ucc Operation Oswego County, Inc. 2 0 0 4 A N N U A L R E P O R T Visibility A AN ECONOMIC AND JOB DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SERVING OSWEGO COUNTY, NY
Mission Statement Operation Oswego County s mission is to establish and implement sound economic development strategies in order to enhance the economic vitality of Oswego County s businesses, industries, and citizens, leading to an overall better quality of life. Key to our mission is the creation and retention of job opportunities, diversification and strengthening of our economic base, and developing the local economy in a planned, organized, and environmentallyfriendly atmosphere. Top Economic Development Highlights in 2004 Border Patrol Station Breaks Ground EJ Spirtas Group Acquires Former International Paper Plant Huhtamaki Consumer Packaging Expands Lowe s Opens Northern Oswego County Health Services Expands Strategic Workforce Development Plan Initiated Novelis Corp. (Alcan) Expands Oswego County National Bank Headquarters Expansion Sure-Lock Industries Relocates to Oswego Winter Harbor Expands HUD 108 Financing Approved for New York Chocolate & Confections Company Project 1953-2004 Economic Development Impact Summary Capital Investment:... $2,453,110,000 New/Retained Jobs:... 16,438 2 George Joyce President President s Message From manufacturing and small business expansions, to the initiation of a strategic plan to create a competitive workforce advantage, 2004 was a positive year for economic development in Oswego County. The Workforce Development Board of Oswego County, with assistance from OOC, began work on a comprehensive strategic workforce development plan to address the human resource challenges of businesses in Oswego County. As a result, four primary industry clusters and the attraction and retention of the next generation talent pool became the focus of this plan. The WDB and OOC worked throughout the year with Next Generation Consulting of Madison, Wis., to gather information and identify strategies to attract and retain young, talented employees throughout the county. With an increasingly competitive market for drawing this target demographic to our area, OOC will continue to take a proactive approach to define the unique regional characteristics that make it attractive so that it will appeal to this group of people. There were a number of notable successes throughout the county including the attraction of manufacturers such as Sure-Lock Industries in Oswego, and expansions of companies such as Huhtamaki in Fulton as well as a diverse mix of new small businesses and expansions such as North Shore Powder Coating and Metal Fabrication in Constantia, Jake s Automotive in Oswego and Winter Harbor in Hastings. Northern Oswego County Health Services expanded its health care facility in Pulaski and Lowe s home improvement store opened in Oswego. Overall, OOC assisted 65 new, expanded or retained businesses in 2004 which resulted in more than $65 million in capital investment, the creation and retention of 493 jobs and over $10 million in estimated annual payroll. As we look to the future, Operation Oswego County s efforts will continue to focus on helping to make our existing businesses more competitive, helping to facilitate investment and job creation/retention of our manufacturing base, and continuing to promote and develop strategic initiatives to compete for and attract new employers to our county.
2004 Project Highlights Novelis Corp. (Alcan) invested more than $18 million for tension leveler project and casting center expansion. The projects were assisted by grant funding of $700,000 facilitated by OOC. Oswego County National Bank expanded and relocated its headquarters to the former IBEW facility in Oswego. Sure-Lock Industries, LLC of Red Creek relocated its hardwood flooring business to a 60,000-square-foot building within the Oswego Warehousing compound on East Seneca Street in the city of Oswego. The $1.4 million project created 16 jobs. The project was funded by the County of Oswego IDA, Oswego Community Development Office, a New York State Senate grant secured by Sen. James Wright, HSBC, Niagara Mohawk, and the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board. EJ Spirtas Group of St. Louis, MO purchased the former International Paper facility located on Mitchell St. in Oswego. The company plans to redevelop and market the lake-front property which includes 55 acres with 164,000 square feet of warehouse space, a 16,000-square-foot office building, and a 450,000-square-foot, two-story manufacturing facility. Northeast Biofuels, LLC initiated the acquisition of a 90- acre subdivision of Riverview Business Park in Volney for a 100-million-gallon-per-year ethanol production facility. The multi-million dollar project will include retrofitting approximately 300,000 square feet of the existing building and the construction of two grain silos and one cooling tower. The project is expected to create 51 jobs. Lowe s home improvement store opened a 133,600-squarefoot facility in Oswego creating 170 jobs. Lowe s is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world with more than 1,025 stores