Refresco will purchase the former Carriage and Kraft factory for $1.4 million and use it for storage and distribution. File Photo

A vacant industrial building in the city of Dunkirk will be put to use once again.

During the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency meeting, board members unanimously agreed to sell 26 E. Talcott St. to Refresco Beverages US, Inc. The property was previously used byConAgra and before that Kraft.

Mark Geise, county IDA director and chief executive officer, said the county IDA purchased the building a few years ago to market it and find a new owner. He called it an “upside-down proposition for the IDA,” where it was only costing money. “It’s really not serving maximum capability,” he said.

Refresco, which employs about 600 people in Dunkirk, wants the property for storage and distribution. Geise said they plan on investing around $13 million in the facility, which is about 243,000 square feet in size. They are expected to create about 10 new jobs with this acquisition, along with 75-100 temporary construction jobs.

In the agreement, Refresco agreed to pay the county IDA $1.4 million. In return, the county IDA is giving the company tax breaks through a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes agreement and other financial incentives.

Geise said this purchase will help Refresco “secure their presence” in Dunkirk, allowing them to have a place for needed storage for their bottled beverages, which are shipped nationwide. “This will enhance their supply chain in Chautauqua County,” he said.

Steve Kaufman with Refresco said they are happy with their operations in the northern end of the county. “Dunkirk is a very accommodating place for our team. The employees, the stakeholders have all viewed and visited the plant in Dunkirk and hold it in high regard with its position for Refresco in the northeast. We look to continue to invest in the region, hire in the region, and are putting forth a plan to our leadership to help revitalize that facility,” he said, referring to the closed industrial plant on East Talcott Street.

IDA board member Kevin Muldowney, who is also a county legislator in Dunkirk, said he is glad to see Refresco taking over the former factory. “As a person that lives in the city and represents the city, I can go all the way back to the Kraft building. I’ve been all the way through it. … I never really thought it (sale) was going to happen. I really didn’t,” he said.

He thanked Geise and other members of the county IDA who helped put this facility back to use. “This makes so much sense because, like Mark (Geise) said, it is part of their campus. It backs up to the Cliffstar campus. I really want to thank the company for working with the IDA. As a city resident and as someone who represents city residents, this is great news for Chautauqua County,” he said.