September 2023 Meeting Summary
Summary of COMIDA Meeting for September 26th, 2023Observed by Deborah Rice Gordon
This COMIDA meeting can viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVoWfGLJP98
Monitoring Reports:
Kevin Loweke gave a local labor monitoring report. In August, the residency of 725 workers was checked with 31 workers having a non-compliance issue involving residency or identification.
Brian Lafountain discussed a local labor exemption report. The exemption was related to the installation of a gypcrete floor at Home Leasing LLC. No local union members were available for this work.
The financial report for August was discussed. At this point in the fiscal year, over $5.1 million has been generated for the Workforce Development Program over the past 2 years. Of that, almost $4.6 million has been committed and $500,000 is left to support future programs.
Project Application Reviews:
Requests for sales tax exemptions, recording tax exemptions and/or real property tax abatements were approved by the Board for the following projects:
- Boyatzies, Inc. for the acquisition of a new delivery vehicle and improvements for their wholesale battery distribution business at 391 Clay Road in Henrietta.
- Rochester Historic Properties, LLC for the renovation and updating of The Inn on Broadway at 26 Broadway Avenue in Rochester.
- PFISTERER North America, Inc. for the renovation of an existing facility at 2292 Innovation Way Bldg. 8 in Rochester (Gates). The expansion will allow manufacturing and training to move from Europe to North America. Products include medium and high voltage connectors and high voltage jumper cables for the growing offshore wind generation market.
- Horseshoe Solar Energy LLC for new construction and renovation of an existing structure in the Town of Rush to create a large scale, renewable solar energy generation facility. Delivery will be into the electric transmission system operated by Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation. A public meeting was held with comments both supporting and against the project.
The following modification request was approved:
- 120 Marina Drive, LLC requested approval for an increase in projects costs and an extension of the sales tax exemption for their project in Greece.
- 36 West Main Street, LLC requested approval for an extension of the sales tax exemption through December 31st, 2026, for their renovation of the Executive Building in Rochester.
- The Marketplace requested that their pilot agreement be amended to reduce their payments due to the decrease in the mall valuation.
- Companies that failed to make their program payments as agreed to in their pilot agreement were reviewed. WBF Capital Inc. is seriously behind in their payments to both Rochester and Monroe County. A motion to terminate the pilot agreement passed.
- The Committee recommends approving job creation waivers for 2022 for 15 projects; more information is pending on 4 other projects. These waivers were approved by the Board as well as additional waivers for other projects identified by alphanumeric codes.
- The CEO and President of the Greater Rochester Enterprise, Matt Hurlbutt, discussed their economic gardening program. This program gives technical assistance to second stage businesses to help them grow revenue and job creation. A request for $50,000 to support the program was approved.
- James McCauley Jr from Camp Good Days and Special Times discussed a fund raising event, The Courage Bowl XVIII, which is an annual football game between St. John Fisher University and the College at Brockport. A request for $10,000 to support this event was approved.
- Genessee Country Village and Museum requested $5000 to support COMIDA’s involvement in their agricultural fare. Businesses that have benefited from COMIDA assistance will be invited to set up tables to promote their products. The request was approved.
- The Empire State Development FAST NY grant program promotes shovel ready sites. COMIDA was encouraged to apply for a grant for utility upgrades at a greenfield site in Webster; this is pending. The grant money would flow through and be managed by COMIDA. Contracts among all parties are being drafted. A motion for COMIDA to accept the first tranche of grant dollars not to exceed 7.3 million, according to the terms agreed to by all parties, was approved.