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Companies Get Grants to Create 45 Jobs

Three others awarded $1.3 million by state

By Matt Glynn

August 17, 2010
 

Two area companies planning to add a total of 45 jobs were awarded grants of $100,000 each by Empire State Development Corp. to support their growth plans.

Empire State Development, the state’s economic development arm, approved grants for StudentVoice LLC in Buffalo and Inscape in Falconer. The agency’s board also approved grants worth a total of $1.3 million for three other employers.

StudentVoice provides colleges and universities nationwide assessment and consulting services. The company said it will invest $350,000 to reconfigure its Ellicott Street space, buy more equipment and add 20 employees to its full-time staff of 37.

Inscape designs and makes movable wall systems for the commercial office industry. The Chautauqua County company plans to spend $3 million to acquire and renovate the building it leases, as well as to buy new machinery and equipment.

Inscape plans to retain 66 full-time jobs and add 25 jobs over three years, according to Empire State Development. The company also will receive $305,000 in Empire Zone investment tax credits.

Officials with the two companies could not be reached Monday to comment.

Dennis Mullen, Empire State Development’s chairman and CEO, said in a statement that Inscape and Student- Voice are “terrific examples of how giving small businesses the tools they need to prosper can lead to job creation and increased productivity.”

At Monday’s meeting in Buffalo, Empire State Development Corp.’s board of directors approved grants totaling $1.3 million for three other Buffalo Niagara companies: Buffalo Wire Works, Cannon Design and TAM Ceramics Group of NY.

The three companies say they are

adding about 100 jobs altogether.

Buffalo Wire Works will apply its $500,000 grant toward purchasing a previously leased facility on Clinton Street and its subsequent renovation and expansion. The project is estimated at $4 million.

Buffalo Wire Works said it had been considering an expansion in Alabama or Mexico, but instead will relocate machinery from its plant in Alabama to Buffalo. The company said it will retain 61 jobs and has already created 40 new jobs.

Cannon Design was awarded up to $400,000 to expand its Grand Island headquarters. It plans to add 33 jobs to its work force of 217 people. Cannon will apply the grant toward renovations and reconfiguration of its offices, a project valued at nearly $5 million.

TAM Ceramics Group in Niagara Falls is using its $400,000 grant to help with the cost of acquiring TAM Ceramics, which was considered in danger of closing or sale at liquidation under previous ownership.

The previously announced purchase would allow TAM to retain 50 jobs and add 25 positions. The project is valued at $5 million.

Empire State Development also is selling one of three remaining office parcels in Bryant Woods Office Park in Amherst to Professional Emergency Services PLLC. The venture, which operates the MedFirst Urgent Care Clinic, plans to build its administrative center at the site.