New York State Department of Labor Labor Statistics

Mohawk Valley Region, Expansions and Contractions

Business Expansions and Contractions

NOTE: This briefing provides information on firm-specific hiring and layoff announcements. Information in this report is derived from press releases, newspapers, business journals, newsletters, and other public sources. It does not include all expansions and contractions, only those for which public information has been obtained. An attempt is made to present only current information events that have recently occurred or will in the near future.

Business Expansions:

Fulton County
Herkimer County
Montgomery County
Oneida County
Otsego County
Schoharie County

Business Contractions:

Fulton County
Herkimer County
Montgomery County
Oneida County
Otsego County
Schoharie County

Expansions: Fulton County

Current Developments:

• Sunderland Leather, an exporter of leather products with locations in Gloversville and Johnstown (Fulton County), will be opening a new warehouse in Gloversville. The new warehouse will result in the addition of 4 to 6 employees, currently the company has a workforce of 10. (The Leader-Herald January 6, 2012)
• Fage USA, a yogurt manufacturer located in the Johnstown Industrial Park (Fulton County), is expected to start a $100 million expansion project that is expected to double its current workforce of 150. (The Leader-Herald January 1, 2012)

Previously Reported:

• Update: CG Roxanne is still on track to break ground this year on a $20 million water-bottling project in the Town of Ephratah (Fulton County). The California based company plans to build two 100,000 square-foot water-bottling buildings that will include a production line, an office and a warehouse. The company expects to begin production in 2012 with as many as 35 employees to start. (The Leader-Herald October 20, 2011)
• Fage USA, a manufacturer of yogurt located in Johnstown (Fulton County), has entered a contract to purchase additional land in the Johnstown Industrial Part to provide parking for a $26 million expansion. Currently Fage employs 115, but is expected to create an additional 25 positions with its expansion. (The Leader-Herald May 17, 2011)
• Mohawk Cabinet Co., a manufacturer of freezer cabinets located in Johnstown (Fulton County), currently employs 7 workers all of whom are former employees of Hussmann Corp., a manufacturer of refrigerator parts and display cases that closed in 2009. By the end of the third quarter of 2011 the company plans to have 10 employees and plans are in place to double that by its second anniversary. (The Leader-Herald May 8, 2011)
• Update: CG Roxane, of Benton, Tenn., has signed a letter of intent with the Village of Canajoharie (Montgomery County) to begin the process of building a water bottling plant which will tap into village-owned watershed property in Ephratah (Fulton County). The company, which bottles Crystal Geyser Natural Spring Water, will invest about $20 million in the new plant, and could employ as many as 90 people once fully operational. (The Leader-Herald January 19, 2011)
• Update: Fage USA, a manufacturer of yogurt located in Johnstown (Fulton County), wants to quadruple production in the next three years. Company officials would not make an estimate of future job projections as a result of the increase in production. Currently Fage employs 130 at the plant. (The Leader-Herald January 18, 2011)
• Tower Shops, a new multifaceted commercial development located at the corner of Route 30 and County Highway 107 in Perth (Fulton County), has opened with roughly 30 to 35 new employees. Tower Shops feature a Sunoco gas station, convenience store, pharmacy and a Tim Hortons café and bake shop. (The Leader-Herald January 9, 2011)
• CG Roxane of Benton, Tenn., maker of Crystal Geyser Natural Alpine Spring Water, has signed a letter of intent with the Village of Canajoharie (Montgomery County) to explore the possibility of opening a water bottling facility, which could employ 50 people, on land the village owns. Over the next year, CG Roxane will evaluate the water supply and proceed to secure approvals and permits for the project. (The Leader-Herald December 17, 2010)
• Mohawk Fabric Co., located in Amsterdam (Fulton County), has received a state grant of $48,000 to aid an expansion project at its Guy Park Ave. location, which result in creating 3 new positions and retaining 7 current positions. (The Leader-Herald December 14, 2010)

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Expansions: Herkimer County

Current Developments:

• Empire Recycling Corp., which is headquartered in Utica (Oneida County), will add 20 trucks and 30 jobs through the acquisition of Lightning Fast Freight of Frankfort (Herkimer County). The acquisition will give Empire a total workforce of 200 employees and 60 trucks. (Telegram January 2, 2012)

Previously Reported:

• Precisionmatics Co., a manufacturer of parts for the aerospace, firearms, medical and specialized-industrial markets, is investing $2 million in its West Winfield (Herkimer County) facility which has allowed it to expand to 60 employees and the company is looking to add more. (Utica Observer-Dispatch October 19, 2011)
• Update: Remington Arms, a manufacturer of firearms located in Ilion (Herkimer County), has completed at $6 million renovation and hired 100 new employees. (Utica Observer-Dispatch February 11, 2011)

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Expansions: Montgomery County

Current Developments:

• Nothing to report.

