Oneida County Grant Program Awards $431,000 to Local Businesses, Creates 21 Jobs

Nine Companies Purchased Equipment, Expanded Production & Retained Jobs

Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. announced today that the Oneida County Program Income Grant program awarded $431,650 to local businesses for equipment purchase and production expansion this year, which contributed to job retention and led to the creation of 21 jobs.

“Oneida County continues to leverage strategic investments that help our local businesses grow and thrive,” Picente said. “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.”

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.

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 Community Development Block Grant guidelines.

In 2019, the flowing businesses were awarded funding:

• Riverhawk Company (New Hartford): $90,000 for 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 equipment purchase for modernization as a creative production hub in Central New York.
• Adirondack Barrel Cooperage (Remsen): $35,000 for equipment purchase for expansion and product customization.
• Willson’s Nursery of Waterville (Sangerfield): $35,000 for automated filling machine for increased capacity and efficiency.
• Metal Parts Manufacturing (Trenton): $35,000 for milling machine and upgrade for increase capacity and efficiency.

“Capital in smaller dollar amounts is often difficult to access for our small business community,” said Steven DiMeo, President of Mohawk Valley EDGE. “This partnership with Oneida County helps startup and existing companies provide new jobs 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 (LMI) 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.