April 2023 Meeting Summary
Summary of COMIDA Meeting for April 18th, 2023Observed by Deborah Rice Gordon
This COMIDA meeting can viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC2g4Z0rA5A
Monitoring reports:
A local labor monitoring report was given by Kevin Loweke. In March, the residency of 654 workers was checked with 6 having a proof of residency issue. As of March 31st, all monitored sites were in compliance. The percentage of local laborers at the Amazon Manitou site was 72.9%.
Project Application Reviews:
Requests for sales tax exemptions, recording tax exemptions and/or real property tax abatements were approved for the following projects:
- 1020 Place, LLC for the renovation of a building at 1025 John Street in Henrietta for Ox Tools and Melroc Group business tenants.
- Sycamore Green Housing, LP for the acquisition and renovation of low-income housing at 55 Strathmore Circle in Irondequoit. Industrial revenue bond financing was also requested. The housing will continue to be designated as low-income.
Project Modifications:
The following modification requests were approved:
- XLI Manufacturing, LLC for an increase in project costs and an extension of their sales tax exemption thorugh December 31st 2023 for their project in Chili.
- Pike Conductor Dev 1, LLC for an increase in project costs due to the expanded scope of their project in Greece. An extension of the sales tax exemption through December 31, 2024 was also requested.
- Sibley Commercial, LLC for an extension of the sales tax exemption through December 31, 2024 for their project in Rochester.
- 39 Jet View Drive, LLC for an extension of the sales tax exemption through December 31, 2023 due to construction delays at their Chili project.
The Governance Committee report was deferred to the next meeting.
New Business:
- The Executive Director introduced representatives from Visit Rochester. They are requesting support to help Monroe County businesses and workforce to maximize the benefits of several upcoming special events (e.g., PGA Championship Tournament and the total solar eclipse on April 8th 2024) that will attract hundred of thousands of tourists to Rochester. Plans are underway to invite business leaders, site selection businesses and others to these events and promote the area and opportunities here. A motion to provide $150,000 for this effort was approved.
- An executive session was called to discuss issues on the biding process through the Builders Exchange. The meeting was adjourned afterward.