$11.25 Million Funding For Climate-Controlled Warehouse Will Be Transformative For Port Of Oswego

The Port of Oswego Authority (POA) has received $11.25 million in federal funding from U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to construct a new, climate-controlled warehouse (above rendering), to accommodate Upstate New York’s growing semiconductor, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing industries, said William Scriber, POA executive director, CEO. It will replace its existing 40,000 sq. ft. timber-framed warehouse with a 28,900 sq. ft. modern, Net-Zero energy and carbon emissions climate-controlled warehouse. Total cost for the project would be $23,499,092. Rendering by C&S Companies, Syracuse.

OSWEGO, NY – The Port of Oswego Authority (POA) has received $11.25 million in federal funding from U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to construct a new, climate-controlled warehouse to accommodate Upstate New York’s growing semiconductor, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing industries, said William Scriber, POA executive director, CEO.

“The Port of Oswego Authority, (POA) and I, as director, would like to personally thank Sen. Schumer and Sen. Gillibrand for months of hard work and advocacy to deliver this  $11.25 million Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grant to enable us to build a new, top-of-the-line warehouse that is ideal for both our immediate needs and the needs of future clients, including New York State’s burgeoning semiconductor, microelectronics and advanced manufacturing industries.

“The warehouse will be transformative for both the Port and for Central NY because it will be the only climate-controlled warehouse with access to rail, road, and water. We are extremely grateful to Sen. Schumer for his steadfast, ongoing support of the Port and his dedicated personal investment in growing the Port and our Central New York economy.

“Currently, there is no waterside climate-controlled storage space at ports along the Great Lakes,” Schumer said. “However, there is significant demand for it, as many raw materials and goods will move to market quicker and more efficiently if they are stored at consistent temperatures and humidity levels. The Port of Oswego’s Warehouse Modernization project will add climate-controlled storage capacity for customers, creating a distinct opportunity that will address a great need for importers of goods. The project will support regional economic growth, improve operational efficiencies, and position the Port for future growth. With Micron investing in its new chip fab facility only 30 miles from the Port, this project will be undertaken at a crucial time for the region and New York State. It will ensure construction materials and other raw materials for Micron operations are able to be stored temporarily dockside at the Port before being transported to the Micron site. The project will also support the addition of up to eight new full-time, good-paying jobs at the Port, as well as support the thousands of jobs that will be created through the Micron investment.”

            “This modern warehouse will be smaller, not as high as the current structure,  energy efficient and would be filled immediately with business from customers who have contacted us seeking climate-controlled storage,” Scriber said. “It will be a steel framed, metal-clad, 30-foot-tall structure with 22,500-square-feet  of storage. This warehouse is not intended for refrigerated product/freight storage, but for products and freight sensitive to humidity and temperature. This is critical to support our growing demand for climate-sensitive goods and products, including materials, chemicals and gasses used in microchip manufacturing, including Micron’s historic $100+billion investment in nearby Onondaga County, wind and solar energy components, and infrastructure supporting hydrogen production.  Building temperatures would range from a few degrees above freezing to about 70 degrees. It’s part of the Port’s vision to maximize productivity within our footprint and essential to sustain our future growth, improve operational efficiencies of freight handling, and meet customer demands. “

            Following consultation with the Port’s engineer, it was determined to be more cost effective to demolish the existing structure and construct a modern warehouse  as opposed to renovating the existing building for climate-controlled storage, Scriber said. The funding will also replace the outdated guard house to accommodate the Port’s evolving security needs, monitor all traffic entering and exiting the Port, and ensure personnel, asset and freight safety.

            “The existing structure, previously used for grain storage, has been in continuous use since the 1980s with no major upgrades,” Scriber said. “In 2013 the south end collapsed from snow and wind damage and was repaired. The roof shingles were replaced in 2008, and they need replacing again because many shingles are in poor condition. The building is at the end of its useful life and has little resilience to even moderate weather events.”

            Scriber stressed that this development is tied to his efforts this past March in meetings in Washington, D.C., with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and co-chairs of the House Great Lakes Task Force to seek a more equitable distribution of funds from the PIDP. These grants are provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the majority have historically gone to East Coast and West Coast ports, which have historically received three times as much as Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico and Inland River Ports.

A U.S./Canadian research study shows that, over the past five years, The Port of Oswego Authority made a $513 million impact on the local and regional economy and supported 2,229 jobs by its maritime activity. The Port of Oswego generated $201.2 million in wages, salaries, and local consumption expenditures for the regional economy.

Print this entry