Jan. 29, 2008: Economic Development Progress in Oswego County
By L. Michael Treadwell, CEcD, Executive Director, Operation Oswego County

While the beginning of 2007 marked the closure of Crysteel Manufacturing’s plant in the town of Volney, Oswego County was buoyed by significant investment from existing businesses that expanded their operations, as well as from new firms that located throughout the county. In fact, Operation Oswego County helped to provide business and financial assistance for projects that when fully implemented, will invest over $77 million in Oswego County, and will create and/or retain more than 300 jobs.

New businesses that located to the county include Peebles department store and American Heritage Flooring in Oswego, Linde’s BOC liquefaction plant in Volney, Tavern on the Lock in Fulton, and Riverhouse Restaurant in Pulaski. In addition, Riccelli Enterprises acquired the former Crysteel facility shortly after it was closed, and will provide transportation and warehousing services for the Riverview Business Park complex. The $2.5 million project will create 30-35 jobs.

Long standing businesses such as Hannibal Village Market in Hannibal, Huhtamaki in Fulton, Great Lakes Veneer and Bosco & Geers in Oswego, Southern Graphics in Schroeppel, D&D Logging in Palermo, and Novelis in Scriba all expanded their operations. In addition, Kinney Pharmacy is relocating to a new facility in Fulton and Housing Visions will invest $28 million to redevelop 189 affordable housing units in the Hamilton Homes complex in Oswego.

Two key projects that are generating considerable excitement for the region’s future are the 420-acre Riverview Business Park (RBP) in the town of Volney which is being marketed with an emphasis on renewable and innovative technologies, and the proposed expansion of the Port of Oswego.

RBP, anchored by the $175 million Northeast Biofuels (NEB) ethanol plant, will retrofit the park's existing infrastructure to create a network of sustainable, renewable energy that could include woody biomass gasification, agricultural waste to methane, solar, wind, and geo-thermal. RBP and its development partners, including O'Brien & Gere, Operation Oswego County (OOC), National Grid and Empire State Development are actively marketing the park, with a special focus on the agri-business sector including the dairy, food processing and bottling/beverage industries. In addition to affordable "green" energy, RBP offers transportation assets including rail, interstate highway and access to the deep water Port of Oswego. When fully developed, the total investment at RPB could approach $1 billion, with total full-time employment of more than 1,000.

In addition, National Grid awarded $134,389 to OOC to contract with O'Brien & Gere to create a master plan for energy asset management and development at RBP. The plan will analyze existing energy assets, project future needs and opportunities, and quantify and qualify possible solutions with an emphasis on renewable and innovative technologies.

The Port of Oswego plays a critical role the economic development process in Oswego County. The facility is the first U.S. port of call on Lake Ontario and the Great Lakes, from the Atlantic and the St. Lawrence Seaway, and processes over 500,000 tons of cargo yearly.

In 2007, the Port completed several expansion projects including a $1.1 million reconstruction of the barrel building for bulk storage, a $175,000 rehabilitation of the West Wharf for salt storage and secured new customers Cargill and Perdue.

In order to meet the future needs of the international trade industry and increase revenue for the Port, the board of directors and new executive director Jonathan Daniels will implement several expansion projects including rail rehabilitation for existing track at the East Terminal, concrete paving between the barrel building and storage domes, construction of a new maintenance facility, and the construction of new bulk storage facilities.

OOC will continue to partner with the Port to create opportunities for economic development and increased employment in Oswego County. The Port will be integral to helping to facilitate further growth in the renewable and alternative energy sector.

Looking forward, OOC will continue to aggressively attract business to Oswego County and help existing employers reach their potential. However, because competition for investment and jobs continues to be fierce, we must work hard to present the area as a pro-business community, to expand and intensify marketing initiatives and to develop and expand upon infrastructure needs which are absolutely necessary and essential to be competitive in today's economic climate.

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