June 22, 2007: Economic Development Agency Presents Annual Activity Summary, Achievement Awards

Operation Oswego County held its 55th annual meeting at the SUNY Oswego Campus Center, Friday, June 22.

SUNY Oswego President Deborah Stanley, keynote speaker for the event, welcomed meeting attendees to the new facility and summarized the university’s economic impact on the region.

George Joyce, president of the Operation Oswego County (OOC) board of directors, reported that in 2006, projects assisted by OOC resulted in the creation or retention of 1,045 jobs with over $350 million in capital investment and 92 new, expanded or retained facilities.

Joyce also recognized Northeast Biofuels’ renewable energy project at the Riverview Business Park (RBP) in the town of Volney.

“NEB and its partner Permolex International are constructing what will be one of the largest ethanol plants in the United States. During construction, approximately 450 local workers will be hired. When operational, NEB is expected to employ a staff of 50, and will help create approximately 1,500 spin-off jobs in agriculture, transportation, and other sectors of the Central New York economy. OOC, working in conjunction with our local, state and federal partners is extremely proud to help this project come to fruition,” Joyce said.

L. Michael Treadwell, CEcD, executive director for OOC, outlined a number of economic development highlights in 2006, noting that OOC provided or helped arrange assistance to numerous projects including:

• Great Lakes Veneer in the city of Oswego invested in new equipment that will enhance efficiencies by adding scanning capabilities to produce a higher grade of lumber, increase speed and help minimize waste in the manufacturing process. This expansion to improve competitiveness will help to retain 20 jobs at the plant that employs 73 people. Financial assistance for the $700,000 project was provided by Central New York Enterprise Development Corp. and the County of Oswego Industrial Development Agency (IDA);

• The Club at Caughdenoy Creek acquired the former Caughdenoy Creek Country Club in the town of Hastings. The business operates an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse, and will extend restaurant operations to a year-round facility. The $1.3 million project will create and/or retain 14 jobs and received funding assistance from the IDA, a Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loan through OOC, and HSBC Bank;

• Mahalaxmi Motels, LLC acquired and renovated the former Redwood Inn in Pulaski, which has been franchised as a Red Carpet Inn and a Scottish Inn and Suites. The owner currently owns and operates the Scottish Inn and Suites and Days Inn in Oswego. The $1.3 million project created and/or retained 13 jobs and received funding assistance from the IDA, Alliance Bank and a SBA 504 loan through OOC;

• The Reservoir Inn and Reservoir Gas & Mart is a renovated convenience store, deli and restaurant along with an eight-room motel in the town of Redfield. The 5,676 square foot facility will be operated year-round and will create nine jobs. Funding assistance was provided by the IDA, a SBA 504 loan through OOC and Community Bank;

• New Image Health and Fitness of Fulton renovated a 4,000 square foot fitness facility in the Three Rivers Plaza Mall in the town of Schroeppel. The new facility, named Fitness Whenever, is open 24-hours-a-day and will create six jobs. Funding assistance was provided by the IDA;

• The Laser Center of Pulaski is a new cosmetic laser service being offered by Dr. Jay F. Sullivan. Laser equipment includes a SmoothBeam laser and a Gentle LASE laser. The expansion will create two jobs. The $190,000 project received financial assistance from Alliance Bank and the IDA;

• Checker House Corners Inc. renovated a vacant 1,600-square foot convenience store and gas station in the town of Williamstown. The project will create six jobs and received funding assistance from the IDA, a SBA 504 loan through OOC and Pathfinder Bank;

• Felix Schoeller Technical Papers (FSTP) announced plans to make a four million dollar investment in new equipment, building renovations and other facility modernizations for an expansion of production capabilities and capacities at its plant in the town of Richland. FSTP expects to add 125 new full-time jobs. Funding assistance was provided by a New York State Senate grant secured by Sen. James Wright, a grant by Empire State Development, and a low interest loan through the IDA. OOC assisted in structuring the financial package. Additional business assistance was provided by National Grid, Assemblyman Will Barclay and the sponsoring of the project as a “regionally significant project” by the Fulton Empire Zone Administrative Board;

• Caster Properties will renovate and convert the former Goldberg’s building in Fulton into 10,000 square feet of retail and office space on the first floor, and eight condominiums or apartments on the second floor. The basement will be converted into 18 parking spaces. The project received funding from the IDA, Fulton Community Development Agency (CDA), National Grid and Fulton Savings Bank;

