Upstate New York Congressman Bill Owens toured Imperial Industrial Park in Plattsburgh this morning. The half-million square foot facility, one of the largest buildings in the North Country, hosts a number of tenants, including contractors for Nova Bus and Bombardier.
Democratic Congressman Bill Owens first toured the Imperial Industrial Park 10 years ago when it was a vacant former wallpaper manufacturing plant. The facility is now 80 percent occupied with 30 tenants employing more than 200 people. Imperial Property Manager David Bray explained that there is substantial activity occurring.
Bray said it has been a challenge refitting the 500-thousand square foot facility from the original single tenant facility to a multi-tenant-multi-use industrial park. But they’ve been able to attract contractors for the region’s major transportation manufacturers.
Owens noted while the U.S. content is a key factor in attracting business to the industrial facility, he also wants to assure suppliers from Canada will want to locate at the site.
After a brief look at activity outside the building, David Bray took Congressman Owens inside.
As they ambled through the building, Owens encountered Ron Barnes, the Product Introduction Materials Supervisor for Bombardier, which leases space for his operation at the facility.
Owens was seeking to assess the cross section of businesses that lease space. Bray showed off recent renovations, including those for a Montreal company called Cintub.
The facility’s renovations include a new boiler system that has reduced heating costs more than 100-thousand dollars.
