Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.
New York announces new name for health-benefit exchange
The New York Health Benefit Exchange, the state’s health-insurance exchange under the federal health-care reform law, is now called “NY State of Health.” Donna
Justice Department awards Vera House grant to combat domestic violence
SYRACUSE — The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded Vera House, Inc. a grant of $350,000 to support its work to combat domestic, dating,
Syracuse CVB president to serve on national travel board
SYRACUSE — The Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) announced that David Holder, president, has been selected to serve on the United States Travel Association’s
Mexico Health Center to relocate temporarily to Oswego
OSWEGO — Northern Oswego County Health Services, Inc. (NOCHSI) announced that its Mexico Health Center will move temporarily to Oswego Health Center starting on Aug.
Upstate University Hospital purchases UV light-cleaning technology for patient rooms
SYRACUSE — Upstate University Hospital on Friday said it’s been using ultraviolet (UV) light devices when cleaning patient rooms and public restrooms. The technology
Ithaca firm wins Navy contract to improve software security
ITHACA — The U.S. Navy has awarded Ithaca–based GrammaTech, Inc. a contract to develop a tool that will enable computer systems to understand and react
NYPA issues report on building energy use in New York
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) recently announced the completion of a report on the energy use of New York government buildings that provides a
Feldmeier Equipment to build new plant in Little Falls, create 80 new jobs
LITTLE FALLS —Feldmeier Equipment, Inc. of DeWitt, which specializes in the fabrication of stainless-steel storage and processing equipment, today began construction on a “significant” expansion of the company’s operations in Little Falls. Gov. Andrew Cuomo today announced the project in a news release. The expansion will result in the creation of 80 new
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LITTLE FALLS —Feldmeier Equipment, Inc. of DeWitt, which specializes in the fabrication of stainless-steel storage and processing equipment, today began construction on a “significant” expansion of the company’s operations in Little Falls.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo today announced the project in a news release.
The expansion will result in the creation of 80 new jobs and the retention of nearly 300 existing jobs.
The $8 million project consists of constructing and equipping a new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility along the Riverside Industrial Parkway, along with additional investment in machinery and equipment at Feldmeier’s existing facilities in Little Falls and DeWitt.
“Growing up in Little Falls, I have always considered it home,” Robert Feldmeier, Sr., founder of Feldmeier Equipment, Inc., said in the news release. “My father worked in this town, [and] my business career started here. It is an important part of Feldmeier’s history and future. We want to see it grow and prosper.”
The projects will make the company “more competitive” and help it maintain a “strong presence” in the Northeast, according to the governor’s office.
“The creation of this new facility and added investment in the company’s existing local operations not only support the creation and retention of nearly 400 jobs, but it also furthers the commitment that this family-run company has made to New York State and our other industries such as breweries and yogurt producers,” Cuomo said in the news release.
Empire State Development (ESD), New York’s primary economic-development agency, is supporting the expansion and upgrades with a total investment of $750,000 through the combination of a $200,000 capital grant and $550,000 in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits.
Both incentives are performance-based and tied to project completion and job-creation commitments. ESD’s assistance was “necessary” in order to keep the expansion in New York, according to the governor’s office.
Feldmeier Equipment also has manufacturing facilities in Alabama, Iowa, and Nevada, the state said.
The Herkimer County location competed with sites in both Iowa and Nevada for this expansion. ESD believes 190 existing jobs in New York were “at risk” if the firm decided to expand at either out-of-state site.
The family-owned operation began in 1952 when founder Robert Feldmeier, Sr. developed the world’s first Triple Tube Heat Exchanger. Since then, a long list of innovative and patented ideas helped Feldmeier to emerge as “an industry leader for stainless steel processing equipment,” the governor’s office said.
Today, the company services the pharmaceutical, biotech, cosmetic, food, and dairy industries with five facilities throughout the U.S.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
Upstate Shredding acquires Ithaca scrap yard
ITHACA — Upstate Shredding, LLC, the largest, privately owned scrap dealer on the East Coast, and its sister business Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc. announced the acquisition of the assets of Reamer Recycling, Inc. in Ithaca. The all-cash transaction will close in about a month, Upstate Shredding said in a news release. It didn’t
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ITHACA — Upstate Shredding, LLC, the largest, privately owned scrap dealer on the East Coast, and its sister business Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc. announced the acquisition of the assets of Reamer Recycling, Inc. in Ithaca.
