Community News

Operation Oswego County (OOC) held its 67th annual meeting at the Lake Ontario Event and Conference Center, in the City of Oswego, Friday, June 14th.

Barbara Bateman, president of the OOC board of directors, welcomed more than 150 representatives of businesses, government, education, labor and other ally organizations to the meeting.

Key note presenter Carla DeShaw, Executive Dean of Community Education and Workforce Development at Cayuga Community College, shared a presentation highlighting the ACT Work Ready Communities Initiative.

L. Michael Treadwell, executive director of OOC, reported that in 2018, projects assisted by OOC and the County of Oswego IDA resulted in the creation or retention of 355 jobs with over $72 million in capital investment associated with 37 new, expanded or retained facilities.

Several of those projects were outlined at the meeting including:

• EJ USA, Inc. constructed a new 71,300 sf manufacturing facility on a 15-acre site in the Oswego County Industrial Park in the Town of Schroeppel. The facility is a steel and aluminum fabrication plant and a distribution center for the Northeast for infrastructure access solutions products such as manhole frames, grates, covers, hatches, etc. The company is based in East Jordan, MI. The $9.1 million plant employs 91. Financial assistance being provided by the COIDA and ESDC.
• iFreeze, Inc. located in the City of Fulton, ac­quired a 123,000 sf existing refrigerated facility for use for refrigerated and frozen logistics and warehousing services for vegetables and fruits. The operation is affili­ated with Martens Fresh, LLC, a family owned agribusiness in Central NY since 1914, head­quartered in Port Byron in Cayuga County. The $5 million project will create 30 jobs. Financial assistance is being provided by the COIDA, Tompkins Trust and a SBA 504 loan through OOC.
• Page Material Management, LLC acquired a 34-acre site and a 100,000 sf building in the Town of Scriba for use as a material handling, processing and warehousing facility. The proj­ect involves the installation of a LIBS machine that takes co-mingled metal to produce spec grade metal through laser analytics. The oper­ation will help support the Novelis aluminum plant in Scriba. Page’s headquarters are locat­ed in Weedsport, NY. The $7.6 million project will create 21 jobs. Financial assistance is being provided by the COIDA and M&T Bank.
• Lindsey Aggregates, Inc. expanded their ag­gregate mining operation located in the Town of Palermo. The company, headquartered in the Town of Scriba, added a state-of-the-art aggregate washing facility and associated units to efficiently crush and classify aggregate prod­ucts. The company is a woman-owned business (51%) and a veteran-owned business (49%). The $4.3 million expansion will create 4 jobs and retain 17. Financial assistance was provid­ed by the COIDA, USDA, Key Bank, CNYEDC, and ESDC/CNYREDC.
• Bella Fattoria, Inc. expanded its agribusiness with a new 5,536 sf winery operation located in the Town of Hannibal. The facility includes a production area, a tasting room, a small kitch­en, cold storage and equipment storage. The new winery plans to offer 10 wines along with 9 ciders. They have been producing hard cider since 2014. The $732,046 project created 6 jobs. Financial assistance was provided by the COIDA, USDA and Pathfinder Bank.
• Howland Solar, LLC developed a 2 MW solar renewable energy project located on a 20-acre site in the Village of Sandy Creek. Approxi­mately 18 acres of solar panels were installed that will have an annual generation capacity of 3.6 million kWh. The project was developed by Cypress Creek Renewables based in Santa Monica, CA. Cypress Creek Renewables has developed 249 operational solar projects having 2,242 MW in the USA. The $3.2 million project received financial assistance from the COIDA and NYSERDA.
• Woody’s on 37, LLC, located in the Town of Hastings, is a new start-up and is an indoor/outdoor recreational sports facility that includes horseshoe pitching leagues and “tossing” games such as Cornhole. Beer, wine and food concessions are available. The semi-enclosed facility is 4,800 sf and is located on a 3.95-acre site. The owner is a graduate of the Mi­cro-Enterprise Training Program. The $144,853 project created 1 FT and 3 PT jobs. Financial assistance was provided by the COIDA, Fulton Savings Bank and Empower FCU.
