OSWEGO, N.Y. — A pair of Oswego County economic-development organizations provided help for projects that resulted in the creation or retention of 1,495 jobs, with more than $447 million in capital investment associated with 38 new, expanded, or retained facilities. Austin Wheelock, executive director of Operation Oswego County (OOC), was speaking about OOC and the […]
OSWEGO, N.Y. — A pair of Oswego County economic-development organizations provided help for projects that resulted in the creation or retention of 1,495 jobs, with more than $447 million in capital investment associated with 38 new, expanded, or retained facilities.
Austin Wheelock, executive director of Operation Oswego County (OOC), was speaking about OOC and the County of Oswego IDA, or COIDA. His comment was part of Operation Oswego County’s 71st annual meeting held June 15 at the Lake Ontario Event and Conference Center in Oswego.
Ellen Holst, president of the OOC board of directors, welcomed about 135 representatives of businesses, government, education, labor, and other ally organizations to the meeting.
In the keynote address, Matthew Serrao, production manager for coating at Felix Schoeller North America, discussed the firm’s current expansion project in Pulaski, along with its history and how it has adapted over the past 60 years in Oswego County.
Projects
Operation Oswego County also used the annual meeting to outline about 20 projects that are underway in Oswego County, including the Felix Schoeller expansion, Novelis’ plans to construct two buildings in the town of Scriba, and Market House 1886 Brewing in Oswego, which is renovating a three-story building along the Oswego River.
In addition, Highland Animal Hospital in Central Square is under new ownership and pursuing an expansion project that includes the construction of a 7,200-square-foot building. The new structure will double the animal-care center’s available space. The expansion of this woman-owned business also includes the addition of a veterinary urgent-care center. The more than $3.5 million effort will create 14 jobs.
The projects discussed at the meeting also include Fairway Billiards, a startup pool hall in the town of Granby, which took on a $150,000 effort to renovate a leased former banquet facility. The updated venue will be available for both recreational play and for American Pool Association sanctioned tournaments. COIDA provided financial assistance, OOC noted.
OOC also assisted Stress BioAnalytics in Oswego with a $40,000 project that created three jobs. Stress BioAnalytics is a biotech startup at OOC’s Business Expansion Center. The business measures stress molecules in hair and fingernails for research institutions. The project was also a participant in the Next Great Idea 2021 Oswego County Business Plan Competition.
Awards
Operation Oswego County also used the occasion to announce several awards.
OOC honored SUNY Oswego with the Ally Award in “recognition and appreciation of the vision, commitment and leadership exhibited … for the benefit of the student body and the Oswego County community.”
The organization also recognized Felix Schoeller North America with the Business Excellence Award for 2023 “in recognition and appreciation for demonstrating outstanding leadership and commitment in operating and expanding” Felix Schoeller in Oswego County.
OOC also presented St. Luke Health Services with the Jobs Award for its “significant” contribution and economic impact of St. Luke Health Services on the Oswego County economy.
Brenden Backus, Kevin Dates, and Stephen Dates received OOC’s 2023 Dee Heckethorn Entrepreneur Award for their “entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and dedication” in opening the first distillery in Oswego County since prohibition; for establishing Lock 1 Distilling Company, a state farm distillery, in Phoenix in 2017; for adding new products made with locally sourced ingredients and promoting other local businesses; for receiving 16 awards at several spirits competitions since 2017; and for enhancing the tourism industry in the village of Phoenix, OOC said.
OOC honored Thomas Greco with the 2023 Martin Rose Economic Developer Merit Award for his “outstanding” record of exhibiting leadership, expertise, support and cooperation in advancing economic and community-development efforts in Oswego County and in Central New York; for his dedication and commitment to the financial services industry for over 20 years as a mortgage loan originator; for serving on the Operation Oswego County board of directors since 1986; and for having been a small business owner and licensed commercial real-estate appraiser; and for serving on numerous boards and organizations that are vital to economic development and the quality of life such as the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce, the Central New York Mortgage Bankers Association, the Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors, and the Fulton Kiwanis Club.