Brooks Announces Projects Approved By COMIDA

Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks announced that the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA) approved assistance for nine local economic development projects.

“COMIDA is an important partner in our community, helping to create jobs and grow our local economy by supporting local business.” said Brooks.

The following projects were approved by COMIDA:

Corning Tropel Corporation (Sales Tax Only)
57-60 O’Connor Road
Fairport, New York 14450

Corning Tropel Corp., a manufacturer of precision optics and metrology instruments, has a number of initiatives and opportunities that will drive growth over the next five years. To accommodate this growth, Corning proposes to move existing functions, including a machine shop and the metrology instruments business to a leased facility at 57 O’Connor Road in the Town of Perinton. Corning will then renovate and expand its headquarters at 60 O’Connor Road. The $2.75 million project will expand clean room space and manufacturing capacity for lasers and other light sources, as well as optical measurement instruments. The project will impact 197 existing employees and is expected to create 55 new FTEs over the next three years.

Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired-Goodwill Industries
of Greater Rochester, Inc. (Civic Facility Bond)
422 South Clinton Avenue
Rochester, New York 14620

Project Locations: Sweden, Webster, Brockport & Rochester

In September 2006, the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Goodwill (ABVI) was approved for a $2,750,000 bond to construct a new 26,000
square foot facility at 1807 Nathanial Poole Trail in the Town of Sweden t0
house a Goodwill store, a donation and processing center, and vision
rehabilitation and other services. The bond project has been expanded to
encompass 1) the acquisition of a 20,280 square foot warehouse at Champeney
Terrace in the City of Rochester to be used as a processing center for donated
goods, 2) the acquisition and renovation of a 21,869 square foot building at
526-546 S. Clinton Avenue in the City of Rochester for consolidation of its call
center and 3) the acquisition of a 3.1 acre parcel at1067 Ridge Road in the
Town of Webster for construction of a 23,766 square foot building to be used as
a new Goodwill store. ABVI is seeking approval of an $8 Million Tax- Exempt
Civic Facility Bond to finance the project.

National Ambulance & Oxygen Services, Inc. (Sales Tax Only)
dba Rural Metro Medical Services
177 University Avenue
Rochester, New York 14605

Rural Metro Medical Services (Rural Metro) has provided 911 ambulance services to the City of Rochester for the past 19 years. Rural Metro also provides emergency medical and transportation services for individual facilities and has mutual aid agreements with Monroe County volunteer organizations. Rural Metro will be purchasing 12 new ambulances at a combined cost of $720,000. Rural Metro employs 190 FTE in Monroe County and expects to create 12 new full time positions. The company is seeking exemption from sales tax only.

Windheim Tool Co., Inc. (Sales Tax Only)
43 Marway Circle
Rochester, New York 14624

Windheim Tool Co., Inc. (Windheim Tool) has been providing tooling products and related supplies to the machining industry since 1949. Windheim Tool is proposing to purchase new computer and phone systems for a combined cost of $157,000. Windheim Tool employs 9 FTE in Monroe County and expects to create 1 new full time position. The company has been approved for a GreatRate on the purchase through the Monroe County Industrial Development Corporation and is seeking approval of the EquiPlus.

North Forest Properties #3, LLC (Lease/leaseback)
8201 Main Street, #12
Williamsville, New York 14221

Project Location: 461 Penbrooke Drive
Penfield, New York 14526

North Forest Properties #3, LLC (NFP) is proposing to build an 8,000 square foot office building in the Town of Penfield. The building will house the Active Day Habilitation Program of Continuing Developmental Services, a not-for-profit agency that supports people with developmental disabilities. Day habilitation services include clinical services such as nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral services. This $900,000 project will impact 21 existing employees and is projected to create 2 new FTEs within three years. The applicant seeks approval of JobsPlus property tax abatement based on the use of 100% local labor and suppliers to construct the project. The Jobs Plus job creation requirement is 2 FTE.