• EVM, Inc., is a woman-owned property and vehicle maintenance business located in the town of Scriba. The business includes landscaping, snow removal and heavy-duty vehicle and diesel specialty services. The new company acquired and renovated the former 84 Lumber building. Financial assistance was provided by Pathfinder Bank and the IDA;

• Hannibal Village Market expanded its fresh meat, produce, deli, hot foods, fresh bakery and natural and organic food lines by adding 2,038 square feet to its supermarket in the town of Hannibal. The project will create six jobs and received funding assistance from the IDA and Fulton Savings Bank;

• New York Bold expanded its successful agribusiness harvesting and packaging-cooking onions with the acquisition of a new, high-speed weigher needed to increase production speed for bagging. The $400,000 project in the town of Volney will create/retain 16 jobs and was funded by the IDA and the Farm Credit Bureau;

• Northeast Biofuels and partner Permolex International will establish a 114-million-gallon per year corn to ethanol production plant at Riverview Business Park in the town of Volney. This $150 million investment will create more than 50 jobs. Hundreds of spin off jobs will result in the transportation sector and in the agricultural sector and approximately 40 million bushels of corn will be used annually. The ethanol will be marketed for use primarily in New York State and the Northeast as a clean-burning, oil-saving gasoline additive. About 25 percent of the corn is expected to be purchased from New York State farmers; and

• Hazen’s Athletic Center constructed a new 6,400-square foot indoor sports facility in the town of Hastings which is tailored for girl’s fast pitch softball training. The project will create eight jobs and received funding assistance from the IDA, a SBA 504 loan through OOC and HSBC Bank.

Four business organizations, a successful entrepreneur and a public official were also honored for significant contributions to economic development and job creation in Oswego County.

The Ally Award for 2007 was presented to the partnership of Entergy Nuclear and the Oswego County Public Utility Service (OCPUS), recognizing it as an “ally” organization in the economic development process in Oswego County. Together, OCPUS and Entergy played a crucial role in facilitating the “Power for Progress” low-cost electrical energy program for new and expanding businesses which helped to foster economic development and job creation in Oswego County.

The Business Excellence Award for 2007 was presented to Eagle Beverage Company for maintaining a successful distribution company in the town of Oswego for the past 28 years, for distributing a full line of major beverage brands including Anheuser-Busch, Labatt, and Snapple to Oswego, Jefferson and Lewis counties, and for achieving more than $20 million in annual sales. The company was also recognized for its support and sponsorship of community events throughout Oswego County.

The 2007 Jobs Award, recognizing significant capital investment as well as job creation and retention, was presented to Felix Schoeller Technical Papers for the expansion of its specialty paper production capacity at its plant in the town of Richland which led to the creation of 125 manufacturing jobs and two million in annual payroll.

Douglas Caster was the recipient of OOC’s inaugural Dee Heckethorn Entrepreneur Award. Caster was recognized for his exceptional efforts, risks and initiatives he has taken to help restore economic activity to the heart of Fulton through his role in the planning and implementation of the Canal Corridor initiative, and for his leadership role in the planned redevelopment of the former Goldberg’s building into upscale condominiums.
William Barclay, New York State Assemblyman, 124th District, was honored with the 2007 Martin Rose Economic Developer Merit Award for his commitment to the economic development process by helping to facilitate the attraction and retention of businesses in Oswego County including Felix Schoeller Technical Papers, Northeast Biofuels, Sure-Lock Industries, Fulton Companies and GS Fulton Biodiesel. He was also recognized for his representation on the Assembly Task Force on Small Business in New York State.

The OOC board of directors also elected Barbara Bateman, regional executive of Alliance Bank, Jonathan Daniels, director of the Port of Oswego Authority and Vincent Lobdell, president of HealthWay in Pulaski, to the board.

Re-elected to another three-year term were Nancy Bellow, SUNY Oswego Office for Business and Community Relations; Bonnie Bostian, Entergy Nuclear; Thomas Greco, Fulton Savings Bank; Alan Horna, Oswego Wire; George Joyce, Laser Transit; Edward Mervine, Pathfinder Bank; Michael Pollock, Fulton Savings Bank; Michael Quenville, Pathfinder Bank; and David Vickery, Vickery Insurance.

Back to 2007 Press Releases