in 45 states. Matangi Motels, LLC acquired the Days Inn in the city of Oswego. The 44-room motel is in the process of being upgraded through building renovations and new furniture and fixtures. The project created 15 jobs. Funding for the $1.6 million project was provided by the Oswego CDO, Oswego County National Bank, County of Oswego IDA and an SBA 504 loan through OOC. Modheshwari Motels, LLC acquired and will renovate the former Thomas Inn in the city of Oswego which has been franchised as a Scottish Inn. Renovations to the 47-room motel will include new furniture and fixtures. The $1.3 million project created 13 jobs and received funding assistance from the Oswego CDO, Oswego County National Bank, County of Oswego IDA and an SBA 504 loan through OOC. Continued on pg. 5 Growth and Business Development We exist to create and retain jobs, to expand the economy of Oswego County by providing comprehensive assistance to local businesses and industries, and to proactively seek out and assist new businesses and industries to locate here. Operation Oswego County s successful efforts in 2004 ranged across a broad spectrum of diversified businesses and industries. Northern Oswego County Health Services expanded its health care facility in Pulaski. EJ Spirtas Group will redevelop and market the former International Paper property. Pictured is a photo rendering of the future site. 2004 Economic Development Impact Summary New/Expanded/Retained Facilities:... 65 Capital Investment:... $65,607,000 New/Retained Jobs:... 493 Est. Annual Payroll:... $10,745,000 3
Rebecca Ryan of Next Generation Consulting addresses a public forum held to discuss results of a study conducted to determine how Oswego County can attract and retain young, professional employees. In 2004, the Workforce Development Board of Oswego County and Operation Oswego County developed a strategic planning initiative to help identify key industry clusters for future growth in the county, as well as the human resource challenges for these industries. As part of this process, the WDB and OOC, in conjunction with Next Generation Consulting of Madison, Wis., hosted several focus groups last year which were designed to identify strategies to attract and retain young, talented employees throughout the county. The groups were convened in Oswego, Pulaski and Fulton and served to gather participants ideas on what makes Oswego County attractive to professional employees ages 23 to 43. Utilizing labor market information, economic impact studies and information gathered during the focus groups, Next Generation Consulting rolled out a detailed analysis of Oswego County at a public forum and recommendations were made to establish a proactive strategy. 2004 Economic Development Highlights Sponsored 2004 Oswego County Job and Career Fair. County Legislature created the Oswego County Public Utilities Service Board to help implement the utilization of 10 MW power allocation from Entergy Nuclear Northeast. L. Michael Treadwell, executive director of Operation Oswego County, received the 2004 Economic Developer of the Year award from the New York State Economic Development Council. Assisted Lowe s with the opening of a temporary employment recruitment center in Oswego. Lowe s grand opening in Oswego. 4
Continued from pg. 3 North Shore Powder Coating and Metal Fabrication of Constantia is a new business that specializes in metal fabricating, custom liquid painting and powder coating. The owner is a graduate of the Micro-Enterprise Training Program and received funding from the County of Oswego IDA. The project created six jobs. Jake s Automotive is a new automotive repair business in Oswego. The project received financial assistance from a SBA 504 loan through OOC, Oswego CDO and Pathfinder Bank. The new business created four new jobs. An initiative of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a new border patrol station will be constructed in the city of Oswego. The facility represents an investment of $2 million in the community and is expected to be completed by the end of 2005. As a result of being awarded Ben and Jerry s packaging business in 2004, Huhtamaki Consumer Packaging expanded its operations and hired an additional 60 employees. The transition of the business to Fulton included a $1.1million project to provide production tooling and equipment necessary to manufacture the product. The project received financial assistance from a New York State grant secured by Sen. James Wright, the County of Oswego IDA and the Fulton Community Development Agency. Canal Commons is a revitalization project in downtown Oswego which involves the acquisition and renovation of 30,000 square feet for approximately 10 shops. Forty-five jobs will be created. Funding for the project was provided by the County of Oswego IDA, Oswego CDO and First Niagara Bank. Empire Fresh-Cuts, LLC, opened its new 27,000-square-foot onion processing plant in the town of Oswego. The $3.6 million project created more than 30 jobs. Financing was provided by County of Oswego IDA, SBA 504 loans through OOC, ESD, NYBDC and CNY Enterprise Dev. Corp.. Northern Oswego County Health Services, Inc. expanded