UTICA — The year 2012 brought a mix of business happenings across the Mohawk Valley ranging from expansion projects to plant closings and layoffs. The only constant among the news was that there was no constant as the region continued to work to overcome challenging economic times. Here is a run down of some of the news highlights as reported in The Mohawk Valley Business Journal.
JANUARY—FEBRUARY—MARCH
The year started with a mix of news heralding both growth and contraction at area companies.
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PAR Technology Corp. started the year by selling off its PAR Logistics Management Systems subsidiary to New Jersey–based ORBCOMM, Inc. in a $6 million deal. The subsidiary never generated the revenue PAR was hoping for and the company’s board decided to sell it as part of its strategic plan for long-term growth.
Early in the year, American Racing and Entertainment announced that 2011 revenue was up for its Vernon Downs race track. The track increased its earnings by $1.1 million and overall traffic to the complex, which includes a harness-racing track, casino, several restaurants, and a hotel, increased 11.6 percent.
ConMed Corporation (NASDAQ: CNMD) announced Feb. 29 it would begin paying dividends to its shareholders — a move that one analyst praised as an indication of the company’s strong cash flow. To date, ConMed has paid out 45 cents in dividends and expects to pay 60 cents for this first year of offering dividends.
Syracuse businessman James Ranalli, CEO of United Auto Supply, announced plans to develop a new distribution center at the former Bossert site located just off Route 12 in Utica.
The Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce landed a new executive director, Pamela Matt, who started in the position on March 1.
First Source Federal Credit Union opened a new branch March 1 in Rome. The branch is First Source’s fifth location in the Mohawk Valley.
APRIL—MAY—JUNE
Daimler Buses North America announced April 25 that it would stop manufacturing transit buses in North America. The company’s Orion Bus facility in Oriskany was slated to become a parts and service location. The facility had previously employed about 400 people.
The BOCES Consortium of Continuing Education and the Workforce Investment Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties teamed up to address a shortage of qualified candidates for manufacturing positions and offered a new 15-week training program. The program covers the basic skills required in manufacturing positions including industrial shop math, OSHA training, and basic computer operations.
Nirvana, Inc., a Boonville–based company that bottles natural spring water, landed a $4.3 million loan for new equipment that will help the company boost production by 67 percent and increase employment from 125 to 185 employees. The company expected to have the new equipment online by mid-June.
About two years after joining forces, IBOPE Zogby and Zogby International parted ways. IBOPE and Zogby merged in 2010 when IBOPE purchased a majority stake in the polling company founded by John Zogby. Zogby went on to join JZ Analytics in Utica as a senior adviser while IBOPE dropped the Zogby name and became IBOPE Inteligencia.
Midair USA announced plans to expand its Rome operations by leasing more hangar space from Oneida County and adding 125 new employees to its current roster of 300 employees. The company overhauls Boeing 747s for airlines to lease or purchase, and moved to Rome from San Antonia, Texas in 2005.
Rome–based roi Office Interiors expand into the Albany market with a new location at 50 State St., Albany, which opened in June, and Indium Corporation announced it would expand into Rome with a new 100,000-square-foot production facility at 5836 Success Dr.
JULY—AUGUST—SEPTEMBER
The F.X. Matt Brewing Co. went green when it launched a project to install an anaerobic digester at the Utica brewery. The digester will use waste products from the brewing process to generate between 30 percent and 40 percent of the electricity used at the brewery. The project will also reduce the company’s wastewater by 80 percent to 90 percent.
Tractor Supply Company, based in Brentwood, Tenn., announced plans to open a store in Herkimer on the former Skinner Auto site. The 19,097-square-foot store, which sells tools, animal feed, hardware, lawn equipment, and work clothing, opened in November.
Several area companies announced plans to grow. ICON Development Solutions, a pharmaceutical testing lab in Whitesboro, said it would add two labs that should boost employment and bring additional clients. Yorkville-based A&P Master Images listed $20,000 worth of new equipment, at least two new employees, and searching for a new larger location as the top items on its “to do” list for 2012. Utica’s PJ Green, Inc. added a new printing press to expand its services and attract new clients.
ConMed announced its own plans to expand through the acquisition of Massachusetts–based Viking Systems, Inc., a 3D video-system developer, in a $22.5 million deal. The acquisition paired Viking’s system with ConMed’s sales team and customers.
St. Elizabeth Medical Group and Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare nixed plans to merge into one large health-care organization. Instead, the two organizations continue discussions about integration options that would include a shared governance and generate cost savings.
Syracuse–based nonprofit On Point for College expanded into the Utica market with a location at 524 Elizabeth St. The organization helps low-income, homeless, and at-risk youth to attend college.
OCTOBER—NOVEMBER—DECEMBER
Rome Hospitality Group, LLC unveiled plans to purchase a 4.25 acre parcel of land in Griffiss Business and Technology Park from the Griffiss Local Development Corporation and build a 45,000-square-foot hotel.
The Oneida Indian Nation made news twice in the last quarter of the year. First, the nation took convenience to a new level at several of its SavOn Convenience Stores in early October by adding drive-thru kiosks for coffee, doughnuts, and tobacco sales. In November, the nation announced a $25 million expansion plan at its Turning Stone Resort Casino. The nation is constructing a new entertainment venue, dubbed Exit 33, which it expects to open in July 2013.
Harden Furniture began a project to modernize operations at its McConnellsville faculty with new equipment that will transform the company from an inventory-laden business to a “batch one” company that can complete orders as needed. Harden spent $500,000 in the first phase of the project to acquire a new machining center.
Christine’s Cookie Shoppe and Sugar Babes Cupcakes made the area a little sweeter when the owners joined forces to open a joint retail location on Nov. 1. Previously, both owners operated their businesses from their homes.
The Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired announced that an existing contract with a federal agency would expand and create 18 new jobs at the organization, which creates employment opportunities for people who are visually impaired or blind. The contract is worth $7.5 million over the next five years.
Contact DeLore at tdelore@tmvbj.com
