Geneva company wants to renovate former Syroco facility in Van Buren, create 70 jobs

VAN BUREN, N.Y. — Empire Polymer Solutions, LLC of Geneva is seeking to renovate the former Syroco site at 7528 State Fair Blvd in the town of Van Buren and create 70 jobs in the next five years.

The firm is looking for $2.4 million in tax breaks for the project from the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA), per a document in the meeting notes posted at the OCIDA website.

Empire Polymer Solutions brings an “innovative approach” to plastic processing and manufacturing, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon contended in a Tuesday news release announcing the firm’s interest in the facility.

The company is proposing to renovate and operate the 205,000-square-foot building. It plans to invest $7 million in the effort with projected employment of 70 jobs within the next five years.

Empire Polymer Solutions wants to use the facility to process and manufacture goods from recycled plastics, per a document in the meeting packet posted at the OCIDA website.

“…the area outside the building will be used for trailer parking, employee parking. No further buildings are planned on the lot. However, utilizing the rail spur and the silos are part of the business plan for finished goods storage and reduced shipping costs,” per the project description.

Empire Polymer Solutions was established when Frank Murphy, the owner of Empire Resource Recycling, decided to expand his existing business to create a “larger, more efficient, and sustainable business,” per the Empire Polymer website.

Syroco, short for the Syracuse Ornamental Company, was an American manufacturing company. It was best known for its molded wood-pulp products that resembled hand-carving. Founded in 1890 by immigrant Adolph Holstein, the Syracuse Ornamental Company specialized in decorative wood carving, especially for the local residential market, according to a description on the website of Syracuse University Libraries Special Collection Research Center.