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North Country

There is a lot of new business activity in New York's North Country, and the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base is getting its share. "We're seeing a new company coming in there almost every other month," says New York State Electric & Gas's Chris Wood.

Composite Factory recently established a $3 million manufacturing plant there that is expected to eventually create about 350 jobs.

"The Composite Factory is exactly the type of high-technology manufacturing firm that we want to attract to the former air base," Gov. Pataki says. "My administration is committed to rebuilding the automotive and aviation industry in New York. The Composite Factory helps us on both counts."

The Composite Factory is a subsidiary of Detroit-based TICOM. The company builds high value-added parts for the auto and aviation industry, including fender components and other parts for the Chevy Corvette. In Plattsburgh, the firm will make pre-form machines for the composite industry.

"After looking at a number of communities, we felt right at home in Plattsburgh," TICOM President Charlie Billiu says. "The team at PARC (Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Corp.) did an excellent job in convincing us to land our business in Plattsburgh."

Another tenant at Plattsburgh, Westinghouse Air Brake Co. (WABCO), has signed a five-year lease to occupy 66,000 sq. ft. (6,131 sq. m.) in the former Base Supply Building -- doubling the size of its operation. The move creates a corporate center of excellence for the design and production of components for the transit industry.

"When we met with Gov. Pataki to jointly announce our decision to open a WABCO plant in Plattsburgh, we declared that it would become a center of excellence," says William E. Kassling, the company's chairman and CEO. "We are pleased that our strategy of providing integrated solutions to meet the needs of our customers is providing solid results, requiring an expansion of our Plattsburgh facility."

In another big move, Chatham Forest Products is investing $120 million in a 200,000-sq.-ft. (18,580-sq.-m.) oriented strand board mill on a 45-acre (18-hectare) Build Now-NY site in Ogdensburg. "The raw materials are here, and we expect an excellent work force," says company President John E. Godfrey. "The infrastructure of the North Country, including outbound freight with trucks and CSX Railway, also look favorable. Gov. Pataki's Build Now-NY program made this investment possible. I have seen many programs touted as encouraging development, but this one has real teeth."

Chatham's new facility is located "on a short line railroad that connects with our rail line that runs from Syracuse north up toward Montreal," says Randy Evans, Jacksonville, Fla.-based vice president for real estate and industrial development with CSX Transportation. "When that plant is up and operating, we expect to have about 2,000 carloads a year going out of there."

Yet another large oriented strand board plant is going into the North County. OSB Chateaugay will invest $120 million in a 340,000-sq.-ft. (31,586-sq.-m.) factory in Chateaugay, in Franklin County. Construction is slated to begin this summer.

The Southern Tier's job base is growing in a big way, thanks to several large announcements that include The Raymond Corp.'s $3.8 million, 305-employee expansion at its Village of Green facility. The company, Chenango County's largest employer, is North America's leading manufacturer of electric warehouse trucks.

A $2.2 million renovation and $1.6 million in new machinery purchases will allow the company to increase its productivity and expand sales. The firm is also spending $250,000 to train the 305 new workers and strengthen the skills of its existing work force. "Our past investments in our people and facilities, especially in Greene, have helped us maintain our market leadership," says company CEO James J. Malvaso. "This next phase of our growth necessitates further investments, and we are pleased with Gov. Pataki's support for our initiatives." The firm is eligible to apply for a $500,000 capital grant and a $100,000 training grant from ESD.

The Raymond Corp. is currently engaged in an $80 million deal -- the largest in the industry's history -- to supply Home Depot with 4,500 forklifts and other warehouse lift trucks.

Another big project is Gunlocke Co.'s 450-employee expansion at its Wayland facility. Gunlocke produces premium-grade wood office furniture, and it is in the second year of a $12.2 million, three-year expansion. "The Gunlocke Co. is a vital asset to the Steuben County economy, employing generations of New Yorkers since 1902," ESD Chairman Gargano says.

In Binghamton, Hawk Engineering -- a leading civil and environmental engineering firm -- will expand operations in a new downtown facility and more than double its work force to employ a total of 83 workers. "We are experiencing a steady economic comeback in the Southern Tier area and have witnessed that engineering applicants who left in the early 1990s are coming back for new jobs near their friends and family back home," company President William Drachler says.

Other firms logging sizable expansions include Lockheed Martin Federal Systems and Penguin Putnam Publishers. Lockheed is investing in new equipment at its Owego facility, creating 200 jobs, while Penguin is consolidating its operations in Kirkwood, also creating 200 jobs.

A fast-growth Internet company is bringing 800 new jobs to Lancaster, in suburban Buffalo.

E-commerce solutions provider Skulogix will invest $4 million to establish its corporate headquarters in the Uniland Development's Walden Business Center. It will help existing branded vendors and Internet merchants to generate online sales by establishing a business-to-business electronic exchange and by fulfilling online orders.

Skulogix CEO David Masotti says Lancaster is an ideal location. "Lancaster is well located to major population centers, is a hub for major courier companies, is close to Buffalo International Airport, and is at the center of major interstate highways and trucking routes. Additionally, New York's tax-friendly environment for users of fulfillment services provides significant benefits for our customers. Most important, the Buffalo area provides Skulogix with access to a talented work force, and the state government has been both welcoming and helpful."

In October 1997, Gov. Pataki signed into law legislation enabling out-of-state suppliers to use New York fulfillment/distribution companies like Skulogix to sell and warehouse products without being charged state corporate franchise or sales taxes. The legislation was critical to Skulogix's decision to headquarter in Lancaster, where the firm plans to occupy as much as 800,000 sq. ft. (74,320 sq. m.) during the next five years as its business grows.

Remarketing Services of America (RSA), a division of DaimlerChrysler, is investing $2.9 million in a new 100,000-sq.-ft. (9,290-sq.-m.) global headquarters in Amherst where it will add 294 jobs to its current Erie County work force of 320.

"RSA has experienced tremendous growth in the past year," says RSA co-CEO Andrew J. Shaevel. "We signed several new major clients and hired more than 200 associates in 1999. This new building will allow RSA to continue its rapid growth in western New York." RSA is the world's largest non-proprietary organization providing vehicle remarketing and lease maturity management programs to the automotive financial industry.

Advanced Refractory Technologies (ART), a vertically integrated supplier of advanced ceramic materials, is expanding its Buffalo world headquarters and adding 133 jobs. An $8 million investment will go toward improvements at its current facility, including the purchase of new machinery and equipment that will allow ART to expand production and R&D of new applications for its technologies.

"ART is one of New York state's most exciting stories," says company CEO and President Keith Blakely. "The company has been a leader in advanced materials, such as ceramics, since its founding in 1981. . . New York state has supported the advanced materials community through investments in the Centers for Advanced Technology at Alfred University, Clarkson University and SUNY Albany. We are delighted to see that these investments have resulted in real and high-quality job growth at companies like ART."    SS