OSWEGO COUNTY – Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced that the County of Oswego Industrial Development Agency (IDA) was the recipient of a $2.787 million dollar grant from the New York State Department of Transportation Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program (PFRAP). The funding will be used to make rail improvements on-site at the Novelis plant in Scriba including realigning the curvature of the existing track and turnouts on-site to accommodate longer railcars as well as reactivating a section of dormant track so workers can move railcars more efficiently. Novelis will also replace two high emission railcar movers with newer more efficient ones. The $3.5 million total project cost will allow Novelis to reduce the number of tractor-trailer loads of aluminum, mostly coming from Canada, by about 5,000 loads a year. The project is expected to create 4 new jobs and support the retention of the 1,200+ manufacturing jobs at the Oswego area plant.
“This project will provide Novelis the funding to invest in critical on-site infrastructure to keep more aluminum production domestic and ultimately help their sustainability and economic competitiveness here in Oswego County and as a company”, expressed Austin Wheelock, CEO of the IDA.
Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C—Pulaski) stated, “Securing nearly $2.8 million in state funding for the Novelis Rail Enhancement Project provides a tremendous boost for the region’s infrastructure and economy. With roughly 1,200 employees at its Oswego facility, Novelis has been a great partner in our local community. This major investment will help expand production to keep highly-skilled, high-paying jobs here at home. I was proud to lend my support in the effort to obtain state funding, and I want to congratulate all those involved in this important project.”
The funding awarded for the IDA and Novelis is one of nearly 40 projects announced statewide totaling over $111.1 million, the largest announcement in the program’s history. The Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program (PFRAP) is administered by the New York State Department of Transportation and supports investments that enhance the safe movement of freight goods, improves service reliability to retain and grow manufacturing jobs, and supports economic development, especially upstate. The $111.1 million in state funding leverages an additional $20.5 million in private funding for these projects across the state which are essential to maintaining safety and keeping New York railroads competitive in a changing global economy.
“The County of Oswego IDA welcomed the opportunity to assist Novelis, a long-time partner, on this important project,” said Nick Canale, Chair of the IDA. “We thank New York State for approving this grant which benefits the Oswego County economy through the employees at the Novelis plant and the hundreds of local businesses they directly and indirectly support.”
The County of Oswego Industrial Development Agency (IDA) is a public benefit corporation created by New York State and the Oswego County legislature. The IDA’s mission is to establish and implement sound economic development strategies in order to enhance the economic vitality of Oswego County’s businesses, industries, communities, and citizens, leading to an overall better quality of life.
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