The Peru Gazette

Batavia ranks 4th and Plattsburgh, Ogdensburg and Massena tie for 8th place in Site Selection magazine’s rankings for Corporate Facility Investment

Empire State Development today congratulated communities in the Finger Lakes and the North Country regions receiving national recognition by Site Selection magazine, a corporate real estate and economic development publication, as Top Micropolitan Areas for Corporate Facility Investment in 2014. According to the magazine’s report, Batavia in the Finger Lakes ranked 4th and Plattsburgh, Ogdensburg and Massena in the North Country have tied for 8th place for the number of projects in the communities that have led to additional investment or job creation.

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Nominee Howard Zemsky said, “This is a great honor for Batavia, Plattsburgh, Massena and Ogdensburg, and for New York State as a whole. These communities were competing against several hundred micropolitans around the country and to rank in the top 10 is a testament to the strengthened business environment under Governor Cuomo’s leadership and the unprecedented collaboration across the State, regional and local levels to attract investment and create jobs.”

The magazine’s ranking of Top Micropolitans included areas with a population of 10,000 to 50,000 that cover at least one county, using U.S. Census data. The rankings are based on Site Selection’s New Plant Database and are focused on new corporate facility projects or expansions with significant impact. The projects must meet at least one of three criteria: involve a capital investment of at least $1 million, create at least 20 new jobs, or add at least 20,000 square feet of new floor area.
Steve Hyde, President and CEO of the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) said, “Throughout 2014, we continued to see tremendous growth in Batavia and Genesee County as a result of our strategic business attraction and expansion efforts to generate capital investment and create more job opportunities. Further development of the Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP), among several other shovel-ready sites, will remain a top priority on our agenda as we move forward into 2015.”

Paul A. Grasso, Jr., President & CEO of The Development Corporation, said, “The regional economic development approach is clearly working given that three communities in the North Country made into the Top 10. Our accomplishments are the result of a collaborative effort through which we defined our community, invested in our community, and targeted effectively. As such, Greater Plattsburgh has a vibrant business community with a level of business acumen many might be surprised to find in a rural area.”

Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce and Co-Chair of the North Country Regional Economic Development Council, said, “This recognizes success over the last year, which is very gratifying for our area economic development team. But even more importantly, it is the latest confirmation that our economic development strategies are on the right track and need to be carried forward, especially the continued deepening and broadening of our special economic connections with Quebec. And with Ogdensburg and Massena in the top group along with Plattsburgh, I believe it provides confirmation that Governor Cuomo’s regional approach to economic development is truly working in the North Country. Better yet, success brings success, and this sort of a national spotlight on us will definitely reinforce our marketing and attract fresh interest. Onward and upward!”

Patrick J. Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency said, “New York’s North Country is establishing itself as a business development location where the communities, colleges, developers and State understand how to work together to help both our existing companies and those firms which are looking for new facilities. Looking forward, we expect this trend will continue with the new low-cost power and specialized economic development resources made available for St. Lawrence County through the New York Power Authority’s Power Proceeds Allocation program. With our border location, quality workforce, available facilities, aggressive programs and coordinated approach to development, there’s never been a better time to look at St. Lawrence County.”

Site Selection, the 61-year-old Atlanta-based magazine published by Conway Inc. is a corporate real estate and economic development publication, and also the official publication of the Global FDI Association (www.globalfdia.org) and the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC, at www.iamc.org). The magazine delivers expansion planning information to 48,000 executives of fast-growing firms and its yearly analyses are regarded by corporate real estate analysts as “the industry scoreboard.” The magazine’s circulation base consists of 48,000 subscribers, most of whom are involved in corporate site selection decisions at the CEO/President/COO level.