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Amsterdam Company To Remain In Mohawk Valley

Amsterdam Printing

More than 360 jobs will be protected after one of Montgomery County’s largest employers, which was considering relocation, has agreed to remain.

Amsterdam Printing and Lithograph, a company that employs 365 workers, announced Thursday it’s remaining in Amsterdam.

With a manufacturing base that’s been on the decline for decades, the news of a company staying put is encouraging to County Executive Matt Ossenfort, a Republican.

After delivering his State of the County address Friday morning in Amsterdam, Ossenfort called the news an enormous victory.

“I can’t say thank you enough to the governor and the officials at New York State as well. We did what we could locally, But they came through for us big time at the state. And now these 360-plus jobs are going to stay here, and that income and those families are going to remain Montgomery County residents. So a huge, huge step forward, probably some of the best news I’ve had since I’ve been elected.”

Working with the state, the county was able to secure a Community Development Block Grant to help the company stay where it’s been for more than a century. The state and county will contribute more than $3 million all together.

Ken Rose, CEO of the Montgomery County Business Development Center, said the money will help Amsterdam Printing invest more than $6 million in the facility.

“The facility itself needed some upgrading and that’s what a lot of these dollars are going for. The facility needs a new roof, they need new machinery for more efficiencies  to continue to remain competitive,  and that’s where the state and county stepped in in that regard.”

Rose said the upgrades will also help the company make future hires.

“And then with that they’ll be in a potential growth mold where they can start hiring a couple dozen individuals or the next year or so, so we’re excited.”

In a statement, Tim Broadhead, President of Amsterdam Printing, said, “The state has offered a partnership that will build upon the 115-year tradition in the Mohawk Valley, allowing us to grow and thrive in an ever-changing and improving business climate.”

The New York Power Authority has awarded the company 246 kilowatts of low-cost power to be used over the next seven years. The company is also being provided a $900,000 grant through New York State Homes and Community Renewal.

Mark Kilmer is President and CEO of the Fulton Montgomery Chamber of Commerce.

“Every job loss, whether it’s a single, or two jobs, or it’s many hundreds of jobs, it’s a job loss that really does have a negative effect on the region, and in this case I’m so glad to see that everyone’s come together to prevent that from happening.”

Last year, Montomgery County lost out on the opportunity to bring in new jobs when its longshot casino bid was passed over by the New York State Gaming Commission in favor of the Rivers Casino project in Schenectady, though as part of the Capital Region designation, the county will receive some economic development revenues from the budding casino.

Ossenfort said the county will continue to market the Town of Florida site that was being considered for casino development, overlooking Amsterdam.

“I know our economic development office certainly has had some leads and there’s some discussions going on, but I think at this point our focus is on the shovel-readiness, and that will help us better market the property and open it up to more interest from the private sector.”

Lucas Willard is a reporter and host at WAMC Northeast Public Radio, which he joined in 2011.
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