Previously Reported:

• Kohl's department store has opened in Amsterdam Commons, located in Amsterdam (Montgomery County). The store is expected to employ 130 people. (The Leader-Herald September 28, 2011)
• Vida-Blend, a food-additive business looking to locate in Amsterdam (Montgomery County), has signed a lease for the former Niagara Mohawk building on DeStefano Street. Startup of the project is projected for fall and the company expects to hire up to 12 employees. (The Leader-Herald July 29, 2011)
• Amsterdam Commons shopping center (Montgomery County) has been filling up with retail outlets in the last year including: Aspen Dental, GameStop, Moe's Southwest Grill, Super Cuts and Verizon Wireless. Target has been in the plaza since 2008. Next up is a Kohl's Department store, which is expected to bring approximately 120 full- and part-time jobs, and a Five Guys Burgers and Fries (The Leader-Herald May 23, 2011)
• Fage USA, a manufacturer of yogurt located in Johnstown (Fulton County), has entered a contract to purchase additional land in the Johnstown Industrial Part to provide parking for a $26 million expansion. Currently Fage employs 115, but is expected to create an additional 25 positions with its expansion. (The Leader-Herald May 17, 2011)
• Mohawk Cabinet Co., a manufacturer of freezer cabinets located in Johnstown (Fulton County), currently employs 7 workers all of whom are former employees of Hussmann Corp., a manufacturer of refrigerator parts and display cases that closed in 2009. By the end of the third quarter of 2011 the company plans to have 10 employees and plans are in place to double that by its second anniversary. (The Leader-Herald May 8, 2011)
• Update: CG Roxane, of Benton, Tenn., has signed a letter of intent with the Village of Canajoharie (Montgomery County) to begin the process of building a water bottling plant which will tap into village-owned watershed property in Ephratah (Fulton County). The company, which bottles Crystal Geyser Natural Spring Water, will invest about $20 million in the new plant, and could employ as many as 90 people once fully operational. (The Leader-Herald January 19, 2011)
• CG Roxane of Benton, Tenn., maker of Crystal Geyser Natural Alpine Spring Water, has signed a letter of intent with the Village of Canajoharie (Montgomery County) to explore the possibility of opening a water bottling facility, which could employ 50 people, on land the village owns. Over the next year, CG Roxane will evaluate the water supply and proceed to secure approvals and permits for the project. (The Leader-Herald December 17, 2010)

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Expansions: Oneida County

Current Developments:

• Premier Aviation, an aircraft rehabilitation center located in Rome's Business and Technology Park (Oneida County), wants to expand its capabilities to service a greater variety of planes. The addition of machinery and equipment is expected to cost $1.7 million and could add 105 jobs by 2016. Currently Premier has 100 employees at Griffiss. (Rome Daily Sentinel January 3, 2012)
• Empire Recycling Corp., which is headquartered in Utica (Oneida County), will add 20 trucks and 30 jobs through the acquisition of Lightning Fast Freight of Frankfort (Herkimer County). The acquisition will give Empire a total workforce of 200 employees and 60 trucks. (Telegram January 2, 2012)
• Griffiss Local Development Corp., located in Rome's Griffiss Business and Technology Park (Oneida County), will receive $350,000 from the Regional Economic Development Council initiative to convert an existing hangar into a production facility for an unnamed defense contractor. The contractor will move 30 jobs from the Midwest to Rome over 5 years, starting with 20 jobs once the renovation is complete. (Rome Daily Sentinel December 9, 2011)

Previously Reported:

