June 21, 2004: Economic
Development Highlights, Awards Mark OOC’s Annual Meeting
Operation Oswego County held
its 52nd annual meeting at the Captain’s Steak and Seafood
Restaurant in Oswego, Monday, June 21.
Dee Heckethorn, president of
the Operation Oswego County (OOC) Board of Directors, stressed the
continuing significance of the manufacturing sector as well as small
business development, to Oswego County’s economy.
“The importance of the
manufacturing sector to our overall economy remains vital, and the
economic impact associated with manufacturing operations carry with
it significant multiplier effects. While the resurgence of manufacturing
in Oswego County was the major success story in 2003, small business
development proved once again to be the anchor of our economy and
delivered new business and expansion opportunities,” Heckethorn
said.
In 2003, projects assisted by
OOC resulted in the creation or retention of 1,493 jobs with over
$125 million in capital investment and 76 new, expanded or retained
facilities.
L. Michael Treadwell, CEcD,
executive director for OOC, outlined a number of top economic development
highlights for 2003, noting that OOC provided assistance to numerous
projects including:
- New York Chocolate and
Confections, a consortium of cocoa suppliers from Africa,
invested $25 million to reutilize the former Nestle facility in
the city of Fulton. Total employment of the company is anticipated
to be over 500 within the first three years in business. Funding
assistance was provided by the County of Oswego Industrial Development
Agency (IDA) and Empire State Development (ESD).
- Oswego Hospital broke
ground for its $28 million renewal project which includes a new
outpatient surgery center, intensive care unit, maternity department
and new operating rooms. This expansion will create 55 jobs. Funding
assistance was provided by the IDA.
- WiseBuys Stores, Inc.
located a new department store in the former Ames building in
Pulaski. The $1 million Pulaski store will be one of five stores
in the North Country and will create 60 jobs. The project received
funding assistance from an IDA loan.
- DeWald Roofing Company, Inc.
of East Syracuse relocated its business to the town of Hastings
creating 40 jobs. This project was assisted by a Small Business
Administration (SBA) 504 loan through OOC.
- Empire Fresh-Cuts constructed
a new 27,000 square foot onion processing facility in the town
of Oswego. The $3.6 million project will create more than 30 jobs.
Financing assistance was provided by the IDA, a SBA 504 loan through
OOC, ESD and the Central New York Enterprise Development Corp.
- My Pet Enterprises,
provider of My Doggy™ and My Kitty™ products for pets,
relocated from Baldwinsville to the Oswego County Start-up Facility
(SUF) in the Oswego County Industrial Park in the town of Schroeppel.
- Mark’s Service Center constructed
a new 9,675 square foot building in the town of Hastings with
help from a SBA 504 loan. The automotive service center will create
seven jobs.
- Gioia and Associates Inc.
acquired and improved the 50-year-old Oswego Speedway. The project
will create 86 jobs and was funded by the IDA and a SBA 504 loan
through OOC.
- Spear USA announced
its reutilization of the former Sonoco Flexible Packaging facility
in Fulton. The company produces labels for the beverage industry.
Sixty jobs will be created.
- Felix Schoeller Technical Papers
invested in a $6.2 million small format imaging paper expansion
project in Pulaski which created 25 jobs. The incentive package
included assistance from ESD, IDA and the Oswego County Legislature’s
Economic Development Initiative Fund.
- Northern Oswego County Health
Services, Inc. invested $2.8 million for a 25,500 square
foot expansion of its medical facility in Pulaski. Funding assistance
was provided by the IDA. The project will create 10 jobs.
- Advantage Carpets expanded
its retail carpet business by relocating to a new building on
West Fourth Street in Oswego. Funding for the project was provided
by the IDA and a SBA 504 loan through OOC. The expansion will
create two jobs.
- Port City Family Practice
and a lab operation affiliated with Oswego Hospital located a
new 8,000 square foot office facility in the city of Oswego. Funding
assistance was provided by the IDA and the City of Oswego CDO.
In addition to announcing the
2003 economic impact summary and recognizing top development projects,
three business organizations and a well-known development leader
and public servant were honored for significant contributions to
economic development and job creation in Oswego County.
 The
Ally Award for 2004 was presented to Niagara
Mohawk, recognizing it as an "ally" organization
in the economic development process in Oswego County for its continued
commitment and partnership in fostering economic development and
job creation in Oswego County and for its extensive support of the
Nestle plant reutilization by providing a $93,575 grant to help
complete an environmental assessment of the facility. Niagara Mohawk
was also recognized for its vital role in partnering with OOC, Tractebel
and Entergy Nuclear Northeast to develop a specialized cooperative
energy incentive package for New York Chocolate and Confections
Company and for providing a $10,000 grant to OOC for assistance
toward marketing Oswego County’s industrial parks.
 The
Business Excellence Award for 2004 was presented
to The Fulton Companies, honoring the company for
serving as an integral part of Oswego County’s manufacturing
sector for 55 years and for maintaining worldwide sales of over
$50 million. They were also recognized for securing a contract with
the U.S. Army in 2003 to provide thermal units for the Army’s
new low water use laundry design system which is used throughout
the world, for its contribution to community initiatives in education,
youth development and community safety, and for its support of the
Oswego County workforce by employing more than 200 employees.
 The
2004 Jobs Award, recognizing significant capital
investment as well as job creation and retention, was presented
to WiseBuys Stores Inc., for its “commitment
to locate its retail operations in Oswego County by reutilizing
the former 59,600 square foot Ames Department Store in Pulaski by
opening a discount shopping center which will result in the creation
of 60 local jobs.” WiseBuys was also honored for offering
the community an affordable and diverse shopping experience featuring
discounted and brand name merchandise such as a Payless Shoe Source
center, a Radio Shack center, home entertainment equipment, clothing,
house wares, appliances, sporting goods and toys at everyday low
prices.
 Bruce
Phelps was honored for his commitment to economic development
and dedicated support of the manufacturing industry throughout Oswego
County for more nearly 40 years with the 2004 Martin Rose
Economic Developer Merit Award. Phelps was honored for
his leadership on numerous boards and committees including OOC,
Oswego County Airport Advisory Committee, the Workforce Development
Board of Oswego County, the Fulton Empire Zone Administrative Board,
the American Red Cross and as president and founding member of Oswego
Industries. He was acknowledged for being honored for his community
advocacy with Leadership Oswego County’s “Lifetime Leadership
Award” in 1996, the Central New York Regional Planning and
Development Board’s “Rhea Eckel Clark Citizenship Award”
in 1997 and the Town of Granby’s “Citizen of the Year”
in 2003. Phelps was also recognized for his contribution to Oswego
County’s economy as president of the Fulton Tool Company for
more than 45 years.
The OOC board of directors also
recognized out-going president Dee Heckethorn for providing two
terms of distinguished service and valuable assistance in furthering
economic development, job growth, capital investment and business
expansion in Oswego County.
The new slate of officers elected
to the board includes George Joyce, president; Michael Pollock,
vice president; Gregory Kreis, treasurer; and Nancy Bellow, secretary.
Re-elected OOC board members
include Nancy Bellow, Bonnie Bostian, Thomas Greco, Dee Heckethorn,
Alan Horna, George Joyce, Edward Mervine, Michael Pollock, Michael
Quenville and David Vickery.
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