SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — The Board of Directors of the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority met last night and approved projects in both Schenectady and Glenville.
In Schenectady, the Board approved a $25,000 grant to purchase a .15-acre site from the City of Schenectady. The Schenectady City Council will hold a public hearing on the land sale next Monday evening, November 14 at 7:00 pm at City Hall. The land is being acquired to expand parking at 588 Broadway in downtown Schenectady. F.W. Webb, a leading supplier of plumbing, heating and air conditioning products and supplies, plans to purchase the 22,000 square foot building creating 12 new jobs and filling a vacant office and warehouse facility at the gateway to downtown. The company plans a retail/wholesale operation at 588 Broadway that will enhance the Broadway corridor and create sales tax. F.W. Webb has been in business since 1866 and operates 40 locations in the Northeastern United States.
“We are pleased to be working with Mayor McCarthy and the City Council to secure this additional land needed to attract F.W. Webb, a well-known established company to downtown Schenectady,” said Ray Gillen, Metroplex Chair.
The Metroplex Board also approved another expansion project at BelGioioso in Glenville. Metroplex worked with the Town of Glenville and Empire State Development to attract this nationally known cheese manufacturer to Schenectady County. This latest expansion involves a 4,000 square foot addition to the company’s main plant at the Glenville Business & Technology Park and an additional 60,000 square feet of renovation in Building 403. Metroplex approved an exemption from sales tax for construction materials used in the renovation process. After construction work is complete, Belgioioso will have 224,000 square feet of new or renovated space in Glenville.
“We welcome this latest expansion by the nation’s top quality cheese manufacturer happening right here in Schenectady County,” Gillen said.
The Metroplex Board also completed the State-mandated environmental review for a new development project that involves the demolition of two World War II former Navy warehouses and the construction of two new buildings each with 112,000 square feet of space. Metroplex and the Town of Glenville recently applied for a Restore New York grant to help defray a portion of the demolition costs so that this new development which represents a private investment of more than $17 million in Glenville can move forward. A decision on the Restore New York funding is expected later this year.
Finally, the Metroplex Board approved a $75,000 grant to continue efforts by the downtown Ambassador Program which is run by the City Mission. This award-winning program offers job training to Ambassadors who welcome visitors to downtown.