• MetLife Insurance Co. has received a sales tax exemption from the Oneida County Industrial Development Agency for its planned $14 million renovation of its facility in Whitestown (Oneida County). The renovation will allow for the consolidation of 250 employees from another facility in Utica, as well as the addition of 100 new employees. (Rome Daily Sentinel November 25, 2011)
• Valutek, a maker of supplies for computer-related 'cleanroom' research facilities, is relocating its headquarters from Arizona to the SUNYIT campus in Marcy (Oneida County). The move will result in the creation of approximately 25 executive, administrative, and high-tech engineering and support jobs over 4 years. Valutek hopes to be in operation in the local area by mid-2012. (Rome Daily Sentinel November 19, 2011)
• Construction has begun on the new Davidson Automotive car dealership in Rome (Oneida County). The new location will accommodate 300 cars, the old site could hold 200, and result in 10 new jobs. (Rome Sentinel October 21, 2011)
• TECT Utica Corporation, a manufacturer of titanium fan blades for commercial aircraft engines, has announced plans to invest $10 million to upgrade its' Whitesboro (Oneida County) facility. The investment is being made in response to customer demand and will result in the retention of 160 high-paying skilled manufacturing jobs. (YNN.com October, 13, 2011)
• Five major nanotechnology companies - IBM, Intel, Global Foundries, TSMC and Samsung- have announced a plan to invest $4.4 billion in nanotechnology projects throughout New York State, including an investment at SUNYIT located in Utica (Oneida County) which will create 450 permanent jobs. The project is also expected to create 400 temporary construction jobs. (Utica Observer-Dispatch September 28, 2011)
• Sherrill Manufacturing, located in Sherrill (Oneida County), has restarted flatware production at its plant after an eleven month shutdown as the result of a substantial order. Company officials worked out a deal with Silver Superstores to produce flatware after demand for American made goods pushed the former client to look at patterns designed at the Sherrill plant. The order is expected to keep 10 employees working for eight weeks. Company officials are hopeful the order will spur demand for their 'Made in America' product. (WSYR.com August 31, 2011)
• Midair USA, an aircraft leasing and trading company that services aircraft at Rome's Griffiss Business and Technology Park (Oneida County) is backed up with work and is looking for more space. Currently the company employs 196, not including contract workers, with 15 new workers recently hired. (Rome Daily Sentinel August 5, 2011)
• Indium Corp., a leading materials supplier to the global electronics, semiconductor, solar, thin film and thermal management markets with locations in Clinton and Utica (Oneida County) wants to open an manufacturing plant in the West Rome Industrial Park (Oneida County) that will create 30 jobs over time. To make the expansion viable in New York State, Indium is seeking partial property tax abatements for 10 years, and sales tax and mortgage recording tax exemptions; if these requests aren't met the company will look to locate in Fulton County, GA or China. Indium has proposed to invest $7.6 million to buy, renovate and expand the former ConMed location which was shuttered in 2009. Indium has a total of 400 employees in Oneida County. (Rome Sentinel July 21, 2011)
• MetLife Insurance Co., with locations in Utica and Whitestown (Oneida County), will be consolidating its local operations to its Whitestown facility in the county business park. The company has 250 employees at its Utica location, some of whom will be transferred to the Whitestown location while others will have work-from-home arrangements. The changes are expected to take effect in the first quarter of 2012. (Rome Daily Sentinel June 17, 2011)
• The Rome School district (Oneida County) is calling back 8 teachers from the upcoming 2011-12 layoffs and restoring a full-time position, based on enrollment projections. A total of 15 teacher layoff notices had been issued to balance the 2011-12 district budget, currently 3 teachers remain on the layoff list. (Rome Daily Sentinel June 10, 2011)
• Update: The U.S. Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), located in Rome's Griffiss Business and Technology Park, currently employs 1,100 people and could expand to 1,200 by mid 2012. The facility is expected to add as many as 70 jobs, by March 2012, as it absorbs travel pay operations from other sites being downsized. (Utica Observer-Dispatch May 20, 2011)
• Oneida Savings Bank will be opening a second branch in Rome (Oneida County) on Turin Road. The "full service financial center" is expected to be open by fall and will result in the creation of 7 to 8 new jobs. (Rome Sentinel May 17, 2011)
• Nextar Broadcasting Group, Inc. is committing $1 million for new equipment and the hiring of 12 employees to begin broadcasting local news stories in the Utica (Oneida County) region. Broadcasts are expected to begin by September. (Utica Observer-Dispatch April 1, 2011)
• New York Custom Processing LLC, a meat processing firm located in Bridgewater (Oneida County), plans to hire 14 employees and begin processing locally grown beef cattle. (Utica Observer-Dispatch April 1, 2011)
• Vernon Downs, a harness horse racing track located in Vernon (Oneida County), is looking to fill 50 full-time jobs expected as a result of the soon to be completed $8.1 million events center. Currently the racino track and adjacent all-suites hotel employ almost 300 people. (Syracuse Post-Standard March 3, 2011)
• First Source Credit Union, has received approval for their plans to construct a new location on Black River Blvd. in Rome (Oneida County). The new location will employ 10 people. (Rome Sentinel March 2, 2011)
• The Rome Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), located at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park (Oneida County), may gain as many as 70 new employees as the result of consolidation of functions currently handled at other locations. Positions including accounting technicians and call-center jobs would involve primarily new hires and would pay in the $25,000-30,000 range. Hiring is expected in two waves, with one occurring around October and the other beginning in March 2012. (Rome Sentinel February 9, 2011)
• Tamarack Lake Electric Boat Co., a Canadian manufacturer of clean energy boats, has leased a building in Rome (Oneida County). The company will start with three full-time employees, and production is scheduled to begin this spring. (Rome Sentinel February 4, 2011)
• McDonough Hardwoods LLC, a sawmill located in Vernon Center (Oneida County), has received a state Community Block Grant of $315,000 and a guaranteed loan of $2,201,746 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development's Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program to rebuild structures destroyed in a fire in August 2008. The company will use the grants, loans and personal financing to invest $4.5 million into rebuilding the company. The company expects to create 21 jobs. (Utica Observer-Dispatch January 28, 2011)
• Midair USA, located locally at Rome's Griffiss Business and Technology Park (Oneida County), will be expanding its operations at the Melbourne International Airport in Florida. This will result in the addition of 30 to 35 positions at the Rome maintenance centers' workforce of 135. The positions will likely be temporary as operations in Florida begin. (Utica Observer-Dispatch December 16, 2010)