The Harley School (Tax Exempt Civic Facility Bond)
1981 Clover Street
Rochester, New York 14618

The Harley School, a 501(c)3 college preparatory, independent day
school, was established in 1917. In 2005, Harley completed a $12
million renovation and expansion project which included classrooms,
theaters, the field house, swimming pool and libraries. The proposed
$10 million project will included $3 million for modernization of the
science wing, roof work and other renovations, and will refinance the
existing $7 million debt for the 2005 project. This project will impact
117 existing FTEs. The applicant is seeking up to $10 million in tax
exempt civic facility bonds.

Casa Larga Vineyards (EquiPlus)
2287 Turk Hill Road
Fairport, New York 14450

Casa Larga Vineyards (Casa Larga) is a family owned winery established by Andrew Colaruotolo in 1974. Located on 45 acres in the Town of Perinton, Casa Larga is the only winery in Monroe County. Casa Larga is proposing to make internal renovations and purchase additional wine manufacturing equipment totaling $195,000. Casa Larga employs 18 FTE in Monroe County and expects to create 2 new full time positions. The company has been approved for a GreatRate on the equipment purchase through the Monroe County Industrial Development Corporation and is seeking approval of the EquiPlus.

Elmer W. Davis (EquiPlus)
1217 Clifford Avenue
Rochester, New York 14621

Elmer W. Davis Inc. (Elmer Davis) is a commercial roofing contractor located in the City of Rochester. Elmer Davis will be purchasing a boom truck crane, 4 new service trucks, a rock vacuum and a portable generator. The combined cost of the equipment is $479,000. Elmer Davis employs 54 FTE and will be creating 4 new full time positions. Elmer Davis has been approved for a GreatRebate through Monroe County Industrial Development Corporation and is seeking approval of the EquiPlus.

Solid Surfaces, Inc. (EquiPlus)
900 Jefferson Road, Suite 504
Rochester, New York 14623

Solid Surfaces, Inc. was founded in 1982 and is located in the Genesee Regional Market in the Town of Henrietta. SS is a manufacturer of solid surface products (Corian, granite, Zodiaq, HiMacs, Avonite) used in commercial and residential projects. SS currently employs 90 within Monroe County and will be creating 5 new FTEs within two years. SS will be making $230,000 in equipment purchases including a water filtration system, dust booths, phone system and shaper/polisher. The company seeks EquiPlus on phone system purchases, and has been approved for a GreatRate on the purchases through the Monroe County Industrial Development Corporation. SS has previously used the GreatRate/Rebate/Equiplus programs, and has grown from 48 employees in 2004.

Merlin International Corp. (EquiPlus)
1555 Brooks Avenue
Rochester, New York 14624

Merlin International Corp. (Merlin) provides high quality on-demand four color printing and related services. Merlin is relocating to 50 Bermar Park in the Town of Gates and will be renovating the facility at a cost of $134,500. Merlin will also be purchasing a Xeikon 5000 Digital Press for $230,000. The company is seeking sales tax exemption on the renovation costs. The Company will be creating 2 new full time positions. Merlin has been approved for a GreatRebate through Monroe County Industrial Development Corporation and is seeking approval of the EquiPlus.

The EquiPlus program combines the investment incentives of the GreatRate and GreatRebate programs with the sales tax exemptions offered through COMIDA. Companies that receive GreatRate or GreatRebate benefits through MCIDC for the purchase of equipment can receive an additional sales tax exemption on the purchase of that equipment through COMIDA.

JobsPlus is a tax abatement program that, in addition to sales tax exemption and/or mortgage tax exemption, provides 90% abatement on increased assessment associated with the project in the first year, decreasing 10% per year for a ten-year period.

COMIDA is a not-for-profit, public benefit corporation and governmental agency. Its purpose is to actively promote, encourage, attract and develop job opportunities in the community, by encouraging established businesses to expand locally and attracting new industries to the Monroe County area. COMIDA incentives apply toward the purchase of land and construction of new facilities, the expansion of existing buildings, the purchase of new machinery and equipment, as well as the renovation of existing facilities.
COMIDA does not lend any money to these projects, and projects receiving assistance are required to use 100% local labor. Assistance is provided through tax exemptions and abatements, and access to lower interest rates through tax-exempt bond issues. COMIDA provides this assistance without any taxpayer dollars. Income is generated by the fees charged to applicants. These monies have been reinvested in the community to advance economic growth and job creation.