DHCR Announces Approval of $961,000 in Economic Development Funds

ALBANY, NY (08/12/2009)(readMedia)-- Deborah VanAmerongen, Commissioner of the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) today announced $961,000 in NYS Community Development Block Grant (NYS CDBG) awards to support businesses in Oswego, Wayne, Wyoming, and Columbia Counties and create 81 new jobs for local residents.

Commissioner VanAmerongen said, "One of the most important things we can do is to give small businesses the tools they need to succeed and create more jobs and more opportunity for families. These economic development grants will strengthen the fabric of communities by promoting entrepreneurial spirit and helping small businesses grow and contribute to the quality of life in New York State."

Oswego County Will Receive $75,000 to Establish First NYS CDBG Microenterprise Program

Oswego County will receive $75,000 in NYS CDBG Small Business Program resources to establish the Oswego County Microenterprise Assistance Program, which will initially focus on growing three microbusinesses (those with fewer than five employees) in the Town of Mexico: Greco's Touch of Country, McGillicuddy's Tavern and Lanes, and The Bake Shop Eatery. The grant will allow each business to expand and create a total of 10 new full-time jobs, eight of which will be made available to local residents from low and moderate-income families.

This grant is the first of the NYS CDBG Small Business Assistance Program awards Governor Paterson announced in July in conjunction with the New York Small Business Task Force. The program will make up to $5 million in NYS CDBG funds available to help local governments support small business and promote entrepreneurship. The funds will be used to carry out direct, locally-driven, small-business assistance and micro-enterprise program activities.

Village of Clyde Will Receive $500,000 to Help Parker Hannifin Expand, Create 43 Jobs

The Village of Clyde will receive a $500,000 grant to assist in the expansion of Parker Hannifin, a leading world-wide full-line manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems. The company's facility in the Village of Clyde supports its largest customers, General Electric and Goodrich, and needs to expand operations to meet the needs of these clients. This grant will allow the company to renovate its existing Clyde facility and invest in new machinery and equipment. The funds will leverage nearly $4.5 million in private financing and will create 43 new jobs within two years, 22 of which will be available to low and moderate-income residents.

Columbia County Will Receive $175,000 to Assist in Start-Up of Local Ocean, LLC, Create 21 Jobs

Columbia County will receive $175,000 to assist in the start-up of Local Ocean, LLC. The company will raise a variety of fresh and saltwater fish for distribution to local retailers and seafood markets throughout the northeast. Local Ocean, LLC. will acquire and renovate 40,000 square feet in the former Acme Building in the Town of Greenport to raise fish in a fully-closed, zero-discharge intensive system that requires minimum water and energy use. The grant will go toward early working capital for fish harvesting, and will leverage an additional $10.38 million in private financing. The project will create 21 jobs within two years, 11 of which will be available to persons from low and moderate-income families.

Wyoming County Will Receive $211,000 to assist in the expansion of McCormick Farms

Wyoming County will receive a $211,000 grant to help McCormick Farms install a state-of-the-art milking parlor that will increase efficiency of the farm's milk production. Wyoming County is the number-one milk producer in New York State and the 21st ranked milk-producing county in the country. This grant will be used to purchase new machinery and equipment and will leverage over $3.1 million in private investment, retain seven jobs, and create seven new jobs, five of which will be available to persons from low and moderate-income families.

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.

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