Quoted Text

SCHENECTADY COUNTY
Five county projects put on regional funding wish list
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter

    Schenectady County has landed fi ve priority projects on the Capital Region Economic Development Council’s wish list for the latest round of state funding through Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Regional Council Initiative.
    These priority projects range in size and scope from a new transnational railroad shipping terminal in Rotterdam to transforming an underutilized building in downtown Schenectady to serve as a business accelerator for technology startups. The council included them among a list of 46 projects in eight Capital Region counties that will be submitted to the state this week for consideration.
    The state’s 10 regional councils are vying for five awards of $25 million and five awards of $5 million, said council member Michael Tucker, who also serves as president of the Center for Economic Growth. He said the projects forwarded by the council present a compelling case for state funding, considering that they each demonstrate ability to create jobs and a capacity to leverage private invest- ment. Price tags for the proposals are not included on the list.
    “We believe we have an excellent group of recommended projects that will put us in a position to compete vigorously for the $25 million awards,” he said Monday.
    Among the projects is a massive expansion aimed at growing Railex in the Rotterdam Corporate Park. The proposed project would grow the company’s facility by 64,000 square feet and would create an estimated 100 jobs at the facility.
    In addition, the Galesi Group would construct a 100,000-squarefoot warehouse that would work in concert with the Railex operation. The larger warehouse would serve as a facility other companies could use to backfill Railex trains heading back across the country after emptying freight in Rotterdam.
    “It would be a large investment and new jobs,” said Ray Gillen, the chairman of the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority.
    Railex Senior Vice President Paul Esposito said the expansion would be part of a company initiative to build a Southeast corridor to add to ones already serving Southern California and the Pacific Northwest. He said the company has increased the number of boxcars that enter Rotterdam annually from roughly 2,000 in 2007 to 7,700 last year.
    “We have just started the planning stage of expansion and rail expansion,” he said. “We are poising ourselves for growth.”
    Also on the list for Schenectady County is a project that would create a 67,000-square-foot manufacturing facility for Mohawk Lift. Gillen said the company that manufactures heavy-duty vehicle lifts for customers around the nation has outgrown its location in neighboring Montgomery County.
    Another project receiving priority status is Transfi nder’s proposal to purchase the First Niagara Building on lower State Street in Schenectady so that part of it can be renovated into the NYBizLab. This facility would serve as a business accelerator targeted specifi cally at startup software companies.
    Gillen said the bank would lease back part of the building. He said Transfinder, which is poised to move into its new 30,000-square-foot headquarters on State Street, is also interested in securing some of the space for its own growing operation.
    The modern-style bank built in 1960 by the Schenectady Savings and Loan Association features wide expanses of marble and granite. One of the area’s fi rst drive-thru teller windows — connected to the main building by pneumatic tube — was built in the rear parking lot.
    “It’s an underutilized building on lower State Street,” Gillen said. “It would bring a lot of activity and economic development.”
    Northeast Parent and Child Society’s project to buy and renovate the Schenectady’s Brandywine firehouse into a headquarters for a new youth training program was another project given priority status. The agency is proposing to purchase the structure and use it for its new weatherization and energy effi ciency youth program.
    Funding is also being sought for an expansion of the energy-generating system at Proctors designed to greatly improve energy efficiency and reduce the costs associated with energy consumption. The 26,000-square-foot energy plant helps generate electricity for the theater and helps heat nearby buildings on State Street.
    “We are very pleased that we continue to get great support from the regional council,” Gillen said of the county’s priority proposals.
    The council received $62.7 million for 88 projects last year during the first round of funding through the initiative. The funding was among $785 million dispersed across the 10 regions as a way to spark job creation and community development. ........................>>>>......................>>>>..........................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00101&AppName=1

They all look like great projects.

None of these projects will bring over 100 new jobs.

A $5 million dollar award should create well over the 'proposed' number of 100 'new' jobs.

BTW - Proctors should be cut off from any new grant money until an audit is done.

Also, Northeast received money from Metroplex for the project at the firehouse. They don't need another State grant for the same thing.

fluff

PR

waste

makes cronies money

JOKE

Quoted from rachel72

None of these projects will bring over 100 new jobs.

Rachel72, on what do you base this? Have you done the analysis? Run the numbers? I assume that since you've made a such a strong statement that you must have earned your degree in economics and therefore are basing it on careful thought and analysis. If on the other hand that's not the case, then please inform us how you have come to this conclusion.

Keep in mind, that this is merely a proposal, and as far as I can see not a done deal. This seems to be a "wishlist".

Re: Proctors
Yes, the time has come to stop the gravy train. How much sales tax is derived from Proctors by the way? Does anyone have a clear picture or actual numbers that can be analyzed? What about all the bars and restaurants downtown, how much sales tax is created there?

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

fluff

PR

waste

makes cronies money

JOKE

Interesting.

Loki:
"The proposed project would grow the company’s facility by 64,000 square feet and would create an estimated 100 jobs at the facility."

The 100 job estimate I took from the above-referenced article (you can read ..right?).

Also, the Northeast job estimate isn't even above 20 (another thread references that).

