‘SMALL BUSINESS HUB’ FEATURES ROOM TO GROW
Posted on: 08/22/08
Ashley Lucas, Clifton Park-Burnt Hills reporter
email: lucasa@spotlightnews.com
State, county and local officials participate in a ribbon cutting, Tuesday, Aug. 19, for the Galesi Group’s new small business hub in the Rotterdam Corporate Park. The Galesi Group renovated Building 3 in the park to accommodate up to 24 small businesses. (Submitted photo)
Small businesses interested in locating in Rotterdam will have a new place of refuge thanks to $3 million in renovations to Building 3 in the Corporate Park.
The Galesi Group unveiled a new “small business hub” Tuesday, Aug. 19, at the Corporate Park, where flexible space can be rented for use by small to mid-size companies.
“This project will help position Schenectady County to become the location of choice for fast-growing small businesses,” said David Buicko, chief operating officer of the Galesi Group. “Now that Building 3 is completely renovated, we will have a very attractive option for post-incubator stage companies.”
He said space for small business is an “underserved” area of the local real-estate market.
The new 270,000-square-foot facility is subdivided into 11,000-square-foot sections to serve up to 24 companies’ specific space needs. Spaces could include a “store-front” entrance for office or showroom space; or a back entrance, which could be accessed by a dock or overhead door for manufacturing, assembly or warehouse operations.
Renovations to the building include a new façade and roof, in addition to rebuilt docks. New roads and parking areas were constructed.
“This was something we were happy to approve,” said Angelo Santabarbara, chairman of the Rotterdam Industrial Development Agency.
He said the IDA provided sales tax exemption to the Galesi Group.
“It’s a good use for the building,” Santabarbara said.
Officials said they hope the hub, which was a joint effort between Empire State Development, National Grid, Schenectady County, Metroplex and the Town of Rotterdam, will bring new jobs to the region.
“Good-paying manufacturing, distribution and vocational jobs will be available here in our community as a direct result of the investment the Galesi Group has made,” Rotterdam Supervisor Steven Tommasone said. “Restoring and enhancing this building is another achievement of successful public-private partnerships, leveraging the resources necessary to create good jobs for the working families of Rotterdam and Schenectady County.”
Assemblyman James Tedisco, R-Schenectady, echoed Tommasone’s excitement over new jobs saying, “Today’s announcement means new jobs, increased investment in Rotterdam and a strengthened local economy that serves as a model for future economic development.”
Other areas of the park, which have recently been developed, include the Railex USA’s east coast distribution hub, Golub Corporation’s freezer facility, and a regional distribution center for Fed Ex Freight.
Metroplex is also looking to purchase a 260,000-square-foot building from the state to provide additional space for growing companies in the Corporate Park, which is located on Route 7 in Rotterdam, near Interstates 90 and 88.
The Corporate Park contains 19 buildings that average 268,000 square feet each, providing distribution and manufacturing space, as well as office space.
You can contact lucasa@spotlightnews.com with any questions.
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