October 2023 Meeting Summary
Summary of COMIDA Meeting for October 18th, 2023Observed by Deborah Rice Gordon
This COMIDA meeting can viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqSfp9z8pfw
Public Comments
Grant Malone, President of the Rochester Building and Trades Council, asked for clarification on the Fairlife pilot program which is on the agenda. Coca Cola has told Mr. Malone that the land has not been secured yet. He is asking if COMIDA’s review of Fairlife’s request is premature in that case. The Board explained that the purchase of the land isn’t required since oftentimes,an exemption from mortgage recording tax. In requested in advance of the sale.
Monitoring Reports:
A local labor monitoring report was given. In September, the residency of 529 workers was checked with 29 workers having a non-compliance issue involving residency or identification. All were in compliance upon re-inspection.
Financial Update
The financial report for September 30th was discussed. At this point in the fiscal year, over $5.2 million has been generated for the Workforce Development Program over the past 2 years. Of that, almost $4.7 million has been committed and $525,000 is left to support the workforce fund.
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:
- UltraPhil, LLC for the renovation of an existing facility at 250 East Main St. in Rochester. The facility will be a first of its kind beverage pilot manufacturing line and R&D center, primarily focused on aseptic dairy, milk coffee/tea, protein, and other low acid products, as well as high-acid juice-based beverages.
- Gallina Elmgrove, LLC for the construction of a speculative flex office/warehouse building at 475 Mile Crossing Blvd. in Gates. Discussions with potential tenants are ongoing. Questions from the Board focused on the competition this facility would create for existing buildings. The company representative claimed that the occupancy rate for such buildings in Rochester is about 98%. This will be confirmed by the Board.
- Fairlife LLC, owned by the Coca Cola Company, for acquisition of property, new construction and equipment for their dairy product production facility on Tebor and Basket Roads in Webster. The 745,000 square foot facility will take in 5 to 6 million pounds of raw whole milk per day from local dairy farmers (within 100 miles). The plant will hopefully be operational in 2025 and employ 250 people within the plant. The sale of the property to Fairlife will close the day after approval of their request.
The following modification requests were approved:
- Tower 195 LLC, a Gallina development real estate entity, requested approval for an extension of the sales tax exemption through December, 2024 for their Metropolitan building in Rochester.
- Innovation Partners ROC LLC requested an extension of the sales tax exemption though December 31, 2024 to complete phase 2 of their Innovation project at the former Xerox Square.
Anna Vulaj Fitzsimmons, the program director for Monroe County Finger Lakes APEX Procurement Accelerator, gave a summary on the growth and success of the program. The program’s website states that they ”provide networking, training & one-on-one counseling to businesses who want to sell to local, state, federal governments and the military”. COMIDA provides financial support to APEX. A motion to provide support of not more than $145,000 to APEX was approved.
Committee Reports:
The Finance Committee met earlier and discussed budget projections. Due to an increase in investment interest income and significant project closures expected in the next quarter, deficit predictions have been greatly reduced. A motion to accept the budget as presented passed.
An executive session was called to discuss the proposed sale of real estate. The Board returned but the discussion could not be heard on the recording. It is assumed that the meeting was adjourned afterward.