Kolmar Labs Group in Port Jervis was ready to pack it in and seek business-friendlier pastures until several officials stepped up to the plate to keep them in New York. As a result, the cosmetics manufacturer will stay in western Orange County.
Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, D-Forestburgh, worked with several state and local entities to keep Kolmar in New York, promising to get them needed funding to improve their facility, add more training programs for workers and buy new equipment.
She recently secured approval from the Public Authorities Board for a $2.5 million grant for the company, which has been a Port Jervis mainstay since 1943. It is the largest manufacturer of color cosmetics in the nation.
“We had to find a way to keep the doors open,” said Gunther, who worked with a number of economic development agencies statewide including Dennis Mullen, Chairman and CEO of Empire State Development and Mike Oates, President and CEO of Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. “Losing Kolmar would have had a devastating impact on the city. For me, it was a priority.”
Gunther was able to secure $250,000 from the state Assembly. Mullen and Oates reached out for additional funding, along with other economic players in the state to bring total grant monies to $2.5 million.
“This effort took a lot of people working together,” Gunther said. “It”™s a major win for Orange County and the state of New York.”
Oates said: “This kind of teamwork is critical to keeping jobs in the Hudson Valley. Working together with our partners resulted in a successful resolution.”
Kolmar has 500 employees.
