January 28, 2011

Picente: Grant will help McDonough Hardwoods create 21 Jobs

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Jr. announced today that McDonough Hardwoods, LLC, has received a $315,000 community development block grant. The Office of Community Renewal administers the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for the State of New York. The NYS CDBG program provides financial assistance to eligible cities, towns, and villages. The grant will assist the company with working capital as well as create 21 new jobs. The total cost of the project will be $4.5 million.

The saw mill of the previously existing business, McDonough Lumber, was destroyed by fire in August of 2008. Oneida County worked with its economic development partner, Mohawk Valley EDGE, to secure and administer the grant. “We are pleased to welcome back Dan McDonough, one of the former owners of McDonough Lumber. Small business is the cornerstone of our community, and Dan has a proven record as a successful business person in this community. We hope that this grant will facilitate growth and further success for McDonough Hardwoods,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Jr.

McDonough Hardwoods owner Dan McDonough said that, “Without the support of County Executive Picente, the Board of Legislators and local leaders, too numerous to list, these jobs would be permanently lost. I would like to give a special thanks to the people at Mohawk Valley EDGE, the USDA and Rome Savings Bank, whose financial participation has made this project possible.”

“Many companies in the Mohawk Valley have struggled through adversity and McDonough Hardwoods of Vernon Center is no exception. They have risen literally out of the ashes after a fire in 2008, and with the help of a NYS Office of Community Renewal Grant they are now able to rebuild,” said Steve DiMeo, president of Mohawk Valley EDGE. “The wood products industry is a large part of our region’s economy and this project will contribute to the continued success of that industry.”

McDonough Hardwoods, LLC, will utilize state-of-the-art technology to extract the maximum amount of high quality hard wood lumber from each log, which will not only enhance the profitability of the business, but also reduce the overall amount of waste material generated through its operations.

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