GCEDC set to break ground on new agri-business part off Route 5

Posted by Howard Owens on November 7, 2009 - 12:22pm

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Genesee County will soon be home to the first shovel-ready agri-business industrial park in New York, according to Chad Zambito, spokesman for the Genesee County Economic Development Center.

GCEDC breaks ground on the project Tuesday and expects the first tenant to start building a $15 million food-processing facility in the spring.

"These are expensive ventures and private developers aren't willing to do it because of the cost that’s needed up front and the long-term return, so it’s something we have to do and we need everybody’s participation to make it happen," Zambito told WBTA.

The groundbreaking is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Kennedy Building of the Genesee County Fair Grounds.

The 200-acre park is located between state routes 5 and 63 in Batavia and sits in close proximity to O-AT-KA Milk Products.

At full build-out, the park is expected to provide 1,200 jobs in Genesee County and generate $2 billion in revenue over 25 years.

The first tenant, a Canadian-based food processor, will hire 100 people to work at its facility.

When the infrastructure installation is complete, the site will contain nearly 200 acres serviced by industrial-class electric, gas and rail. The park is dedicated to agri-business applications including food and bio-fuels processing and is owned by a unique public/private partnership.

It also has access to 6 million gallons of aquifer water daily, ideal for food production applications, and sits in an Empire Zone.

The GCEDC, along with its real estate affiliate the Genesee Gateway Local Development Corporation and an affiliate of Farm Credit of WNY share ownership of the park.

It was largely made possible by a state grant recently approved by Empire State Development and a matching grant from Genesee County. The GCEDC, Town of Batavia, National Grid and National Fuel are also providing funding.

Phase 1 construction, being completed by Zoladz Construction Company Inc. of Alden, NY, will include water, sewer and roadway base installation.

Howard Owens
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Posted by Dave King on November 7, 2009 - 2:24pm

This is the kind of large scale developement that I like to hear coming to Batavia. 1200 Jobs would be big news even in Buffalo or Rochester. For Batavia, that means more people will be taking their morning communte to work into Batavia, as opposed to away; which means more overall money being spent locally...and utimately, further expansion. It could lead to a very positive domino effect in the Batavia and surrounding area. As I indicated in my earlier comments regarding People leaving for bigger cities, Batavia has so much unused potential. Opening up small businesses are a good start, but simply won't cut it. If we want more people to stay in the area, we need larger industries and corporations that hire a wide variety of skillsets. This is a huge start.

Posted by Thomas Mooney on November 7, 2009 - 2:31pm

This is great news for Genesee County and Batavia . Big employers will motivate more people to open up small businesses to fill the needs of all the workers coming to Batavia .

Posted by Dave Olsen on November 7, 2009 - 5:15pm

I agree with the 2 comments above, this is the kind of thing Genesee County needs. Great Job putting together the Public/Private partnership.

Posted by william tapp on November 7, 2009 - 5:57pm

don't count your money just yet, remember politicians lie.
i will believe it when i see it happen

Posted by Sean Valdes on November 7, 2009 - 9:26pm

I'm not as enthusiastic about this as the previous posters are. It is not government's job to create business parks. I think we've become so used to the idea that government helps businesses that are relocating or expanding, that now it's almost expected. Business welfare is as bad as personal welfare.

If your company can generate enough income to warrant a $15,000,000.00 building, you can clear your own land. If you need rail service, call the railroad yourself and work out a deal. If you need power, the folks at National Grid are very nice. Need water- ok- call the government for clean water.

In addition to the site preparation, don't forget this is an Empire Zone - that means that we're getting screwed and not kissed. We're going to pay for the land preparation, pay for part of the building somehow, and then subsidize part of the operation for years to come with tax breaks, buy-back deals and other tax incentives.

Entrepreneurs take risks, and from that risk you succeed or fail. If you fail, that's ok, try something else. If you succeed, then you get the rewards.
"To win without risk is to triumph without glory."
Pierre Corneille

As far as jobs created is concerned - a statewide study about a 2 years ago found that NYS IDA/EDC's misrepresented the number of jobs created through their programs, and last year a similar study shows that the cost of creating a job through IDA funding is much higher. http://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/feb09/022609.htm

Business welfare is as bad as personal welfare.

Posted by Paul Dibble on November 7, 2009 - 11:08pm

Well here we go,people pi$$ing on the parade before the shovel is in the ground. I suppose we could sit on our a$$es wishing and wanting something for Batavia,or we could read post's saying there's nothing in Batavia,blah,blah,blah. I'm sure Batavia was in competition with other area's for this park. I'm glad the GCEDC is out there selling Genesee county. If the money (State,Federal tax dollars,yes our tax dollars) isn't spent HERE, it WILL be spent somewhere else,how about,Oh, I dont know,New York City or down state? This time Batavia won the lottery, Nothing's perfect, at least I can drive by on my way to work in Rochester and see my tax dollars at work,whether it's ten jobs or a hundred,hell I may look for a job there if it pays enough. I'm sure in these times it will take time to fill the complex up,but give it a chance. I want to thank GCEDC for their hard work and the Town of Batavia (Greg Post and his staff)for having a master plan in place and the foresight to make this and many other projects happen.

Posted by Dave Olsen on November 8, 2009 - 9:40am

Sean; I agree with Paul, at least the county is trying to do something. I don't have a problem with us putting out money we might or might not get back, it beats the heck out of just spending it or giving it to the state. I know job estimates for these kind of projects are inflated (some would say optimistic), but it is a start. Entrepreneurs want to succeed, they want to invest in an area that's growing, not declining. It's called calculated risk. I moved from this area in 1998 and came back in 2007, the difference in Batavia was obvious, you can tell me I'm nuts all you want; Genesee County is on the upswing from the 80's and 90's. I'm behind the GCEDC, they are trying to make something happen by getting the story out there. Let's have some civic pride. I've been around, nowhere is perfect.

William:, I ain't making a dime off of this

Posted by Sean Valdes on November 8, 2009 - 1:13pm

Hi Dave & Paul,

You both make good points. I guess this is the way business is done now, statewide and nationwide - but it doesn't make it right. I'm going to keep my imaginary business model of private sector success without public support and hope for the best.