Cosmetics maker staying in New York
On May 20, Kolmar Labs Group inked an agreement with Empire State Development Corp., Orange County and the Office of Community Renewal to stay in New York.
The Port Jervis employer has been in western Orange County for nearly seven decades, but was deciding to say farewell to New York until the ESDC stepped in to keep Kolmar on the New York side of the border.
In addition to $4.5 million in working capital for machinery and equipment upgrades from ESD for its Port Jervis facility, the company received $250,000 as a result of Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther”™s and others”™ political intervention, as well as $250,000 from the Office of Community Renewal.
The company announced will invest an additional $23 million in expanding its manufacturing and research and development operations in Port Jervis. It will also retain its 400 full-time employees.
“We are pleased that Empire State Development, working with our state legislators, state Sen. John Bonacic and Assemblywoman Gunther, the mayor and city”™s Common Council have provided our company with a comprehensive offer that will enable us to stay in New York,” said Kolmar Labs Group Chairman Joseph Healy in a prepared statement.
Said Gunther, “The employees and community of Port Jervis have been calling me weekly for news concerning their future. Today, we have that news, and I am so thrilled that Kolmar will remain in Port Jervis. I am grateful to Gov. David Paterson and ESD chairman Dennis Mullen for hearing our concerns and working to keep Kolmar here.”