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Expansions: Otsego County

Current Developments:

• Nothing to report.

Previously Reported:

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Expansions: Schoharie County

Current Developments:

• Nothing to report.

Previously Reported:

• Howes Caverns, located in Howe Cave (Schoharie County), has recently opened its new Howe High Adventure which includes zip lines and a ropes course. The new addition has resulted in the hiring of 35 people with 10 more jobs to be added. (Albany Times-Union August 5, 2011)

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Contractions: Fulton County

Current Developments:

• Fulton County will eliminate 18 positions in the county's Mental Health and Addiction Services clinics due to privatization of services. (The Leader-Herald December 10, 2011)

Previously Reported:

• Update: Tryon Residential Girls Facility, located in Perth (Fulton County), closed August 31st displacing approximately 200 employees. Previously this year the boys' detention center was closed. (The Leader-Herald August 27, 2011)
• Ohm Laboratories, a medical manufacturing facility located in Gloversville (Fulton County), is expected to close by fall displacing 15 workers. The facility is being closed due to low demand for the product that they manufacture. (The Leader-Herald July 1, 2011)
• The Tryon Girls Center, the only remaining piece of a lager youth detention facility located in Perth (Fulton County), is slated to close August 31st of this year displacing its 200 employees. Previously this year, the boys detention center was closed. (The Leader-Herald June 9, 2011)
• The Gloversville Fire Department (Fulton County) will be reduced from 32 to 28 in 2011 by not filling vacant positions. (The Leader-Herald May 11, 2011)
• Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES), will be eliminating 6 non-teaching positions in the 2011-12 school year. Positions to be eliminated include a courier, work- study and cafeteria workers. (The Leader-Herald March 14, 2011)

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Contractions: Herkimer County

Current Developments:

• Nothing to report.

Previously Reported:

• New York State has begun the process of cutting 9,800 employees in an effort to close its 2011 budget. There are an estimated 8,000 state employees in Oneida and Herkimer counties, but no information has been provided on the potential layoff impact in the local area. In addition, Governor Cuomo is looking to reduce the number of prison beds statewide to 3,700, which may result in the closure of one of the 4 state prison facilities in Oneida County. (Rome Daily Sentinel June 10, 2011)

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Contractions: Montgomery County

Current Developments:

• Nothing to report.
  
  

Previously Reported:

• Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES), will be eliminating 6 non-teaching positions in the 2011-12 school year. Positions to be eliminated include a courier, work- study and cafeteria workers. (The Leader-Herald March 14, 2011)
• Fonda-Fultonville Central School District (Montgomery County) has issued layoff notices to at least two dozen teachers and employees of the school district. The potential layoffs amount to $950,000 and represents 10 percent of the district's total employees. The layoffs are part of an effort to cover an expected $1.7 million shortfall for the 2011-12 budget. (The Recorder February 20, 2011)
• Richardson Brands, a manufacturer of food located in Canajoharie (Montgomery County), will temporarily lay off about 70 employees while new production lines are set up. Richardson currently employs 170 workers. (The Leader-Herald January 26, 2011)

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Contractions: Oneida County

Current Developments:

• Nothing to report.

