I scream, you scream, we all scream when jobs leap across state lines or to other countries. So this time, scream for ice cream and make it a joyous hoot.
Gillette Creamery, the largest ice cream distributor in eastern New York and employer of 60 people in Ulster County and 12 people in Albany, will not be leaving New York, despite inducements to do so from Vermont. Instead, Gillette will move within Ulster County, from its present site in Ellenville to a larger facility in Gardiner.
To facilitate its expansion, Gillette will invest $5.7 million and add 10 additional employees over the next few years and create a new 30,000-square-foot facility on Steve”™s Lane, at the industrial park tucked away amid former farm land in the rural town of Gardiner. The company currently has a 12,000-square-foot facility in Ellenville.
The move was assisted by agreement among state and county economic development officials that a strong family-owned business should be induced to stay in New York and they like ice cream. New York”™s Empire State Development Corp. provided a $600,000 grant and an additional $400,000 was secured from the Ulster County Revolving Loan Fund (UCRLF). Other lending institutions included Rondout Savings Bank, Catskill Hudson Savings Bank and New York State Business Development Corp.
“At the urging of County Executive Hein we came together with the Ulster County Revolving Loan Fund because we recognize the contribution small businesses make to our economy and the obstacles they face,” said Empire State Development Chairman and CEO-designate Dennis M. Mullen. “Gillette”™s decision to recommit to Ulster County speaks volumes to what New York provides to businesses and its dedication to seeing businesses like Gillette continue to grow and thrive in New York State.”
Gillette Creamery started as Tri-County Ice Cream in Ellenville in 1985 with 4 employees and two trucks. Since then, the company has grown to more than 70 employees and 26 trucks, with 3,000 accounts in 19 counties and a secondary depot in Albany. It distributes popular brands including Haagen Dazs, Edy”™s and Good Humor to such major outlets as 7-11 and Cumberland Farms stores, Walmart, Stop and Shop, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid and Blockbuster video.
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“Gillette Creamery has been faced with the difficult business decision requiring us to move from our current Ellenville location, which we have outgrown,” company President J.B. Gillette said in a prepared statement.
The company expanded in Ellenville just five years ago, but despite two years of searching was unable to find a locale for further expansion in the Ellenville area and so made the decision to cross the Shawangunk Ridge into Gardiner, about a half an hour drive when the roads are clear.
“The company looks forward to expanding operations in Gardiner and continuing to employ our current strong workforce,” said Gillette.
Ulster County executive Mike Hein said keeping the company in the county is a strong consolation prize that means employees won”™t have to choose between leaving their home or leaving the company.??“Although Gillette will be moving from Ellenville to Gardiner, all of its current employees will keep their jobs,” Hein said. “Ellenville residents can commute to Gardiner. However, they can”™t commute to Vermont.”??“In this economy, retaining jobs is of paramount importance,” Hein said.
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Gardiner officials have been aware of the possibility the creamery might move to their town for a year. “We”™ve been involved and we”™ve been hoping for it but it was not confirmed until now,” said town supervisor Joe Katz. “We”™re very excited. We think that Gardiner is very welcoming to business and Gillette fits nicely.”
He said Gardiner needed help to land the company. “We are very thankful to the county, they did a lot of hard work to arrange the move here,” said Katz.
He said the company will take over a former furniture factory that has been vacant for about a year and after renovating it to meet their needs, the company will move in late in 2010.
