Economic
Development Newsletter
July/Aug 2005:
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This newsletter is partially
funded by Operation Oswego County Foundation, Inc. and our economic
development supporters.
Ethanol Production Facility Revitilizes
Former Miller Brewery in Fulton
In July, Governor
George Pataki announced that Northeast Biofuels and a unique
combination of business, labor, educational institutions and
government will combine resources to facilitate a $157 million
project to produce ethanol—an
alternative fuel that’s more cost-effective and cleaner for
the environment.
Northeast Biofuels plans to utilize a 90-acre
subdivision of the former Miller Brewery in Fulton to construct
a 100-million-gallon-per-year ethanol production facility which
will make it one of the largest ethanol producers in the nation.
The company will retrofit approximately 300,000 square feet of
the existing building and construct two grain silos and one cooling
tower. In addition, the facility will be the first in the nation
to produce ethanol and biodiesel fuels in one, central location.
By the fall, NextGen Fuel will begin production
of transportation biodiesel and bioheating fuel, which will help
offset the use of imported petroleum products and reduce emissions.
Two of Northeast Biofuels’ major partner-suppliers, Perdue
Farms and BOC Gases, will also make major investments in the project.
Not only will this project position Oswego
County as a leader in the renewable fuels industry, it will also
provide the Fulton area and the county with new jobs and economic
opportunities.
Northeast Biofuels, Perdue and BOC Gases
will employ an estimated 100 workers, while over 1,000 indirect
jobs are projected to be created in the agriculture and transportation
sectors alone. More than 300 will be employed during the 15 month
construction phase.
“Northeast
Biofuels and its partners should be commended for their visionary
leadership in the renewable energy industry and investment in Oswego
County,” said L. Michael Treadwell,
CEcD, executive director of Operation Oswego County. “This
project would not be possible without the invaluable support by
Governor Pataki, Senator James Wright, Congressman John McHugh,
Assemblyman Will Barclay, New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets,
Empire State Development, IBEW Local 43 and Plumbers and Steamfitters
Local 73.”
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Young Professional Group to Partner with
Leadership Oswego County
“YP Voice,” a new young professional
networking and community activism organization, will partner with
SUNY Oswego’s Center for Business and Community Development
and Leadership Oswego County (LOC) to connect non-profit boards
with young professionals seeking increased community involvement.
LOC
participants embark on a nine-month course of intensive study of
leadership skills, resources and current issues that prepare students
to serve the community in the roles of board member, citizen, employee
or volunteer with organizations that serve Central New York.
Utilizing
the LOC alumni database, YP Voice (YPV) will match a board’s
needs with the prospective members’ interests
in order to facilitate the advancement of young professionals into
leadership positions in the community.
“One of our top priorities
for attracting and retaining this critical demographic is to support
young talent as they assume leadership positions in the community.
We are thrilled that YPV has agreed to utilize the LOC alumni database to facilitate
the development of future leaders in Oswego County.”
For more information
about YP Voice membership and/or board member referral services,
contact Shannon White, YP Voice president, at 343-1545 or swhite@oswegocounty.org.
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$1 Million in Funding For University-Industry
Partnerships
The “Grants for Growth” (GFG)
program will offer up to $50,000 in matching funds for innovative
applied research projects between universities and industry that
have the potential to improve business competitiveness and create
jobs. The program is part of the Metropolitan Development Association’s
(MDA) Essential New York Initiative.
The program seeks to increase
innovation and technology commercialization within the central
upstate regional economy. Through a combination of grants and no-interest
loans, the GFG program is designed to give companies greater access
to the unique knowledge, expertise and educational resources available
at regional research institutions.
All proposals require evidence
of detailed planning and sound budget justification, and must clearly
spell out the underlying assumptions, intended approaches, milestones
and deliverables. Proposals will be reviewed by an 11-member Advisory
Committee. Awards will be made on a rolling basis until all program
funds have been expended.