• Great Bear Child Care, LLC acquired and renovated a building located in the Village of Phoenix to expand its childcare business. The building is 4,132 sf and located on a 1.22-acre site. Childcare is provided for ages 6 weeks to 12 years. This ia a woman-owned business and the owner is a graduate of the Micro-Enterprise Training Pro­gram. The $280,500 project will create 8 FTE jobs and retain 2. Financial assistance was provided by the COIDA, Pathfinder Bank and a SBA 504 loan through OOC.
• Bishop’s Commons, Inc. renovated and improved their 60-unit Enriched Housing Res­idence in the City of Oswego. Improvements included handicap accessibility, new generator, fire sprinkler system, new entrance, commercial walk-in refrigerator and freezer and security cameras. The project also included the restruc­turing of current and new debt. The $5.5 million project created 2 FTE jobs and retained 42 FTE jobs. Financial assistance was provided by the COIDA, Berkadia Bank and HUD.
• East Lake Commons, LLC will demolish the Mid Town Plaza in the City of Oswego and con­struct an 88,000 sf, 6-story building consisting of residential, retail and commercial space. It will contain 72 apartments in a combination of market -rate and affordable units, plus 10,000 sf of commercial space. The developer is Sutton Real Estate Co. of Syracuse, NY. The $26 mil­lion project will create 16 FT and 12 PT jobs. Financial assistance is being provided by the COIDA, NYSHFA, ESDC/CNYREDC and the City of Oswego DRI.
• Lake Ontario Water Park, Inc. involves the construction and equipping of a new 16,000 sf water park addition to the Quality Inn in the City of Oswego. The $5 million project will help en­hance tourism and will create 15 FT and 6 PT jobs. Financial assistance is being provided by the COIDA, Pathfinder Bank, ESDC/CNYREDC and the City of Oswego DRI.
• Northern Optics Eye Care Center acquired and renovated a 4,000 sf building and added a 500 sf addition to house a professional optom­etry office in the City of Oswego. The second floor was converted into two apartments. The $855,454 project created 14 jobs. Financial as­sistance was provided by the COIDA, Pathfind­er Bank and Oswego CEDO.
• J&E Reid Enterprises, located in the City of Fulton, is a registered dealer for Alibi Security of Austin, Texas. Alibi offers a line of proprietary and 3rd-party cameras, recording systems, ac­cess control systems and various peripherals and related hardware. The owner is a graduate of the Micro-Enterprise Training Program. The $26,223 project received financial assistance through the COIDA.
• Maple Hollow Farm to invest approximately $161,000 to create a fresh dairy products line at its farm in the Town of Hannibal. The farm is already known for its quality pork, beef, straw­berries, Certified Grown in NY maple syrup and Certified Grown in NY eggs and is looking to expand on this with premium quality dairy prod­ucts from its herd of Brown Swiss Cows. The project will create 2 jobs. Financial assistance is being provided by ESDC/CNYREDC.
• Thunder Island Water Park and Oasis Banquet Facility, located in the Town of Granby, were acquired by Chestnut Event Services, LLC. The 113.5-acre tourism destination features a water park, go-karts, mimi golf, zip-lining, a game room and the Oasis indoor banquet hall and outdoor pavilion. The $2.5 million project will create 10 jobs and retain 20 jobs. Financial assistance is being provided by Pathfinder Bank and a SBA 504 loan through OOC.
• Oswego County Micro-Enterprise Program provided classroom instruction designed to as­sist entrepreneurs starting and/or expanding a business. The program is sponsored by the Ful­ton CDA, Oswego CEDO, OOC and the SUNY Oswego Business Resource Center in partner­ship with the SBDC. In 2018, 3 training classes were held with 34 participants graduating.
• CNY REDC was awarded $88.2 million for 91 projects in Round 8 of the Regional Economic Development Council Awards. Oswego Coun­ty was awarded $4.3 million in funding for 11 projects that will create and retain 23 jobs and represent $34.5 million in total project costs. The types of projects awarded funding included mining, agribusiness, tourism and recreation, infrastructure, not-for-profits, mixed-use and shoreline restoration.
• The Next Great Idea Oswego County Busi­ness Plan Competition award ceremony, con­cluding the fourth competition, was held at the Lake Ontario Event and Conference Center in the City of Oswego in September of 2018. The event is built around enhancing entrepreneur­ship in Oswego County. A record 33 proposals were submitted for the 2018 competition. The winner of the competition was Wired Telecom.

