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Corning plant in DeKalb celebrates job expansions with politicians, NYPA officials

Posted 8/22/14

Representatives of Corning Incorporated, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Empire State Development (ESD) joined with local officials in Canton on Thursday to formally commence the start of …

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Corning plant in DeKalb celebrates job expansions with politicians, NYPA officials

Posted

Representatives of Corning Incorporated, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Empire State Development (ESD) joined with local officials in Canton on Thursday to formally commence the start of Corning’s expansion project, which will lead to 40 new jobs at the site.

DEKALB -- Politicians and NYPA officials gathered and the Corning plant in DeKalb to celebrate an expansion that will add 40 new jobs.

The $21 million capital expansion project is supported by a state economic development package.

NYPA trustees recently approved the more than 2-MW allocation of hydropower to Corning under a seven-year contract.

Another key element of the state’s support for Corning’s expansion and job creation project—a $750,000 tax incentive from ESD—is being provided through ESD’s Excelsior Jobs Program.

Corning’s Canton facility also benefits from a 2.2-MW allocation of ReCharge NY power, which was approved by the NYPA trustees in April 2012 in exchange for the firm’s commitment to retain approximately 200 positions at the facility.

Corning is expanding its Canton facility by roughly 24,000 square feet and a separate on-site building will be constructed with a footprint of approximately 7,000 square feet.

Corning’s Canton plant sells directly to the semiconductor, telecommunications, aerospace and defense, and specialty fiber markets. High purity fused silica products—particularly important to the semiconductor and aerospace and defense industries—have historically been, and continue to be, main areas of focus at the plant.

In addition to the new permanent jobs, which Corning has begun adding, the capital investments by the company are supporting dozens of temporary construction jobs.

Under state law, allocations of Preservation Power to Northern New York businesses are for firms in Franklin, Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties.

The electricity is provided at a price that is currently 40 percent less than the wholesale market price in the region and supports hundreds of jobs in St. Lawrence County.

Judge Eugene L. Nicandri, a NYPA trustee and resident of Massena, said, “The St. Lawrence-FDR hydropower project is a mainstay for Northern New York’s economy and a springboard for the continuing success and expansion of key businesses. The plant’s generation of some of the state’s lowest cost electricity makes it an indispensable asset for our region’s ability to partner with energy-intensive businesses to bring about a stronger regional economy.”