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Home > Research Center > Expansion/Downsizing > 2010 Archive > January 2010

January 2010

In Buffalo Niagara, there's an opportunity around every corner.  The Expansions and Contractions report produced by the NYS DOL for Western New York contains information derived from local newspapers.

EXPANSIONS & OPENINGS

Tops Markets bid to buy out Penn Traffic, the parent company of Quality Markets, has been accepted by the bankrupt company’s creditors committee and accepted by a Delaware bankruptcy court. The deal will more than double the size of the local grocery chain and save hundreds of local jobs. (January 25,2010-The Buffalo News)

 First Wind, the company behind the Steel Winds project, will construct six new windmills on the old Bethlehem Steel in Hamburg (Erie County) site this year. Currently there are eight 400 foot tall windmills on the site. The Thruway Authority has also announced it will seek proposals form the wind turbine industry to assess the feasibility of constructing smaller windmills at six Thruway sites in Western New York. (January 10, 2010-The Buffalo News)
 
New Era Cap Co. announced that it plans to keep the Derby (Erie County) plant open, preserving 330 local jobs. Last November, the company announced it was consolidating its U.S. operations and would close a production facility, either in Derby or Demopolis Alabama. The deal swung in Derby’s favor when the Communications Workers of America, the union that represents the workers at the local plant, agreed to a series of “operational efficiencies and cost savings”. The company will also receive about $3 million from the state’s Empire State Development program. Those concessions are subject to a ratification vote on February 12th. If the vote is turned down, the Derby plant’s fate could be back in doubt. As sales increase, up to 100 jobs could be added to the local plant, and workers from Demopolis will be offered those jobs first. (January 28, 2010-The Buffalo News)
 
President Obama announced that the high-speed rail line from Niagara Falls to New York City will receive $151 million, making New York State the eighth-largest recipient of the funds among 31 states. The federal stimulus money will be used for a series of projects along the Empire Corridor. (January 28, 2010-The Buffalo News)
 
A Lancaster (Erie county) electronics manufacturer that had been courted by development officials in Michigan and the South is poised to remain in the Buffalo-Niagara region with the promise of nearly $70,000 in tax savings. Polyfusion Electronics , a 36-employee company that makes specialized electronics assemblies, will reject offers to move out of the region if the Lancaster Industrial Development Agency approves the aid as expected. The company will retain the current employees, and as business picks up, plans to hire additional employees. (January 28, 2010-The Buffalo News)
 
  
LAYOFFS & CLOSINGS
 
American Steamship in Williamsville (Erie County) filed a WARN notice with the Department of Labor on December 23rd, 2009. The shipping and transportation company will potentially layoff about 319 workers between 3/25/10 to 4/7/10.