DHCR Announces Approval of $3.4 Million in Economic Development Funds to Help Businesses Across New York State

ALBANY, NY (12/16/2009)(readMedia)-- Commissioner Deborah VanAmerongen today announced $2.8 million in New York State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Small Business Program awards to help businesses grow and create 235 jobs in Chenango, Delaware, Greene, Orange, Oneida, Essex, Steuben, and Wyoming Counties.

Governor David A. Paterson said, "To make New York's economy strong, we must provide small businesses with the resources they need to grow and bring jobs to local communities, and security and opportunity to working families. These awards have a dramatic impact on our ability to attract companies to New York, leverage additional funding for start-ups and expansion projects, and create vibrant and stable communities."

Commissioner VanAmerongen said, "These awards will assist dairy farms, an IT service provider, a manufacturer, and help improve infrastructure and create a new tourist attraction. Across the state, a wide array of businesses like these are working to recover from the economic downturn, meet new challenges to remain competitive, and contribute to the quality of life in New York State. The New York State Community Development Block Grant and Small Business Assistance programs provide the support and tools companies need to succeed and create jobs in their communities."

Chenango County will receive $750,000 to create 50 jobs at Raymond Corporation

Chenango County will receive $750,000 in NYS CDBG funds to assist in the expansion of Raymond Corporation in Greene, New York, allowing the company to save approximately $10 million annually and create 50 new jobs, more than half of which will be available to low and moderate-income families. Raymond Corporation designs, manufactures, and sells electric forklift trucks and related products and services throughout North America and the world, and is moving production from Brantford, Ontario to Greene, New York. The NYS CDBG award will be used for relocation expenses and will help leverage an additional $32 million in private financing.

$616,000 to help Proxima US establish headquarters in Hornell and create 40 jobs

More than $600,000 in NYS CDBG funds will be used to help Proxima US of Minnesota establish headquarters in the City of Hornell. Proxima provides low cost IT outsourcing and business services and strives to locate work centers in small and rural communities near colleges and universities in order to attract an educated workforce and take advantage of the competitive costs of living. Proxima US will purchase and renovate a building on Broadway in Hornell. The SUNY College of Technology at Alfred, Corning Community College, SUNY College at Geneseo and Finger Lakes Community College are nearby.

Funding will be used for working capital, soft costs, and equipment purchases and will help leverage nearly one million dollars in private investment and create 40 new jobs, 21 of which will be made available to persons from low- and moderate-income families.

$250,000 to assist in the start-up of Eklund's Processing in Harpersfield, create 20 jobs

The town of Harpersfield has been awarded $250,000 in NYS CDBG funds to assist in the start-up of Eklund's Processing, a new arm of Eklund Farms. NYS CDBG funds will go toward the purchase of new machinery and equipment and create 20 new full-time jobs, 13 of which will benefit low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. Since the 1940s Eklund Farms has been part of New York's dairy industry and began processing organic poultry in 2007. The company seeks to establish a USDA-certified processing facility for both organic and traditional red meats, which would be the first of its kind in the region and only the second in New York State.

$200,000 for Zipline Adventure at Hunter Mountain, 29 new jobs

The Town of Hunter in Greene County will receive $200,000 in NYS CDBG funds to assist with the start-up of New York Zipline Adventure and help the company develop the world's largest Zipline tourist attraction at Hunter Mountain in Greene County. The NYS CDBG funds will be used to purchase new machinery and equipment and will help leverage $1.6 million in private investment and create 29 new jobs, 22 of which will be made available to persons from low- and moderate-income families. The NY Zipline Adventure project will have three different tours planned for Hunter Mountain, including the "Top of the Mountain" tour, a "Challenge" course near the Hunter Mountain base, and a two-hour "Mid Mountain" tour. The project will complement existing ski and other tourism attractions at Hunter Ski Mountain and in Catskill Mountain region.

$200,000 for Microenterprise Assistance Program in the Village of Kiryas Joel, create nine new jobs

The Village of Kiryas Joel in Orange County will receive $200,000 in NYS CDBG Small Business Program resources to restore its highly successful Microenterprise Assistance Program which was originally funded through NYS CDBG in 2003 and 2004. The Microenterprise Program will assist existing business owners and new business start-ups who pledge to create jobs opportunities for persons from low- to moderate-income families. The Kiryas Joel Microenterprise Program will create nine new jobs, all of which will be made available to persons from low- and moderate-income households.

$200,000 in NYS CDBG Small Business resources to establish the Oneida County Microenterprise Program

Oneida County has been awarded $200,000 in NYS CDBG Small Business resources to establish the Oneida County Microenterprise Program. NYS CDBG funds will be used to assist both existing and start-up micro-businesses within Oneida County and support working capital and machinery and equipment costs. The program will create a minimum of eight new jobs, all of which will benefit persons from low- and moderate-income families.

$100,000 in NYS CDBG Small Business Assistance Program funding to assist in expansion of Sregnouy Farms in the Town of Java

Wyoming County will receive $100,000 in NYS CDBG Small Business Assistance Program resources to assist in the expansion of the family dairy farm, Sregnouy Farms, in the Town of Java. This expansion will create a Heifer raising enterprise which will allow Sregnouy to eliminate boarding costs by returning young stock to the farm to be raised on premise, as well as enable the acquisition of additional cows. The expansion will result in increased milk production, helping the farm remain competitive. NYS CDBG funds will be used for machinery and equipment and will allow the farm to retain six positions and create one part time position. All jobs are held by or made available to persons from low- and moderate-income New York families.

$585,000 for Main Street Infrastructure Improvement in the Town of Schroon

The Town of Schroon will receive $585,000 in NYS CDBG Economic Development funds to re-construct a critical Main Street public infrastructure system. A section of Rogers Brook Sanitary Sewer Line is in extremely poor condition and a threat to both the physical and economic health of the local residents and community. NYS CDBG funds will allow the town to replace the existing municipal wastewater collection system. The new system will support 15 existing businesses and 20 households, and result in the retention of 39 jobs, 22 of which are currently held by low- and moderate- income persons. This project will also leverage $3,520,000 in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

$526,000 to support the expansion of Tibro Water Technologies Ltd. in the City of Sherrill

The City of Sherrill has been awarded $526,000 in NYS CDBG Economic Development funds to support the expansion of Tibro Water Technologies Ltd. in the Sherrill Manufacturing Complex. Tibro manufactures and distributes household bleach using state-of-the-art technology to reduce environmental hazards. The funding will be used to enable Phase Two of the project, which includes the purchase of equipment needed to expand Tibro's operations. The funds will help leverage over $1.1 million in private investment and create 34 new jobs, 31 of which will be made available to low and moderate income New Yorkers.

The NYS CDBG program is federally funded and administered by DHCR's Office of Community Renewal. The NYS CDBG program provides resources to New York's small communities to enable the development of decent, affordable housing, create suitable living environments, and enhance economic opportunities across the state.

The NYS CDBG Small Business Assistance Program makes up to $5 million in NYS CDBG funds available to help local governments support small business and promote entrepreneurship. The funds are used to carry out direct, locally-driven, small-business assistance and micro-enterprise program activities.

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