Greater Norwich Empire Zone ranks high in state
NORWICH – Chenango County was 13th out of the state’s 82 Empire Zone Programs based on the success of economic development activity last year.
The ranking, awarded by the New York State Empire Zone program, was one of the many positive business statistics reported to the Chenango County Board of Supervisors earlier this week.
The zone program is designed to stimulate economic growth through a variety of state tax incentives to new and existing businesses. While the news media last year pointed out that expansion and jobs have failed to follow behind the tax incentives in many other regions in New York, the Greater Norwich Empire Zone program has prospered, according to Maureen Carpenter, Industrial Development Agency executive director and president of Commerce Chenango.
In 2006-2007, there were 76 businesses in the zone that encompasses locations between the towns of Norwich and North Norwich and includes the City of Norwich. Of those, seven were newly certified last year. The businesses reported 3,167 full-time jobs, with 263 of them created in 2006.
Property tax exemptions in the zones for the 2006/2007 year were $386,500. Total business investment was more than $20 million, which Carpenter described as “pretty substantial for our area.”
Total anticipated tax credits for zone businesses was $2,781,844 with only 31 of 76 certified businesses expected to see credits. The county anticipates $32,500 in zone funding this year year.
Supervisor Peter C. Flanagan, D-Preston, who has often questioned the county’s economic development methodology, said he was “glad to hear” about the county’s Empire Zone ranking.
“By questioning where the taxpayers dollars’ are spent, I’m not trying to bring out the bad news. I’m glad to hear about our good rate. Let’s put some sunlight on it and get it out there,” he said.
City of Norwich Supervisor James J. McNeil asked whether zone activity was an indication of true growth in Chenango County.
“Do you have job loss numbers across the board?” he asked. “That would be an indication of true growth.”
Carpenter said job losses are only recorded from businesses in zones or members of Commerce Chenango.
“I do know that with announcements made recently, at Procter & Gamble, Camp Pharasalia and Apple Converting that we are looking at a potential of 340 jobs lost this year,” she said.
There were 19 new business prospects for the greater Norwich zone that Carpenter, Economic Development Director Jennifer Tavares and staff at Commerce Chenango assisted last year. Five were realized for a total of 21 jobs (27 were retained) and 10 remain prospects with the possibility of 487 jobs.
“We continue to assist these businesses as needed for information gathering, site selection, locating funding/investors,” Carpenter said.
“If we got one of our prospects it would be a really great thing for the county this year,” Tavares said.
Staff continues to assist approximately 34 existing clients, or companies, with expansion, relocation within the county, funding sources, employee training & reimbursement programs and referrals. And Tavares said she was “very busy with small business inquiries” with at least one new call every weekday. There were about 185 general inquiries for start up assistance, grants, loans, and local programs last year.
Town of Norwich Supervisor David C. Law said two potential business prospects had recently toured the P&G facility on Woods Corners in Norwich. He said he hoped “to lure somebody in,” and suggested the facility’s $100 million laboratory might be used by a university of science. The research center can house up to 550 employees.
Economic developers for the county are examining the possibility of marketing the Earl B. Clark Park in North Norwich to a warehouse or slaughterhouse concern.
The ranking, awarded by the New York State Empire Zone program, was one of the many positive business statistics reported to the Chenango County Board of Supervisors earlier this week.
The zone program is designed to stimulate economic growth through a variety of state tax incentives to new and existing businesses. While the news media last year pointed out that expansion and jobs have failed to follow behind the tax incentives in many other regions in New York, the Greater Norwich Empire Zone program has prospered, according to Maureen Carpenter, Industrial Development Agency executive director and president of Commerce Chenango.
In 2006-2007, there were 76 businesses in the zone that encompasses locations between the towns of Norwich and North Norwich and includes the City of Norwich. Of those, seven were newly certified last year. The businesses reported 3,167 full-time jobs, with 263 of them created in 2006.
Property tax exemptions in the zones for the 2006/2007 year were $386,500. Total business investment was more than $20 million, which Carpenter described as “pretty substantial for our area.”
Total anticipated tax credits for zone businesses was $2,781,844 with only 31 of 76 certified businesses expected to see credits. The county anticipates $32,500 in zone funding this year year.
Supervisor Peter C. Flanagan, D-Preston, who has often questioned the county’s economic development methodology, said he was “glad to hear” about the county’s Empire Zone ranking.
“By questioning where the taxpayers dollars’ are spent, I’m not trying to bring out the bad news. I’m glad to hear about our good rate. Let’s put some sunlight on it and get it out there,” he said.
City of Norwich Supervisor James J. McNeil asked whether zone activity was an indication of true growth in Chenango County.
“Do you have job loss numbers across the board?” he asked. “That would be an indication of true growth.”
Carpenter said job losses are only recorded from businesses in zones or members of Commerce Chenango.
“I do know that with announcements made recently, at Procter & Gamble, Camp Pharasalia and Apple Converting that we are looking at a potential of 340 jobs lost this year,” she said.
There were 19 new business prospects for the greater Norwich zone that Carpenter, Economic Development Director Jennifer Tavares and staff at Commerce Chenango assisted last year. Five were realized for a total of 21 jobs (27 were retained) and 10 remain prospects with the possibility of 487 jobs.
“We continue to assist these businesses as needed for information gathering, site selection, locating funding/investors,” Carpenter said.
“If we got one of our prospects it would be a really great thing for the county this year,” Tavares said.
Staff continues to assist approximately 34 existing clients, or companies, with expansion, relocation within the county, funding sources, employee training & reimbursement programs and referrals. And Tavares said she was “very busy with small business inquiries” with at least one new call every weekday. There were about 185 general inquiries for start up assistance, grants, loans, and local programs last year.
Town of Norwich Supervisor David C. Law said two potential business prospects had recently toured the P&G facility on Woods Corners in Norwich. He said he hoped “to lure somebody in,” and suggested the facility’s $100 million laboratory might be used by a university of science. The research center can house up to 550 employees.
Economic developers for the county are examining the possibility of marketing the Earl B. Clark Park in North Norwich to a warehouse or slaughterhouse concern.
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