its Pulaski Health Center facility to improve the quality and accessibility of primary care, specialty services and dental services. NOCHSI currently employs 80 and served over 11,000 patients for a total of 37,000 annual visits last year. Funding for the project was assisted by the County of Oswego IDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Winter Harbor LLC, a heated boat storage facility in Hastings, built a 40,000-square-foot building to be used for boat storage, painting and repairs. The project received financial assistance from the County of Oswego IDA, SBA 504 loan through OOC and Solvay Bank. The expansion will create 28 jobs. New York Chocolate & Confections Company, an $850,000 HUD 108 loan was approved with assistance from OOC to acquire four new refiners which will be integral to expanding chocolate production capacity at the Fulton plant. International Marketing and Promotion As businesses worldwide compete to better position themselves in the global marketplace, Oswego County must remain visible to corporate real estate decision makers in order to recruit new businesses and add new and better job opportunities. The primary goal of Operation Oswego County s marketing program is to bring attention to the resources and assets of our county that would offer value to a potential business customer. 2004 Economic Development Marketing Accomplishments Website awards: Northeastern Economic Developers Association Award of Excellence and NYS Economic Developers Council Best in Class award. More than $40,000 secured from 2004 Fund Drive for marketing initiatives. Honorable mention for International Economic Development Council s Excellence in Economic Development Awards: Partnership Award for the private/public partnership that assisted the revitalization of the former Nestle facility. Marketing grants secured from Niagara Mohawk, Key Bank, Entergy. Developed new business incubator facility brochure. 74 news releases and editorial articles generated for local, regional and national publications. 5
Economic Development Networking and Coordination Networking and coordination are essential elements in Operation Oswego County s economic development efforts. We have a long and solid record of cooperation in working with local, regional, state and federal agencies to implement economic development strategies, programs and projects. 2004 Networking/Coordination Highlights: Participated with the Workforce Development Board of Oswego County to oversee job training in the county. Marketed SBA 504 loans as a Certified Development Company of the SBA. Co-sponsored the 15th Annual Oswego State University Fall Classic. Sponsored Leadership Oswego County. Provided the administration and staffing for the County of Oswego IDA. Provided administration and marketing of the Oswego EZ in cooperation with the Oswego CDO and marketed the Fulton EZ in cooperation with the Fulton CDA. Participated on numerous boards including: CNY Regional Planning and Development Board, Oswego County Planning Board, NYS Economic Development Council, Northeast Economic Developers Association, County of Oswego IDA, International Economic Development Council, Port of Oswego Authority, Workforce Development Board, and others. Operated a countywide Micro-Enterprise Program and held several training classes around the county. 6 Operation Oswego County Supporters and Allies: Top Economic Development Booster: ($10,000) Alcan Rolled Products Company (Novelis); Corporate Boosters ($1,000-$3,000) Brascan Power; Caraccioli and Associates, PLLC; Constellation Energy; Eastern Shore Associates; Entergy Nuclear Northeast; The Fulton Companies; Fulton Savings Bank; Hiscock and Barclay; Huhtamaki Consumer Packaging; Key Bank, N.A.; NRG Energy Inc.; Niagara Mohawk; Oswego County National Bank; Pathfinder Bank; VIP Development Associates Inc.; Business Boosters ($500-$999) Birds Eye Foods; Broadwell Development; Paul A. Castaldo Inc.; Laser Transit Ltd.; Oswego Wire Inc.; Peppercorns Inc.; Port of Oswego Authority; QMP Enterprises Inc.; Associate Boosters ($100-$499) Alcan Employees F.C.U.; Jack B. Alter, CPA; Thomas Arctander Architects; Biospherix Ltd.; Black Clawson; C&S Engineers Inc.; C&C Metal Fabrications Inc.; Caswell and Associates CPAs, P.C.; Century 21 Galloway Realty; Clough, Harbour and Associates, LLP; Community Bank, N.A.; F. Hosmer Culkin; DKR Investments; DeWald Roofing; Fulton Tool Company Inc.; Giovanni Food Company Inc.; David Hawthorne, Esq.; Dee C. Heckethorn; Morabito Auto Parts; Doren P. Norfleet, Esq.; Oneida Lake Petroleum; Oswego County Business Magazine; Oswego Valley Insurance Agencies; Port City Family Medicine; Charles Rock Associates; Paul W. Schneible, CPA; Janice Snyder Realty; Corte Spencer; Millard S. Sullivan; The Ultimate Edge; Vickery Insurance; Central Square Wal-Mart; Friends of OOC ($10-$99) Joseph and Muriel Allerton; Associated Dental Arts of Oswego; George Cuppernull; Richard Fiese, DMD; Dr. Marc Grosack; Arthur E. Jones; LADDCO-GC Inc.; Dr. William A. Mahon; Majestic Mold and Tool; Mirabito Development Inc.; Oley s Express; Lou Pettinelli; Eugene Saloga; Samuel J. Sugar, Esq.; David Turner.
