Creates 21 jobs UTICA — Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. recently announced that the Oneida County Program Income Grant initiative awarded $431,650 in grants to local businesses for equipment purchases and production expansion this year. The funding contributed to job retention and led to the creation of 21 jobs, the county says. The […]
Creates 21 jobs
UTICA — Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. recently announced that the Oneida County Program Income Grant initiative awarded $431,650 in grants to local businesses for equipment purchases and production expansion this year.
The funding contributed to job retention and led to the creation of 21 jobs, the county says.
The Oneida County Program Income Grant program is designed to utilize the county’s New York State Office of Community Renewal program income funds to enhance flexibility and affordability and assist new and existing county businesses provide new job opportunities and retain existing jobs, per a county news release.
Assistance is offered as a grant to eligible businesses through Mohawk Valley EDGE. The program may encompass projects within microenterprise, small business, and economic-development frameworks as defined by the New York State Office of Community Renewal (NYSOCR) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) guidelines.
In 2019, the following businesses were awarded funding for the following initiatives:
• Riverhawk Company (New Hartford): $90,000 for a milling-equipment purchase for increased productivity and efficiency.
• Delta Hardwood Flooring (Boonville): $66,650 for inventory expansion for hardwood-floor finishing line.
• Joe’s Jerky (Sherrill): $50,000 for production-equipment purchases, capacity, and distribution upgrades.
• Square One Coating Systems (Whitestown): $50,000 for equipment purchases for expansion into new markets and efficiency upgrades.
• Paris Compression Molding (Marshall): $35,000 for equipment purchases for diversification and expansion into new markets.
• Audioptix (New Hartford): $35,000 for an equipment purchase for modernization as a creative production hub in Central New York.
• Adirondack Barrel Cooperage (Remsen): $35,000 for an equipment purchase for expansion and product customization.
• Willson’s Nursery of Waterville (Sangerfield): $35,000 for an automated filling machine for increased capacity and efficiency.
• Metal Parts Manufacturing (Trenton): $35,000 for a milling machine and upgrade for increased capacity and efficiency.
“Oneida County continues to leverage strategic investments that help our local businesses grow and thrive,” Picente said in the release. “We are pleased to have facilitated the awarding of this funding along with our partners at Mohawk Valley EDGE and I am pleased to see that it has resulted in a positive economic impact on our community.”
Steven DiMeo, president of Mohawk Valley EDGE added, “Capital in smaller dollar amounts is often difficult to access for our small business community. This partnership with Oneida County helps startup and existing companies provide new job opportunities, keep existing jobs and, ultimately, broaden the tax base of Oneida County.”
In order to qualify for the Oneida County Program Income Grant program, businesses must:
• Be involved in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, agri-business, high technology, research and development, and traditional and innovative small-business sectors.
• Fall into the business categories of: microenterprise (5 employees or less, including the owner(s)); small business (6-25 employees), or economic development (greater than 25 employees).
• Be located within Oneida County, but outside of the CDBG entitlement cities of Utica and Rome.
• Create jobs, which are available to, or held by, low- and moderate-income persons as defined by NYSOCR and CDBG guidelines. In the case of a microenterprise, if the owner of the applicant business is to be considered as a new job, he/she must meet low- or moderate-income CDBG guidelines at the time of application to the program.
Grant funding may be used for the purchase of capital assets such as production machinery and equipment, furniture, fixtures, and working-capital uses.