Manufacturers Eye Reopening With Help Of Economic Plan
SKF, Monofrax and Bush have come forward with plans to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic. County Executive PJ Wendel has invited area businesses to submit the plans, while Gov. Andrew Cuomo has begun to outline guidelines for reopening. P-J photos by Dennis Phillips
Monofrax is one of 16 recipients for funding.
SKF, Monofrax and Bush have come forward with plans to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic. County Executive PJ Wendel has invited area businesses to submit the plans, while Gov. Andrew Cuomo has begun to outline guidelines for reopening. P-J photos by Dennis Phillips
Monofrax is one of 16 recipients for funding.
Trending
Manufacturers in Chautauqua County are moving forward with plans to reopen once they are allowed to following the coronavirus outbreak.
During a meeting this week of the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, County Executive PJ Wendel said the guidance he has received from Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is the state's liaison for reopening Western New York, is for manufactures to produce plans on how to reopen. He said SKF, Monofrax and Bush all have come forward with plans on how to reopen. He added that the plans are data-driven and support public health and safety concerns.
"We are making sure residents are protected as we move forward," he said. "They're getting templates ready. It's promising."
Wendel said, even though plans are being created, no date on when manufactures could reopen in Chautauqua County has been finalized. He said when the county does restart its economy, it could be used as an example of how to reopen businesses in other areas of the state.
"We can take Chautauqua County and use it as a model for the rest of the state," he said.
Regional reopening guidelines are being handled by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and will be monitored based on rates of hospitalizations, antibody testing, diagnostic testing and data on infection rates. Specifically, Cuomo said regions must have a two-week decline in the hospitalization rate as well as at least 30% of its hospital and ICU beds available.
It's unknown when the Western New York region, which includes Niagara, Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties, will be allowed to reopen manufacturing and some office jobs.
In other business, the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corp. board approved a resolution to facilitate the $750,000 grant the town of Ellicott is receiving from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Arktura project. He said the town of Ellicott approved a similar resolution in January.
Last month, the IDA board approved a 15-year Payment In Lieu Of Taxes agreement with the California-based company. Arktura plans to expand into Chautauqua County and bring with it 50 new jobs to the area. Arktura creates custom ceiling tiles, acoustic panels and facade systems.
Arktura officials are in the process of purchasing a 134,858-square-foot facility located at 1 Precision Way in the town of Ellicott, previously home to Acu-Rite and Heidenhain. Arktura officials plan to invest $7.3 million to expand its existing Los Angeles, California-based operations to Chautauqua County. The new plant is projected to facilitate expedited lead times to the U.S. market for its products, provide local services to East Coast markets and increase its overall production capacity. Arktura said it plans to hire 50 full-time employees during the first three years of operation.
The IDA PILOT benefit for Arktura will total $537,000 during the 15-year agreement. The IDA is also offering other incentives like sales tax exemption on construction goods, which will have a benefit of $100,000, and a mortgage recording tax exemption, which will have a savings of $56,250.