Niagara Mohawk received the 2004 Ally Award. Pictured from left are L. Michael Treadwell, CEcD, OOC executive director; Marilyn Higgins, vice president of economic development for Niagara Mohawk; Tim Murphy, Niagara Mohawk account manager; Dee Heckethorn, past OOC board president; and OOC board president George Joyce The Fulton Companies received the 2004 Business Excellence Award. Pictured from left are Dee Heckethorn, past OOC board president; L. Michael Treadwell, CEcD, OOC executive director; The Fulton Companies board chairman Ronald Palm; and Edward Gilson, vice president of manufacturing for The Fulton Companies WiseBuys Stores, Inc. received the 2004 Jobs Award. Pictured from left are L. Michael Treadwell, CEcD, OOC executive director; WiseBuys Stores, Inc. CFO Thomas Scozzafava; Dee Heckethorn, past OOC board president; and OOC board president George Joyce. Bruce Phelps accepts the 2004 Martin Rose Economic Developer Merit Award. Pictured from left are Dee Heckethorn, past OOC board president; L. Michael Treadwell, CEcD, OOC executive director; and Bruce Phelps, president of Fulton Tool Company. Recognizing Economic Development 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. Ally Award 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 re-utilization by providing a $93,575 grant to help complete an environmental assessment of the facility. Niagara Mohawk was also recognized for providing a $10,000 grant to OOC for assistance toward marketing Oswego County s industrial parks. Business Excellence Award 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 laundry system and for its contribution to community initiatives in education, youth development and community safety. Jobs Award 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 re-utilizing the former 59,600-square-foot Ames Department Store in Pulaski which will result in the creation of 60 local jobs. Martin Rose Economic Developer Merit Award Bruce Phelps was honored for his commitment to economic development and support of the manufacturing industry in Oswego County for nearly 40 years with the 2004 Martin Rose Economic Developer Merit Award. Phelps was honored for his leadership on numerous boards and committees and 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 distinguished service and assistance in furthering economic development in Oswego County. 7
Board of Directors President: George Joyce Vice President: Michael J. Pollock Treasurer: Gregory Kreis Secretary: Nancy Bellow Bonnie Bostian Ronald B. Darrow Brian Frazier William Galloway Edward Gilson Thomas V. Greco Dee C. Heckethorn Alan Horna Thomas McAuslan Andrea C. McCabe Edward Mervine, Esq. Louis R. Pettinelli Bruce B. Phelps Visibility Staff ucc A Michael D. Quenville Joseph Russo Carol Rutledge Eugene G. Saloga Corte Spencer Lloyd Buddy Stemple Millard Sullivan Steven W. Thomas John Tooley Gary Toth David R. Turner David Vickery Joseph Wiedenbeck Ex-Officio Directors Carolyn Rush, Chair, County of Oswego IDA Kimberly Seager, Chair, Oswego County Economic Development and Planning Committee Russ Johnson, Chairman, Oswego County Legislature Deborah Stanley, President, SUNY Oswego Stephen Lyman, Oswego County Administrator Counsel Doren Norfleet, Esq., Norfleet Law Office Economic Development Services and Programs Provided Site Selection Assistance Financial Packaging Planning and Coordination Industry/Government Liaison Assistance in Accessing Special Incentive Programs Retention/Expansion Outreach Programs Specialized Research and Technical Assistance Industrial Parks Business Incubators Empire Zones Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Program SBA Certified Development Company IDA Administration Micro-Enterprise Program Domestic and International Marketing Program SBA 7(a) Banking Assistance Service L. Michael Treadwell, CEcD, Executive Director Pamela D. Caraccioli, Deputy Director David S. Dano, Loan Manager Shannon C. White, Marketing Manager Teresa F. Woolson, Administrative Coordinator Lori L. Mueller, Administrative Secretary Speculative Building Program 44 West Bridge Street Oswego, NY 13126 Phone: 315-343-1545 Fax: 315-343-1546 E-mail: ooc@oswegocounty.org www.oswegocounty.org