In early March, Family Dollar Stores Inc. selected the Griffiss Business and Technology Park — the former Griffiss Air Force Base — in Rome, N.Y., to locate a regional distribution center. Family Dollar plans to invest about $60 million and create up to 465 jobs at the facility.
Family Dollar Stores is one of the nation’s fastest growing discount store chains. During the past 10 years, more than 3,000 new stores have been added to the chain, of which more than 2,000 were added during the past five years.
“We reviewed many potential sites for our northeastern regional distribution center and based on the people, the infrastructure, incentives and the compelling case the state and local economic development agencies made for the area, we believe that this community will be the right fit for us,” said Charles S. Gibson Jr., executive vice president for supply chain for Family Dollar.
In return for its job commitment and investment in Rome, Family Dollar is eligible to apply for a $1.2 million capital grant from Empire State Development, along with other incentives including Empire Zone benefits and a Strategic Training Alliance Program grant of up to $100,000 from the New York State Department of Labor.
Through its Empire Zone program, many New York communities can offer incentives to encourage economic and community development, business investment and job creation. Certified businesses located within an Empire Zone are eligible to receive significant tax credits and benefits. There are currently 72 Empire Zones across New York state.
Family Dollar may also be eligible for county and local incentives valued at $10.2 million.
Griffiss Park Attracts a Variety of Businesses
Family Dollar is not the only company that has recently decided to take advantage of the benefits offered by the Griffiss Business and Technology Park.
Employers at Griffiss Park include an aircraft maintenance company, information technology firms, research laboratories, heavy manufacturers and medical offices. To date, more than $182 million has been invested in infrastructure improvements and new construction at Griffiss Park.
In April, Midwest Airlines awarded a contract to Empire Aero Center (EAC) to provide scheduled heavy maintenance on its fleet of 13 MD-80 aircraft.
Empire Aero Center Inc. is an FAA- and EASA-approved repair station located in Rome and is a subsidiary of Israel Aircraft Industries International. The newly renovated facility is comprised of 450,000 square feet of hangar and support shops, including a 50,000 square foot, EPA-approved aircraft strip and paint facility.
“EAC’s ability to deliver the highest of standards with time and cost efficiency made it the obvious choice to handle our MD-80 heavy maintenance,” said David C. Reeve, senior vice president of operations for Midwest Airlines.
EAC won the award in competition against seven other maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities. The MD-80 line of aircraft maintenance began at the end of April and will continue for five months.
“I believe our ISO certification was a major factor in winning the Midwest Airlines contract,” said Rick Smith, president of marketing and sales for EAC.
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