Operation Oswego County Inc.-- An Economic and Job Development Corporation Serving Oswego County, NY

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Huhtamaki Consumer Packagingrecently provided an update of itsexpansion project and plans formodernization of its warehousingfacility at its plant in Fulton:

In February 2004, Huhtamaki wasawarded Ben and Jerry’s packagingbusiness. As a result, 35 new employeeswere hired in the second quarter.

Transition of the business to Fultonincluded a $1.1 million project toprovide production tooling andequipment necessary to manufacture theproduct. Due to the addition of the Benand Jerry’s volume and strong growth ofexisting business, Huhtamaki expandedto a 24/7 operation in most departmentswhich resulted in the hiring of anadditional 25 new employees for a totalof 60 new jobs since the second quarter.

Several phases of machinery moves

HuhtHuhtHuhtHuhtHuhtamaki Expansion, Moderamaki Expansion, Moderamaki Expansion, Moderamaki Expansion, Moderamaki Expansion, Modernization Plans Unization Plans Unization Plans Unization Plans Unization Plans Underndernderndernderwwwwwaaaaayyyyywithin the plant were alsocompleted in 2004including a new machineroom utilizing a warehouseexpansion that was built in2001, which included theclosing of First Street.

To meet the storagedemand, a warehouseoptimization project isplanned to begin in the firstquarter of 2005. This willinclude the relocation andexpansion of the dockdoors currently located onDivision Street to the wallof the warehouse whichadjoins the former scrap

yard property now owned by the Countyof Oswego IDA. This property will beutilized to expand shipping capabilitiesby providing more dock space and trailerstaging areas. It will also alleviatecongestion on Division Street due to thephysical constraints of the existing docklocation. A New York State grant of$100,000 secured by Sen. James Wrightwas a significant factor toward advancingthis specific project.

“We would like to personally thank allof the state and local officials who havebeen supportive of Huhtamakiincluding Sen. James Wright,Assemblyman Will Barclay, the Countyof Oswego Industrial DevelopmentAgency, Operation Oswego County, thecity of Fulton, the Fulton CommunityDevelopment Agency and the County ofOswego,” said Thomas Meucci, director

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Lowe’s home improvement store on stateRoute 104 East in Oswego opened forbusiness in December.

Hours of operation for the new store areMonday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 10p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s is thesecond-largest home improvement re-tailer in the world serving approximately10 million customers a week at morethan 1,025 home improvement stores in45 states.

One hundred seventy jobs were createdby the 133,600 square-foot Oswegostore.

Pictured, from left, are Thomas Meucci, director ofoperations for Huhtamaki; Assemblyman Will Barclay;OOC Executive Director L. Michael Treadwell, CEcD;Oswego County Legislature Chairman Russ Johnson; Cityof Fulton Mayor Daryl Hayden; and Sen. James Wright.

of operations for Huhtamaki.

Huhtamaki is one of the world’s largestpackaging companies with more than 70manufacturing and sales units and over15,000 employees in 36 countries. Itsfocus and expertise is in paper, plastic,films and molded fiber.

2 Oswego County Economic Development News Briefs

Following the recommendation of theCentral Upstate Regional Alliance, theSyracuse Metropolitan DevelopmentAssociation (MDA) is launching TheTheTheTheTheEssential NEssential NEssential NEssential NEssential Neeeeew Yw Yw Yw Yw Yororororork Initiativk Initiativk Initiativk Initiativk Initiative 2005e 2005e 2005e 2005e 2005Summer IntSummer IntSummer IntSummer IntSummer Intererererernship Prnship Prnship Prnship Prnship Progogogogogrrrrram.am.am.am.am.

