What's Inside?

Upstate New York's economy is on the move again. Announcements, groundbreakings, ribbon-cuttings and construction projects are happening all over the region. This issue of SiteLines provides a review of some of them, including: 1.) the Global Foundries project in Saratoga County; 2.) a new Dresser-Rand headquarters and technology facility in Olean; 3.) The opening of the Syracuse Center of Excellence; 4.) an Agri-Business Park in Batavia; 5.) the reopening of Globe Specialty Metals' plant in Niagara Falls; 6.) General Electric's planned sodium battery plant in Schenectady; 7.) Richardson Foods' expansion in Canajoharie; 8.) the transformation of the Harriman Campus in Albany; and, 9.) the reopening of the former Crucible specialty metals mill in Central NY.

The next time you receive a SiteLines e-newsletter, our web site, www.ShovelReady.com will have a new look and cutting edge GIS capabilities. Please use ShovelReady.com for your site selection requirements and feel free to email us at ShovelReady@us.ngrid.com with your feedback anytime. Thanks again for taking the time to learn about upstate New York and our success in establishing an economic development culture and business-friendly environment.

Global Foundries Builds "Fab 8" in Saratoga County
In 2009 GlobalFoundries, co-owned by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and investment firms owned by the Abu Dhabi government, broke ground on a $4.2 billion semiconductor fabrication plant, known as Fab 8, in the Luther Forest Technology Campus, in the Saratoga County Town of Malta. Originally announced in July of 2006, Fab 8 is expected to create 1,400 manufacturing jobs at full production. The average annual salary will be $60,000. The project will also create; 5,000 "indirect jobs", 1,600 construction jobs and 2,700 construction-related jobs. The project is the culmination of many years of research, marketing, planning, investing and faith in the economic development process by many, many leaders. The region is counting on the completion of Fab 8 in 2011 to begin a transformation to a new and exciting, high-tech economy. The company expects to start mass production in 2012. According to this March 26th article, GlobalFoundries is seeking a $300 million package to add 90,000 square feet of clean room to the current 1.3 million square foot project, while contractors are still on site in Malta. Three articles contain additional details: an Albany Business Review article is here; a New York Times article is here; and, a Site Selection Magazine article here.

New Dresser-Rand Headquarters and Tech Center to Create 120 New Jobs
Houston-based Dresser-Rand Company has announced plans consolidate several facilities and build a new headquarters in Olean, NY. The project will help to retain 552 jobs and create 120 more. The company already employs 2,300 people at its facilities in nearby Wellsville, Painted Post and Olean, NY. The Empire State Development press release is here.

Syracuse Center of Excellence Opens
The Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (Syracuse CoE) opened its unique new headquarters with a dedication ceremony on March 5, 2010. The award-winning design by Toshiko Mori is meant to showcase and create a test bed for innovations in environmental and energy systems. This LEED Platinum building will have laboratory and office space for research and business collaborations on innovative products and services in indoor environmental quality, water resources, and clean and renewable energy.

An Agri-Business Park Grows in Western NY
The Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park, a project of the Genesee County Economic Development Center, represents a commitment to the future of agriculture in Western New York. Steve Hyde, chief executive officer of the Center envisions the Ag Park, when fully developed in 20 or 25 years, will have 1 million-square-feet of farm and food-related manufacturing space, 1,200 employees and leverage an estimated $238 million in capital investment. The Ag Park is 202 acres and is located just off NYS Route 5 in the town of Batavia. Partners in the project include Farm Credit of Western New York, Genesee County, Empire State Development Corporation, the Town of Batavia, National Grid and National Fuel Gas. Phase One of the Ag Park will cost about $6 million for site acquisition, site development and marketing. It should be complete by the fall of 2010. Phase Two will include upgrading the rail lines that run through the site. The Batavia News article is here and a link to the Ag Park brochure is here.

Global Specialty Metals Rises from the Ashes
Silicon manufacturer, Globe Specialty Metals, has reopened its plant in Niagara Falls. The company is investing $27 million and will create 138 jobs as part of phase one of a $60 million economic development project. The company has restarted two furnaces and has upgraded the equipment used to produce approximately 30,000 tons of metallurgical grade silicon per year. If they achieve specific employment and investment targets, Globe will receive 40 megawatts (mW) of low-cost hydropower from the New York Power Authority over five years and up to $25 million in Empire Zone benefits for up to ten years. As part of the agreement, Globe will allow Empire State Development to offer solar cell manufacturers up to 25 percent of Globe's upgraded metallurgical grade silicon production at a reduced price as an incentive to locate to New York State.

GE Schenectady Battery Plant will create 350 Jobs
General Electric Co., the world's largest producer of power-plant equipment and locomotives is investing $100 million in a new, sodium-based battery business at the GE Energy campus in Schenectady, NY. The new business will create 350 jobs and fall under GE Transportation. It will serve the rail, marine, telecommunications and energy sectors, including new "smart grid" technology. The first product from the battery facility will be GE's hybrid locomotive, which will be commercialized in 2010. GE, which spent $150 million developing the sodium-based chemical technology in the batteries, recently received $25.5 million in advanced manufacturing credits from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The news article is here.

Candy-maker to grow in the Mohawk Valley
Richardson Brands will remain in Canajoharie, NY and expand its operations. Faced with the prospect of losing its source of steam when Beech-Nut moves from Canajoharie, NY to the Town of Florida, the company considered moving its headquarters to Connecticut. However, thanks to an incentive package provided by New York State and National Grid, the company has moved the 40 jobs in Connecticut to Canajoharie and another 30 jobs from a company in Missouri that Richardson acquired in July 2008. The state provided $1.5 million and National Grid provided $400,000 to help Richardson purchase and install a new "Super Boiler".

State Campus is an Asset for the Capital Region
Albany NY's W. A. Harriman State Office Campus is being transformed into a world-class research and technology park and a regional growth engine for New York State's "Innovation Economy". Columbia Development, LLC was selected by the Harriman Research and Technology Development Corporation serve as the primary developer of the first phase of development of the Harriman Research and Technology Park. The proximity to the University at Albany, the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and SEMATECH allows the Harriman Campus to become an example of "Smart Growth" and promotes collaboration with University students, faculty and research facilities to attract tenants seeking a university research park environment to conduct their business.  

Former Crucible Mill to Reopen
A private investment group, JP Industries Inc., formed Crucible Industries to buy the former specialty metals mill in Solvay, NY from the bankrupt Crucible Materials Corp. in October 2009. The plant makes a hard steel called Crucible Particle Metallurgy that is used to make tools that cut other metals and steels. The total cost of the project is $24.6 million, including buying the plant, working capital and other costs. New York State has promised a $2,670,000 loan from the Upstate Regional Blueprint Fund and two loans of $2,660,000 each from a source to be determined. In addition, the company will receive a $1.5 million grant from Empire State Development to help with energy costs over three years, bringing the state's total investment to $9.49 million. In exchanged for the state subsidy, the company promised to hire 120 workers and to add 50 more by February 1, 2011 and keep 170 jobs through February 1, 2015. 

We hope this newsletter provides you the information that you need to assess our upstate New York regions and communities for investment potential. National Grid wants to be your business expansion partner. Please don't hesitate to contact us at (315) 428-6798 if you require any assistance. We are happy to be of service to you.

National Grid
Economic Development Department
300 Erie Boulevard West
Syracuse, NY 13202
Ph.: (315) 428-6798
Fax: (315) 428-3419
E-mail: ShovelReady@us.ngrid.com