The all-cash transaction will close in about a month, Upstate Shredding said in a news release. It didn’t disclose the price or other financial terms.
The company’s post-purchase plans include paving the facility, renovating its buildings, and installing new equipment, Adam Weitsman, president of Upstate Shredding and Ben Weitsman, said in the release.
“We will also be landscaping the property and installing brand new fencing as we make this location much more aesthetically appealing for the neighbors and the community,” Weitsman said.
Bill Reamer, Reamer Recycling’s former owner, will “stay on” to assist the incoming management team during the short transition period. Reamer owned the recycling company, located at 105 Cherry St., for about 12 years.
The site has been home to recycling operations for more than 75 years, according to Upstate Shredding. An earlier owner, Wallace Industries, sold the business to Reamer in 2002.
The new Upstate Shredding operation is the firm’s second location in Ithaca, joining the nearby steel-distribution center at 132 Cherry St.
In addition to the Ithaca facilities, Ben Weitsman also operates New York scrap yards in Syracuse, Binghamton, Owego, Rochester, Albany, Allegany, and Jamestown, along with Pennsylvania locations in New Castle and Scranton.
The Albany location, a retail-scrap yard and export-shipping facility at the Port of Albany, opened last weekend.
The firm also has plans to build a new scrap-metal recycling facility in Liberty in Sullivan County.
Upstate Shredding also plans to install a shredder at the scrap yard in New Castle, Pa. The company maintains its primary shredder at the location in Owego.
The company expects to process 1 million tons of ferrous scrap and 200 million pounds of nonferrous scrap by 2014.
The Upstate Shredding and Ben Weitsman plan for expansion includes additional yards in both New York and Pennsylvania.
Discussions on future possible acquisitions are under way, the business said.
Upstate Shredding-Ben Weitsman generated more than $500 million in revenue in 2012.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
EFC okays loans for wastewater-improvement project in Union Springs
The New York State Environmental Facilities Corp. (EFC) has approved a low-cost financing package to improve the wastewater treatment and collection systems in the Cayuga County village of Union Springs. The EFC board of directors approved an interest-free loan worth more than $560,000, along with an additional three-year loan of a similar amount at
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The New York State Environmental Facilities Corp. (EFC) has approved a low-cost financing package to improve the wastewater treatment and collection systems in the Cayuga County village of Union Springs.
The EFC board of directors approved an interest-free loan worth more than $560,000, along with an additional three-year loan of a similar amount at market rates for a total three-year financing package of more than $1.1 million, the agency said in a news release.
EFC is the arm of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration that provides low-cost financing to help local governments afford new wastewater and drinking-water infrastructure.
EFC helps communities like Union Springs afford water-quality projects at interest rates that aren’t available to smaller communities, Matthew Driscoll, president and CEO of EFC, said in the news release.
“We use our Triple-A credit rating and with more than $13 billion in assets to operate the largest revolving-loan fund in the country and help local governments in New York state to protect public health, improve the environment, and create the infrastructure necessary for economic growth,” Driscoll said.
Driscoll is a former mayor of the city of Syracuse.
Union Springs plans to install new pumps and make improvements to the grit-removal and coarse-solids handling systems in the village’s wastewater-treatment plant. Crews will also line about 4,000 linear feet of gravity sewer to prevent water from infiltrating the wastewater-collection system, according to EFC.
A gravity-sewer system is used to collect wastewater from multiple sources, which then uses gravity to convey the wastewater to a central location, according to the Water Environment Research Foundation, an Alexandria, Va.–based scientific-research organization that focuses on stormwater and wastewater issues.
Union Springs will also install flow meters on existing sewer lines at three locations.
The project won’t increase the size of the present sewer system or treatment plant, EFC said. Once the work is finished in 2015, it is anticipated that EFC will refinance the short-term loans with a 30-year financing package, the agency said.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.