The Alliance, a 12-county, 25-memberpublic/private development consortiumwhose goal is to promote broaderregional cooperation on issues ofcollective importance, has determinedthat:

• Internships, co-ops andsummer jobs with regional businessesare proven strategies for convertinggraduates into permanent residents;

• Internships allow a business todevelop its workforce from the groundup and establish a workforce “pipeline”with regional colleges and universities;

• Internships are an incrediblyeffective way of stimulating knowledgeand technology transfer from regionalcolleges and universities; and

• Nationwide, nearly 60% ofemployers offer full-time positions tostudents that intern with them. Andmore than 85% of employers who hire aformer intern find that these employeeshave a higher retention rate than otheremployees (NACE: 2004 ExperientialEducation Survey).

The internship program seeks to providesubstantive, paying internships that willallow students to gain hands-onexperience in their field of study. Inaddition, the program will provideparticipants the opportunity for socialand cultural interaction within CentralNew York communities, as well as thechance to learn more about theeconomic opportunities that CentralNew York has to offer.

Through this program, the businesscommunity can send an unmistakable

message to the 130,000 college studentsthroughout the region that CentralNew York offers many exciting careeropportunities with strong andinnovative companies. By agreeing toparticipate, businesses would becommitting to provide one or moresubstantive, paying internshipopportunities that would allow astudent to gain hands-on experience intheir field of study.

To make the process easy andproductive, the MDA serves as aclearinghouse for regional internshipopportunities, access to 35 colleges anduniversities (and the 130,000 studentsthey educate), and social and culturalopportunities for peer networkingamong the interns.

In addition, if businesses have never hadan intern before or are concerned aboutthe commitment that is required, theMDA has developed a handbook thatis designed to answer many of thesequestions and provide ideas about howto get the most out of an internship.

For more information or for a companyapplication, call the MDA at (315) 422-8284.

Oswego County is a member of theAlliance and is represented byOperation Oswego County ExecutiveDirector L. Michael Treadwell andLaser Transit CEO and OOC BoardPresident George Joyce.

The Alliance meets several timesthroughout the year to establishregional priorities including identifyingissues for regional cooperation;developing and branding a regionalidentity; fostering a cooperative regionalconsciousness; and identifyingchampions for specific projects andrecommendations.

MDMDMDMDMDA Announces 2005 SummerA Announces 2005 SummerA Announces 2005 SummerA Announces 2005 SummerA Announces 2005 SummerIntIntIntIntIntererererernship Prnship Prnship Prnship Prnship Progogogogogrrrrramamamamam

The WThe WThe WThe WThe Womenomenomenomenomen’’’’’s Ns Ns Ns Ns Neeeeetwtwtwtwtwororororork fk fk fk fk for Entror Entror Entror Entror Entrepreprepreprepre-e-e-e-e-neurneurneurneurneurial Tial Tial Tial Tial Trrrrraining (WNET) aining (WNET) aining (WNET) aining (WNET) aining (WNET) 2005spring schedule is as follows:

MarMarMarMarMarccccch 3: h 3: h 3: h 3: h 3: “Bring Organization to YourChaos—Skills for Managing Your Busi-ness at Home” with Lisa DeVeau, Com-pletely Organized, at SUNY Oswego In-stitute for Professional and Organiza-tional Development, Phoenix; cateredby Aunt Mary’s Italian Cookies and Ca-tering;

AprAprAprAprApril 7: il 7: il 7: il 7: il 7: “Challenges for Women in Au-thority” with Nancy Bellow, SUNY Os-wego Center for Business and Commu-nity Development, at Chubby’s Bar andGrill, Fulton;

MaMaMaMaMay 5: y 5: y 5: y 5: y 5: “You Are Your Business—TakeCare of Yourself” with Dr. Mary StarrParmley, Starr Health, at Battle IslandBed and Breakfast, Fulton; and

June 2: June 2: June 2: June 2: June 2: “You Have a Web Site...NowWhat?” with Trisha Torrey,IntegriMark and Jody Frawley, DotPublishing, Inc., at SUNY Oswego In-stitute for Professional and Organiza-tional Development, Phoenix; cateredby Aunt Mary’s Italian Cookies andCatering.

