“Letter to the Editor”
May 19, 2005
To the editor;
In response to a recent article in The Post
Standard titled “State Gives Away Millions for Jobs that Never
Come,” I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge
the significance of Empire State Development’s support of
economic and job development in Oswego County.
ESD works closely with businesses and with
local economic development organizations, like Operation Oswego
County, to identify creative solutions to challenging problems,
generate enhanced opportunities for growth, and help them achieve
their important short and long-term goals. In many cases, without
the support of ESD, we would not have been able to provide the necessary
and appropriate assistance needed to establish new businesses, expansions,
and new jobs.
Equally as important, frequently with the
high rate of technological advances, commitments by manufacturers
often translate into job retention and not necessarily new job creation.
Manufacturing in Oswego County represents about 15 percent of jobs--significantly
greater than the state and national average of nine and 10 percent
respectively. Thus, ESD’s help to fund projects that allow
for them to remain is critical to our economy.
In the last couple of years alone, ESD has
provided funding assistance essential to bring new major manufacturers
such as Empire Fresh-Cuts, Spear USA and New York Chocolate &
Confections Company online in Oswego County. Existing manufacturers
that have to compete not only with their external business competitors,
but very often have to compete within their corporate structure
for commitments to advance capital projects. ESD has provided invaluable
help to assist our efforts to win some of these projects. Expansions,
investment and job creation/retention in recent years at Birds Eye
Foods, Huhtamaki, InterFace Solutions, Great Lakes Veneer and Novelis
Corp., are all evidence of this.
ESD has also provided grant funding to wire
our small business incubator facilities to enable the utilization
of technology essential to the success of those businesses located
in the facilities.
Sincerely yours,
L. Michael Treadwell,
CEcD
Executive Director, Operation Oswego County
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