, I can say he will be missed by all 
those who have come to know and respect his work.
  If anyone can attest to living the American dream, it is Vijay Mital. 
He grew up near New Dehli, India before immigrating to the United 
States in 1970 at the age of 30. While visiting his sister in my 
hometown of Syracuse, Vijay came across an employment ad for an opening 
in Cayuga County's planning department. He applied for the job, was 
hired five days later, and as they say, the rest is history. He has 
worked for the county for 20 years and spent the last 12 years with the 
City of Auburn in his current position.
  A humble and modest man, Vijay is the only Director of Planning and 
Economic Development the city's ever had. Here are just some of the 
extraordinary accomplishments of his career. Vijay and his staff have 
diligently worked to bring over $50 million in state and federal aid 
for local projects. At one point, the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development awarded the city 19 consecutive grants. This is record at 
the agency that still stands today.
  Upon learning SnyderGeneral, now McQuay International, was going to 
close its local plant and move elsewhere, Vijay led a city delegation 
to the company's headquarters in Texas. There, he convinced the company 
to stay open in Auburn saving 350 jobs. Since that time, the company 
has more than doubled its workforce, adding a new marketing division. 
Vijay has also been instrumental in developing the Stryker Homes and 
the Boyle Center senior citizen complexes, the Holiday Inn, and the new 
Falcon Park minor league baseball field.
  As everyone can see, Vijay is truly an extraordinary person. I join 
his wife Nisha, daughter Seema, and son Mansha in saluting his lifetime 
of work for the people of Cayuga County and the City of Auburn. Vijay 
Mital has made a difference in his community and I wish him well in his 
future endeavors.

                          ____________________