The Peru Gazette

Quebec-Based Company Opens In Upstate New York And Creates 24 New Jobs 

Empire State Development today announces the grand opening of Northstar, LLC’s multi-use facility, as they welcome their first tenant, Quebec-based Plastitel Products, Inc. The former Pfizer property closed in 2009 and local investment firm Northstar LLC purchased the R&D building in 2013 from the Clinton Industrial Development Acquisition, LLC (CIDA). The sale and completion of the project was made possible by an operation subsidiary grant of up to $1.2 million from Empire State Development (ESD). The grant provided CIDA the funds to maintain and market the facility for two-years and encourage new long-term economic development investments and job growth at the site.

Northstar’s first tenant, Plastitel Products, brings 24 net new thermoforming and advanced technology jobs to Upstate New York. Of the 24 jobs, 12 are already in place and the remaining 12 must be in place by the end of 2015. The Chazy facility is Plastitel’s first location in New York and in the U.S. Plastitel joins the growing number of transportation equipment companies locating in the North Country region.

“Our investment in advanced technology and manufacturing are paying off and we are excited to welcome a global company like Plastitel Products to New York State,” said ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky. “By collaborating with local and regional partners, we have created new technology jobs and significant growth potential for the North Country communities.”

Plastitel’s expansion into Northstar’s building was made possible by Empire State Development’s Excelsior Jobs Program, which provided up to $100,000 in credits for Plastitel to invest $305,000 in the facility. Plastitel’s investments have included new machinery, renovations, and other equipment to lay the groundwork for a plastics thermoforming manufacturing operation, useful in the transportation equipment and medical industries. A number of science, bio-tech R&D, incubator, warehouse, and distribution capabilities have also been added to the facility.

“Plastitel and its thermoplastic technology is a welcome addition to our local supply chain that supports the transportation, medical and industrial sectors,” said Paul A. Grasso, Jr., President and CEO of The Development Corporation.

“Thank you Northstar LLC for recognizing the potential of the old Pfizer property. Thank you also to The Governor, County and Local Officials for their support. We all welcome Plastitel to the North Country,” said Clinton County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) Chairperson Trent Trahan.

Local business investors Victor and Stephen Podd of Northstar entered into contract with Clinton Industrial Development Acquisition, LLC (CIDA) for the purchase of the former Pfizer Chazy Property in May 2012.

“This development would not have been conceivable without the help of the Governor and the team at Empire State Development, Trent Trahan and The Clinton County Industrial Development Agency, as well The Development Corporation.  In addition we cannot express how thankful we are for the assistance and guidance received from Garry Douglas and the North Country Chamber of Commerce, which they continue to do on a daily basis”, said Stephen Podd of Northstar.

Victor Podd of Northstar said, “We believe this is the first of many steps to the development of The Northstar Technology Center, to bring back good paying jobs along with other additional benefits by having this facility fully operational. This also has been evident by the support from the community, Chazy School Supervisor John Fairchild and Chazy Town Supervisor Mark Henry, who we thank for all their assistance.”

“Plastitel is the latest example of a Quebec company choosing the North Country as a supportive environment for its U.S. operations,” states Garry Douglas, president of the North Country Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of the North Country Regional Economic Development Council. “The Chamber has had the pleasure of working with Plastitel for the past year, helping them with all aspects of succeeding in the U.S. through our Red Carpet process, and they are an excellent new member of our industrial community. Even better, they are the first industrial tenant at the former Pfizer site in Chazy, beginning a process of redevelopment there which has been a priority for our entire team since we, and the Clinton County IDA with support from Empire State Development, were able to help save the site and facilitate its transfer to Northstar.

“We are extremely pleased to learn of the success of Northstar Private Capital LLC in attracting Plastitel Products to the former Pfizer property in Chazy,” said Samuel R. Dyer, chairman of the Clinton County Legislature. “The community worked diligently to make this facility available for new companies and it is gratifying to welcome Plastitel Products and the 24 new job opportunities to the North Country. We are confident that they will be pleased with their decision to locate here.”

The Chazy community and the North Country Regional Economic Development Council supported this project, as it is consistent with its regional strategic plan to promote and encourage new biotech and pharma-related investments in the region.

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency (www.esd.ny.gov). The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I Love NY,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.nyworks.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.