For more information and eligibility
requirements, contact the Metropolitan Development Association
at 315-422-8284, or to download an application, visit www.essentialny.com/gfg.
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OOC Business Assistance
Lower Falls Development,
LLC will renovate
the 102-year-old, three-story Brickhouse Building in Fulton to
include professional offices, retail stores and apartments. The
project is an integral component of waterfront development. The
project will receive funding assistance from the Fulton Community
Development Agency, the Community Preservation Corporation and
the County of Oswego Industrial Development Agency;
Harbor Lights will expand its outpatient clinic for adults and adolescents
suffering from alcohol and/or drug abuse related issues. A new
7,360 square foot building will be constructed as well as renovations
of an existing building at its new location on Scenic Avenue
in Mexico. The project will receive funding assistance from Community
Bank, an SBA 504 loan through OOC and the IDA; and
Grant Avenue
Development will renovate a vacant building on county
Route 13 in Pulaski into an Arby’s restaurant. The project
will receive funding assistance from the IDA and will create 18
jobs. Grant Avenue Development also operates Arby’s restaurants
in Fulton and Oswego.
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Entergy
Launches “Power of
Hope” Fund for Hurricane Katrina Victims
Entergy Corporation,
the electric and gas utility that serves the areas hardest hit
by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, launched the “Power of
Hope” Fund
and seeded the fund with an initial corporate donation of $1
million. The fund has grown to $3.7 million thanks to many corporate
and individual donations.
The fund will be used to help disaster
victims, many of whom can be counted among the ranks of Entergy’s
own employees. The fund differs from immediate relief efforts
of other agencies in that it will focus on helping victims transition
from shelters back into the community.
Entergy has restored power
to 1.8 million customers since the landfall of Hurricane Katrina.
Hurricane Rita created even greater damage to Entergy’s
transmission system and substations interrupting service to over
766,000. All customers affected by both hurricanes who currently
can take power have been restored.
Entergy’s James A. FitzPatrick nuclear power plant is located
in Scriba.
The fund is administered through the Foundation
for the Mid South. Tax-deductible contributions are accepted by
phone at 1-888-355-8168 or at www.powerofhope.com. One hundred
percent of every donation will provide direct aid to hurricane
victims.
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Agricultural Grant Opportunity Announced
The New York State “Grow New York” Food
and Agriculture Industry Development (FAID) Program is designed
to fund research and development projects that enhance the production,
processing and distribution of agricultural products and food
in New York State. The program provides matching funds, up to
$60,000, to public and private agencies, organizations, businesses,
educational institutions, local governments and individuals that
submit proposals which implement innovative and low-risk approaches
to the research, development, production, processing and distribution
of agricultural products.
Eligible projects should capitalize
on the state’s unique
resources and strategic location near significant markets, and
must involve market development or expansion, production diversification,
processing and distribution system development; facilitate commercial
application of new technologies; or conduct feasibility studies.
This
year, the Department has set aside 25 percent of the available
funds for renewable energy projects, projects that involve fuels
derived from biomass. Prospective renewable energy projects may
focus on the assessment of feedstock sources, efficiency studies,
pilot plant experiments, market identification, and the development
of new technology.
FAID applications are available by contacting
the department at (800) 544-4501, or by downloading the form from
at www.agmkt.state.ny.us/RFPS.html.
All applications for funding
must be received by the department by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec.
6, 2005.
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CNY Job Search Engine Now Available
To facilitate the attraction and retention
of talent in Central New York, the Essential New York Initiative
(ENYI), a regional strategy to accelerate the transformation of
Central New York to a technology-driven economy, recently launched
its free job search engine www.essentialnyjobs.com.
Visitors can
enter key words such as “chemical engineer” or “laboratory
technician,” and the search engine will produce a list of
available job openings. Job seekers then click the individual jobs
and are linked to the site where information on the job is posted.
The site currently scans more than 400 area websites listing more
than 8,000 jobs available in the 12-county region. The new site
was made possible by a $50,000 grant from Bank of America.
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