Treadwell also outlined several future projects and initiatives in progress including the relocation and expansion of Oswego Health Behavioral Health Services in the City of Oswego, the construction of a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram facility by R.M. Burritt Motors in the City of Oswego, the relocation and expansion of Kathy’s Cakes & Specialty Treats in the Town of Volney, the development of 22 Crossroads in the City of Oswego, the development of the Litatro Building in the City of Oswego, the redevelopment of the Michaud Nursing Home into The Maples Assisted Living Facility in the City of Fulton, the relocation and expansion of LeRoi, Inc. in the City of Oswego, the expansion of North Country EPS in the Town of Hastings, the renovation of Ace Hardware and relocation of a portion of Design Concepts and Enterprises in the Town of Hastings, Oswego Speedway hosting the 2019 Super DIRT Week in the City of Oswego, the construction of a new terminal and hangar at the Oswego County Airport in the Town of Volney, the expansion of Northland Filter in the City of Oswego, a feasibility study regarding the development of a Spec building on the Nestle site in the City of Fulton, the acquisition of the Sunoco Ethanol facility by Attis Industries in the Town of Volney, the establishment of Opportunity Zones in the Cities of Oswego and Fulton, Village of Pulaski and Town of Richland, the retention of CenterState CEO to track the progress of the Oswego County Economic Advancement Plan, applications by the City of Fulton and the Village of Phoenix in Round 4 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, and potential funding opportunities in Round 9 CFA funding with the CNY REDC.

Three business organizations, a successful entrepreneur and a long-standing economic development advocate were also honored for significant contributions to economic development and job creation in Oswego County.

The Ally Award for 2019 was presented to Cayuga Community College – Fulton Campus in recognition and appreciation of the vision, commitment and leadership demonstrated to support and enhance workforce readiness skills for the betterment of Oswego County’s industries, businesses and citizens; for spearheading the Act Work Ready Community Initiative to make Oswego County the first Act Work Ready Community in New York State and in the northeast; for its role in assembling strategic partners from local government, schools, community organizations and businesses across Oswego County to implement the initiative; for efforts to carry out the Advanced Manufacturing Initiative to include an Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory in Fulton for specialized training; for the creation of the Oswego County Manufacturers Consortia involving 21 companies; and for being a vital and essential partner in workforce and economic development in Oswego County, NY.

The Business Excellence Award for 2019 was presented to United Wire Technologies in recognition and appreciation for demonstrating outstanding leadership, adaptation, commitment and perseverance in overcoming a devastating fire in 2012; for the dedication to keep the third generation company in Oswego County by acquiring and renovating a 14,400 sf building in the Town of Constantia; for expanding to 22,200 sf in 2017; for being a quality and specialized producer of copper alloy wire used in aviation to musical instruments; for being an employer of 14 and for doing business in Oswego County for over 80 years.

The 2019 Jobs Award was presented to EJ USA in recognition and appreciation of the significant contribution and impact of EJ USA’s new 71,300 sf state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and its northeastern distribution and logistics hub located in the Oswego County Industrial Park in the Town of Schroeppel; for its critical and essential role in fabricating products for infrastructure development; for employing over 100 workers; for investing $10 million; and for becoming an integral part of Oswego County’s and Central New York’s manufacturing community.

Anthony Pauldine received OOC’s 2019 Dee Heckethorn Entrepreneur Award in recognition and appreciation of exceptional entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, and dedication to revitalizing the City of Oswego’s downtown; for restoring the 191-year-old former fish market that is on the National Register of Historic Places, Cahill Landing, into 7 upscale apartments and being recognized by the Preservation League of New York State with a 2019 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award; for transforming the former YMCA building into a mixed-use development with 10 loft apartments and 5,500 sf of commercial space; for restoring the historic Buckhout-Jones building that is now home to the Children’s Museum of Oswego; for the development of the Canal Commons that offers shopping in the heart of downtown Oswego with over a dozen shops and The Lofts at Canal Commons that features 11 luxury apartments; and for operating a successful general contracting business for over 30 years.

David Dano was honored with the 2019 Martin Rose Economic Developer Merit Award in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding record of exhibiting leadership, support, expertise and cooperation in advancing economic and business development that have significantly enhanced the business climate, economic progress and the quality of life in Oswego County; for his commitment and dedication for serving on the Board of Directors of Operation Oswego County between 1985-1999 (15 years); serving as Vice President between 1987-1996 (10 years); serving as President between 1996-1999 (4 years); for providing financial consulting services between 2000-2002 (3 years); for serving as Operation Oswego County’s loan manager between 2003-2004 (2 years) and its Business Finance Director between 2005-2018 (14 years); for serving as Chief Financial Officer of the County of Oswego Industrial Development Agency between 2009-2018 (10 years) and for his extraordinary devotion to Oswego County businesses, non-profit organizations and citizens for over 35 years.

The OOC board of directors re-elected board members Barbara Bateman, NBT Bank; Eric Behling, Behling Orchards; Michael Egan, Oswego Industries; Thomas Greco, Fulton Savings Bank; Timothy Hardy, Attis Industries; George Joyce, Laser Transit; and Edward Mervine, Pathfinder Bank.

For more information about economic development services in Oswego County, call OOC at 343-1545 or visit www.oswegocounty.org.