Proctors won't bring anything but a bigger paycheck for Morris, Karen Johnson and Leeza Perazzo.

Therefore, you tell me where in the above-referenced article there is anthing about job creation from the $5 million dollar projects.

All the 'anticipated' job growth the Metroplex has touted is where? Not here, that's for sure.

Quoted from rachel72

Loki:
"The proposed project would grow the company’s facility by 64,000 square feet and would create an estimated 100 jobs at the facility."

The 100 job estimate I took from the above-referenced article (you can read ..right?).

Also, the Northeast job estimate isn't even above 20 (another thread references that).

Proctors won't bring anything but a bigger paycheck for Morris, Karen Johnson and Leeza Perazzo.

Therefore, you tell me where in the above-referenced article there is anthing about job creation from the $5 million dollar projects.

All the 'anticipated' job growth the Metroplex has touted is where? Not here, that's for sure.

Rachel72, first I take offense to your "you can read...right?" comment. It seems to be the prevailing attitude on this site that if you disagree with a position than an insult is in order. Shame on you.

That being said yes I read the 100 job reference. I merely wonder how you can unequivocally state the number to be nonsense. Are you basing your opinion on hard fast data or emotion. I prefer data to emotion myself. And although it's certainly not laid out in the article, I would much prefer to see the hard numbers before coming to any conclusions.

In the end though at this juncture in time the point is moot, because this is merely a "wish list." I tend to not get bent out of shape over these types of things but would be more interested if the "wish list" comes to fruition.

In 6/2011, Metroplex gave Transfinder a grant of $210,000 so that they could build a facility to add "up to" 125 high tech jobs. How many have been created? They were a company of 50 or so ...now they are still a company of 50 or so...BUT their profit increased 33% last year. Guess that happens when you don't create jobs.

Also, from the minutes of the Metroplex October 20, 2010 meeting:

"5.   Northeast Parent and Child Project:  Resolution 671-10 — Adopt the General Project Plan

Northeast Parent and Child Society, located at 530 Franklin Street, is renovating the entire first floor of its agency headquarters to house its new Career Development Center, which will assist at-risk youth with gaining needed skills, finding and maintaining well-paying jobs. Schenectady County secured a $750,000 grant from the Governor’s Office of Small Cities to help finance the project. Metroplex participation involves a mortgage recording tax exemption resulting in a project savings of about $9,375. Mr. Wall moved Resolution 671-10; seconded by Mr. Saccocio.  Following brief discussion, Resolution 671-10 was unanimously approved. "

According to the TU, this will bring a total of 11 jobs to our area.

Unless you've graduated from the Gillen school of stunad, you'd understand why $5 million should NOT go to projects with little to no job creation.

They ought to spend 1,000,000,000,000 and get 12 jobs. It will be worth it (to a politician who wants to get re-elected)

Quoted from rachel72

Northeast Parent and Child Society, located at 530 Franklin Street, is renovating the entire first floor of its agency headquarters to house its new Career Development Center, which will assist at-risk youth with gaining needed skills, finding and maintaining well-paying jobs. Schenectady County secured a $750,000 grant from the Governor’s Office of Small Cities to help finance the project. Metroplex participation involves a mortgage recording tax exemption resulting in a project savings of about $9,375. Mr. Wall moved Resolution 671-10; seconded by Mr. Saccocio.  Following brief discussion, Resolution 671-10 was unanimously approved. "

According to the TU, this will bring a total of 11 jobs to our area.

Unless you've graduated from the Gillen school of stunad, you'd understand why $5 million should NOT go to projects with little to no job creation.

ARe these 'at-risk kids school aged? If they are then the 'school district' should be picking up the tab like they do in other areas/districts/counties. However, most schools/counties in nys are running lean and can not afford these 'at risk options' like they have in the past. Most school districts/counties are keeping the at risk kids within their county AND in their schools..... and not sending them 'out'!  The schools/counties are working out their own programs to facilitate these 'at risk' kids....good idea.....yes?

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

They ought to spend 1,000,000,000,000 and get 12 jobs. It will be worth it (to a politician who wants to get re-elected)

that about sums it up

"....at least...blah blah blah blah....I did...blah blah blah.....at least...blah blah blah...."

These 5 projects are more proof that the Renaissance in Schenectady County is alive, strong and growing stronger every day.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

These 5 projects are more proof that the Renaissance in Schenectady County is alive, strong and growing stronger every day.

The nayboobs continue to try and tear down our fair city, but their efforts are in vain. The Renaissance is stronger than ever. Three cheers for our courageous leaders.

Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!

No, these projects have ALREADY been funded by Metroplex grants.

It's proof that Gillen has nothing else to fund. He keeps going back to the same people time and time again and for what?

Have they grown or created new jobs? No.
Have they helped the taxbase? No.
Are they non-profits and/or are completely tax-exempt for-profits. Yep.

These aren't helping our community and by handing over $5 million ...why don't just flush the money down a toilet?

This $5 million needs to go to businesses which have hundreds of jobs to offer. It needs to go to a business which will PAY TAXES AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE TAXBASE!!!!

Gillen needs to go.