WNET is coordinated locally byCornell Cooperative Extension ofOswego County with assistance fromOperation Oswego County, OswegoCommunity Development Office,SUNY Oswego’s Center for Businessand Community Development,BeautiControl, Dot Publishing, Inc.,Oliver B. Paine Greenhouses, theOswego County Chamber ofCommerce and the SBA.

For more information about WNET,call (315) 963-7286, extension 501 orvisit www.oswegocounty.org.

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Oswego County Economic Development News Briefs 3

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Operation Oswego County offers an array of business assistance services to

both new and expanding companies throughout Oswego County

NNNNNorororororttttth Shorh Shorh Shorh Shorh Shore Pe Pe Pe Pe Pooooowder Coating andwder Coating andwder Coating andwder Coating andwder Coating andMeMeMeMeMetttttal Fal Fal Fal Fal Fabrabrabrabrabricationicationicationicationication of Constantia willspecialize in metal fabricating, customliquid painting andpowder coating, a paintprocess that consists ofapplying powder paintto an electrostaticcharged metal objectand curing it in an ovenor by infrared lighting.The owner is a graduateof the Micro-EnterpriseTraining Program andwill receive fundingfrom the County of Oswego IndustrialDevelopment Agency (IDA). The projectwill create six jobs.

SSSSStupp’tupp’tupp’tupp’tupp’s As As As As Autututututo Body and To Body and To Body and To Body and To Body and Tooooowingwingwingwingwing ofHannibal is a new auto body repairbusiness that will provide towingservices and will specialize in restoringclassic cars. The owner is also a graduateof the Micro-Enterprise Training

Program and received a Micro-Enterprise loan through the IDA.

MarMarMarMarMark’k’k’k’k’s Sers Sers Sers Sers ServiceviceviceviceviceCentCentCentCentCenter er er er er in CentralSquare was one of fourarea auto repairgarages named 2004“Top Shop” by AAA.Each year, AAA(Western and CentralNew York) recognizesauto repair shops that“are doing the mosttoward customersatisfaction.

In an effort to encourage people topurchase goods from localmicroenterprises, MicrMicrMicrMicrMicroBizNYoBizNYoBizNYoBizNYoBizNY will listthe websites of small businesses that sellproducts online on their websitewww.microbizny.org. To request alisting, contact Emily Siegel,MicroBizNY program coordinator at(518) 463-5576.

Business Facilities magazine recentlyrecognized Operation Oswego Countywith an honorable mention for its 12thAnnual Economic DevelopmentAwards (EDA). OOC received thehonor for its facilitation of the public/private partnership that enabled thereutilization of the former Nestle facil-ity in Fulton by New York Chocolate &Confections Company.

Business Facilities is a national site se-lection magazine which providesmonthly news and resource informa-tion for more than 40,000 corporateexecutives responsible for the expan-sion or relocation of their companies.According to the magazine, the EDArecognitions are awarded each year toeconomic development organizations“for the innovation of their develop-ment programs, the effectiveness ofthose programs, and their ability to cre-ate a pro-business environment thatwill continue to strengthen communi-ties for decades to come.”

Other awardees included the GreaterOmaha, NE Chamber of Commercefor its $3 billion project, “Omaha’s Tar-geted Investment in Economic Devel-opment” and the Whitley County, INEconomic Development Corporationfor its “Tax Increment Finance District”project which created 1,499 jobs andretained 963.

“To be included in this group of thehighest caliber, award-winning projectsin the country is an honor and trulyspeaks to the viability of OswegoCounty as an exceptional place to locatea business,” said L. Michael Treadwell,CEcD, OOC executive director.

“This recognition would not have beenpossible without the cooperation andsupport from our federal, state and lo-cal partners.”

OOC ROOC ROOC ROOC ROOC Recognizedecognizedecognizedecognizedecognizedbbbbby Ny Ny Ny Ny NationalationalationalationalationalPublicationPublicationPublicationPublicationPublication

SBSBSBSBSBA 504 PrA 504 PrA 504 PrA 504 PrA 504 Progogogogogrrrrram Enhancedam Enhancedam Enhancedam Enhancedam Enhanced

Mark’s Service Center recentlyconstructed a new 9,675 squarefoot building in the town ofHastings with help from a SBA 504loan.