Previously Reported:

• Rome Memorial Hospital (Oneida County) is phasing out its licensed practical nursing positions in acute care by yearend, which will result in the elimination 12 LPN jobs. Affected LPN's will be eligible to seek other positions with the hospital depending on qualifications. (Rome Daily Sentinel November 12, 2011)
• The United States Postal Service has announced plans to close its processing facility in Utica (Oneida County) and consolidate the processing services to its Syracuse facility saving $2 million during the first year of operation. The closure is the result of significant reductions in the volume of mail and is expected to dislocate 32 employees when it takes effect in by mid-2012. (Rome Daily Sentinel November 4, 2011)
• RockTenn, formerly Smurfit-Stone Container Corp., located in New Hartford (Oneida County) will be closing in November displacing approximately 75 employees. The company manufactures cardboard packaging for food and consumer goods. (Utica Observer-Dispatch August 26, 2011)
• Premier Aviation, an aircraft maintenance facility located at Rome's Griffiss Business and Technology Park (Oneida County), is in a virtual mid-summer shutdown because of a lack of work. The third-party maintenance provider has been in operation since November 2010 after taking over the Empire Aero Center operations and currently has 108 employees. The disruption is seen as short term. Company officials have been working with the New York State Department of Labor's Shared Work program to minimize the impact of the work slowdown on employees. (Rome Sentinel August 5, 2011)
• Governor Cuomo has announced the closure of the Oneida Correctional Facility, located in Rome (Oneida County), which will dislocate the 500 civilian and security personnel employed at the facility. (Utica Observer-Dispatch July 1, 2011)
• The Mohawk Valley YWCA, located in Utica (Oneida County), announced cuts to its programs that will result in 4 full-time and several part-time positions to be eliminated. The cuts are being made to ensure the long-term sustainability of the nonprofit. (Utica Observer-Dispatch June 14, 2011)
• New York State has begun the process of cutting 9,800 employees in an effort to close its 2011 budget. There are an estimated 8,000 state employees in Oneida and Herkimer counties, but no information has been provided on the potential layoff impact in the local area. In addition, Governor Cuomo is looking to reduce the number of prison beds statewide to 3,700, which may result in the closure of one of the 4 state prison facilities in Oneida County. (Rome Daily Sentinel June 10, 2011)
• The Rome City School District (Oneida County), has issued layoff notices to 15 teachers. The layoffs are the result of district's efforts to balance its 2011-12 budget. Some of the laid off teachers may be able to return to the district in other positions, but it is unlikely that all 15 will be able to do so. (Rome Sentinel April 20, 2011)
• Hysosung USA Inc., a manufacturer of fabric used in car tires, will be shutting down its operation in Utica (Oneida County) on April 30th of this year displacing all of the company's 85 employees. The closure is the result of overcapacity at the company and the industry, so Hyosung has begun to consolidate its manufacturing. (Utica Observer-Dispatch January 27, 2011)
• Orion Bus Industries, located in Rome's Griffiss Business and Technology Park, has announced a plan to reduce its production schedule to every other week. Starting in February, the company's 470 employees will alternate between a week on and a week off. The effort is a result of lost contracts and is being made in hopes of preventing further layoffs. (Rome Sentinel January 19, 2011)
• Faxton St. Lukes Healthcare, a Utica (Oneida County) area provider of healthcare services, has laid off 24 employees and eliminated 28 vacant positions. Reasons cited for the reductions include the state budget crisis and large cuts in state Medicaid payments. Positions affected by the layoff include both clinical and non-clinical positions, as well as supervisory and non-supervisory positions; cuts occurred throughout the hospital system, which includes the St. Lukes and Faxton campuses, Adirondack Community Physicians, St. Luke's Home, Visiting Nurse Association, Senior Network Health and Mohawk Valley Home. (Utica Observer-Dispatch January 7, 2011)
• St. Elizabeth Medical Center, a Utica (Oneida County) area provider of healthcare services, has laid off 24 employees and eliminated 16 vacant positions. Reasons cited for the reductions include the state budget crisis and large cuts in state Medicaid payments. Positions affected by the layoff involved clinical, non-clinical, management, union and non-union staff throughout the system, which includes the hospital, five teaching institutions, and 14 community sites. (Utica Observer-Dispatch January 7, 2011)

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Contractions: Otsego County

Current Developments:

• Nothing to report.

Previously Reported:

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Contractions: Schoharie County

Current Developments:

• Nothing to report.

Previously Reported:

• Governor Cuomo has announced the closure of the Summit Shock minimum security facility located in Schoharie County, dislocating 130 employees of the facility. (Times Journal July 6, 2011)
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