New Berlin gets almost $1 million donation for new village center and firehouse
NEW BERLIN – The Village of New Berlin is set to receive almost a million dollars in donations, about half of it from Chobani, allowing the municipality to create a new firehouse and community center, offering an opportunity to reshape the local downtown.
Village of New Berlin Mayor Terry Potter said the charity represented years of investment and interest from local businesses in helping New Berlin grow.
In total about $902,000 has been promised to the village.
A public forum about the projects will be held at 6 p.m., Wednesday, at the New Berlin Fire Department.
The Preferred Mutual Insurance Company donated about $150,000 to the village to help build a new firehouse. The company began as a fire insurance company more than a 100-years-ago.
“We’ve been proud to call New Berlin home since our inception as The Preferred Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Chenango County in 1896,” said Preferred Marketing Manager Beth DeMarco.
“The New Berlin Firehouse has special meaning to us, as our legacy is deeply embedded in fire prevention, safety and a strong sense of community. To say we are proud supporters of firefighters and the work they do to serve families, friends, neighbors, and businesses, and to protect lives and property is an understatement. We are honored to be able to show our unwavering support to the New Berlin community by leading the development of a new firehouse.”
Golden Artist Colors Inc. donated $30,000, and NBT Bank donated $20,000. Other businesses such as New Berlin Pizzeria and Gates-Cole Insurance, also made significant donations or offered support.
A NY State grant, secured with the help of NY Senator James L. Seward, also contributed $150,000 to the village's firehouse project.
However the largest contribution to the village came from the largest company, Chobani Yogurt, worth an estimated 3 to 5 billion dollars. After learning of the community's ongoing developments and attempts to raise funds the company's non-profit branch stepped in and made a remarkable offer said Potter.
Chobani Foundation
In additional to the other donations, the Chobani Foundation contributed an additional $550,000, allowing the village to build not just the firehouse, but also a new community center.
The center will be owned and run by the village and open to the public, Potter said the new location of the projects, near were the current DPW is, would reduce the village's congestion and offer a chance to grow the community in a positive way.
Potter said the community center project would be coordinated with Chobani, who had already selected a local contractor to build the facility, Principal Design and Engineering.
The mayor said the community center would be called the Chobani Community Center in recognition of the company's contribution.
John Kell of Chobani Corporate Affairs and Media, said the firehouse project will include 7,000 square foot space with six garage bays and will include offices and separate rooms for gear, meetings, training, and storage. The structure will help the department continue to serve the village and surrounding areas.
The 2,400 square-foot Chobani Community Center will be a place where local residents can come together to celebrate special moments for their families, the region, and the country. It could also one day hold municipal offices.
Support for construction of the firehouse includes various corporate sponsors, as well as New York State’s grant. The Chobani Foundation will be the sole funder of the community center.
Potter said the design of the firehouse and community center was led by Michael O’Reilly, Managing Director of the Norwich firm Principle Design & Engineering, who worked closely with Chobani in its development.
Kell said the project was just one of the many ways Chobani had taken an active role in the local community.
“For many years, we have looked to fund projects that strengthen communities where we live and work. We have supported the local community through a variety of projects in Chenango County, including a little league field in New Berlin, a community center in South Edmeston and a fitness course in Norwich,” said Chobani in a statement. “Additionally, we have supported the broader local community through an annual Community Impact Fund that invests in projects that expand economic opportunity and promote entrepreneurship, scholarships at Cornell University for students from farm families across New York, and funding the construction of a student-run greenhouse at Sherburne-Earlville High School.”
Construction for both the firehouse and community center is slated to begin later this year.
Pictured: Chobani's factory in Chenango County. (Submitted photo)
Village of New Berlin Mayor Terry Potter said the charity represented years of investment and interest from local businesses in helping New Berlin grow.
In total about $902,000 has been promised to the village.
A public forum about the projects will be held at 6 p.m., Wednesday, at the New Berlin Fire Department.
The Preferred Mutual Insurance Company donated about $150,000 to the village to help build a new firehouse. The company began as a fire insurance company more than a 100-years-ago.
“We’ve been proud to call New Berlin home since our inception as The Preferred Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Chenango County in 1896,” said Preferred Marketing Manager Beth DeMarco.
“The New Berlin Firehouse has special meaning to us, as our legacy is deeply embedded in fire prevention, safety and a strong sense of community. To say we are proud supporters of firefighters and the work they do to serve families, friends, neighbors, and businesses, and to protect lives and property is an understatement. We are honored to be able to show our unwavering support to the New Berlin community by leading the development of a new firehouse.”
Golden Artist Colors Inc. donated $30,000, and NBT Bank donated $20,000. Other businesses such as New Berlin Pizzeria and Gates-Cole Insurance, also made significant donations or offered support.
A NY State grant, secured with the help of NY Senator James L. Seward, also contributed $150,000 to the village's firehouse project.
However the largest contribution to the village came from the largest company, Chobani Yogurt, worth an estimated 3 to 5 billion dollars. After learning of the community's ongoing developments and attempts to raise funds the company's non-profit branch stepped in and made a remarkable offer said Potter.
Chobani Foundation
In additional to the other donations, the Chobani Foundation contributed an additional $550,000, allowing the village to build not just the firehouse, but also a new community center.
The center will be owned and run by the village and open to the public, Potter said the new location of the projects, near were the current DPW is, would reduce the village's congestion and offer a chance to grow the community in a positive way.
Potter said the community center project would be coordinated with Chobani, who had already selected a local contractor to build the facility, Principal Design and Engineering.
The mayor said the community center would be called the Chobani Community Center in recognition of the company's contribution.
John Kell of Chobani Corporate Affairs and Media, said the firehouse project will include 7,000 square foot space with six garage bays and will include offices and separate rooms for gear, meetings, training, and storage. The structure will help the department continue to serve the village and surrounding areas.
The 2,400 square-foot Chobani Community Center will be a place where local residents can come together to celebrate special moments for their families, the region, and the country. It could also one day hold municipal offices.
Support for construction of the firehouse includes various corporate sponsors, as well as New York State’s grant. The Chobani Foundation will be the sole funder of the community center.
Potter said the design of the firehouse and community center was led by Michael O’Reilly, Managing Director of the Norwich firm Principle Design & Engineering, who worked closely with Chobani in its development.
Kell said the project was just one of the many ways Chobani had taken an active role in the local community.
“For many years, we have looked to fund projects that strengthen communities where we live and work. We have supported the local community through a variety of projects in Chenango County, including a little league field in New Berlin, a community center in South Edmeston and a fitness course in Norwich,” said Chobani in a statement. “Additionally, we have supported the broader local community through an annual Community Impact Fund that invests in projects that expand economic opportunity and promote entrepreneurship, scholarships at Cornell University for students from farm families across New York, and funding the construction of a student-run greenhouse at Sherburne-Earlville High School.”
Construction for both the firehouse and community center is slated to begin later this year.
Pictured: Chobani's factory in Chenango County. (Submitted photo)
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