In December, the U.S. House ofRepresentatives passed a senateamendment to the 2005 OmnibusAppropriations Act that included smallbusiness provisions which enhance andstrengthen the SBA 504 Loan Program.

Key changes include:

• An increase in the maximumsize of 504 loans to $1.5 million forregular loans and $4 million formanufacturing loans;

• One job must be created forevery $50,000 guaranteed by SBA forregular 504 projects; and

• One job must be created for

every $100,000 guaranteed by SBA formanufacturing projects.

OOC is authorized to finance projectsusing the 504 loan program which isdesigned to promote economicdevelopment growth and job creation insmall businesses.

An SBA Certified DevelopmentCompany (CDC), such as OOC,finances up to 40 percent of the projectwith an SBA 504 loan, a bank financesat least 50 percent and the small businessprovides ten percent equity. The SBA504 loan is guaranteed 100 percent bythe U.S. Small Business Administration.

44 West Bridge StreetOswego, NY 13126

Phone: (315) 343-1545Fax: (315) 343-1546

E-mail: ooc@oswegocounty.orgwww.oswegocounty.org

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Oswego, NY

This newsletter is partially funded by our economic development supporters.

4 Oswego County Economic Development News Briefs

OperOperOperOperOperation Oswation Oswation Oswation Oswation Oswego Countyego Countyego Countyego Countyego County is aunique organization working toenhance and protect the businessand industrial climate of OswegoCounty and its diversecommunities.

To achieve that goal, we providecomprehensive assistance to bothlocal businesses and industryseeking to locate in our county.

To our business clients, OOC meansopportunities for expansion,relocation, better business climate,and even for survival that may nototherwise be possible.

To the people of Oswego County,OOC means new job opportunities,broader real property tax bases, anda better economic future for all.

Since our inception, we have helpeddeliver $2.4 billion in investmentsand over 15,000 new and retainedjobs to Oswego County.

SSSSSTTTTTAFFAFFAFFAFFAFF

L. Michael Treadwell, CEcD, Executive Director

Pamela D. Caraccioli, Deputy Director

David S. Dano, Loan Manager

Shannon C. White, Marketing Manager

Teresa F. Woolson, Administrative Coordinator

Lori L. Mueller, Administrative Secretary

Doren P. Norfleet, Esq., Legal Counsel

BBBBBOOOOOARD OF DIRECTARD OF DIRECTARD OF DIRECTARD OF DIRECTARD OF DIRECTORSORSORSORSORS

George Joyce, President

Michael J. Pollock, Vice President

Gregory Kreis, Treasurer

Nancy Bellow, Secretary

Bonnie Bostian

Ronald B. Darrow

Brian Frazier

William Galloway

Edward Gilson

Thomas V. Greco

Dee C. Heckethorn

Alan Horna

Thomas McAuslan

Andrea C. McCabe

Edward Mervine Esq.

Louis R. Pettinelli

Bruce B. Phelps

Michael D. Quenville

Joseph Russo

Carol Rutledge

Eugene G. Saloga

Corte Spencer

Lloyd “Buddy” Stemple

Millard Sullivan

Steven W. Thomas

John Tooley

Gary Toth

David R. Turner

David Vickery

Joseph Wiedenbeck

EXEXEXEXEX-OFFICIO DIRECT-OFFICIO DIRECT-OFFICIO DIRECT-OFFICIO DIRECT-OFFICIO DIRECTORSORSORSORSORS

Russ Johnson, Chairman, Oswego CountyLegislature

Stephen Lyman, Oswego CountyAdministrator

Carolyn Rush, Chair, County of Oswego IDA

Kimberly Seager, Chair, Oswego CountyEconomic Development and PlanningCommittee

Deborah Stanley, President, SUNY Oswego