National Grid Economic Development Program Drives Jefferson County Project, Stimulates Job Growth

89-Acre Site Ready For Development As Multi-Tenant Business And Technology Park

WATERTOWN, N.Y. – National Grid, Empire State Development and Purcell Construction today announced a $125,000 Shovel Ready Infrastructure Program incentive from National Grid.

The incentive helped Purcell Construction to obtain a Build Now-NY Shovel Ready Certification from Empire State Development (ESD) to develop a shovel ready, multi-tenant business and technology park located at the Exit 47 Bradley Street Commerce Park site in the Town of Pamelia. The certification allows businesses to locate there without delay. Over 100 new jobs are expected to be created as a result of tenants locating at the new development according to Purcell Construction.

“This is the type of project that is driving the resurgence of the upstate New York economy,” said Melanie Littlejohn, upstate New York regional executive director of National Grid. “Through our various economic development programs we continue to partner with community leaders on projects, attract investment, and create jobs.”

Now that the certification is complete, National Grid’s economic development incentive allows Purcell, and prospective occupants of the 89-acre site, to apply for up to $250,000 for future electric and gas infrastructure improvements from National Grid.

The site will provide an ideal location for U.S. industrial and commercial businesses to connect with Canada, as well as Canadian businesses looking for a U.S. presence. It also features onsite rail access that would lend nicely to a regional distribution facility for local businesses, and similarly, a grain processing and handling facility for area farmers.

“Purcell Construction’s New York State Shovel Ready Certification will assist with future economic development and encourage job creation in the North Country,” said Empire State Development president, CEO & commissioner Howard Zemsky. “The Exit 47 Bradley Street Commerce Park Site’s certification will allow developers and businesses to quickly start-up, expand and create jobs in Jefferson County.”

National Grid’s Shovel Ready Infrastructure program provides grants of up to $125,000 for engineering and planning studies that will advance a site in the shovel ready development process and $250,000 for the installation of electric and natural gas infrastructure at designated Build Now-NY and Shovel Ready Certified Sites served by the company.

The program is part of the company’s suite of upstate New York economic development programs. Since 2003, National Grid’s Economic Development Programs have awarded $75 million to over 1,000 projects, helping to create or retain over 40,000 jobs in the region.

“It is always a challenge for the private sector to undertake a project like this, but with the cooperation from the City of Watertown, the Town of Pamelia and the Development Authority of the North Country, we were able to bring together all the pieces necessary to make this happen,” said Mark Purcell, president & CEO of Purcell Construction. “This site will be an ideal location for businesses looking for easy access to Route 81 and the Canadian border.”

Purcell Construction led the effort to acquire the shovel ready designation and invested $450,000 in the design, planning and site utility improvements such as water, sewer, electric, natural gas and roads, key components to establish a New York State Shovel Ready site. The investment, in addition to National Grid’s $125,000 incentive, helped to prepare the site for future development.

“Recently, the unemployment rate in Jefferson County reached the second highest in the State, once again reinforcing the essential need to find methods by which jobs for our community can be created,” said Don Alexander, CEO of Jefferson County Economic Development. “This new shovel-ready site creates an environment where developers will be attracted to our area to utilize the immediate access the Interstate Highway System and the regional rail system. We anticipate that a site of this caliber will not only satisfy many of the needs of our important regional and state-wide employers looking to expand, but will attract foreign investment, particularly from our Canadian neighbors.”

“I want to thank Mark Purcell and his company for investing in a partnership with Empire State Development and National Grid to make this site a regional asset,” said James Wright, executive director, Development Authority of the North Country. “The Authority is pleased to have coordinated with the City of Watertown and Town of Pamelia, to make the infrastructure available to assist in making it a successful resource for business development. As a member of the North Country Regional Economic Development Council, I know it will become a regional center for job creation.”

Shovel Ready Certification is administered by Empire State Development, the state’s chief economic development organization. The program is an ongoing component of the Build Now-NY program. The state does not provide funding for Shovel Ready applications, but does coordinate the review of each application with all relevant state and federal agencies. In this case, as part of the process, the site is evaluated by representatives of ESD, the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, NYS Department of Transportation, NYS Office of Historic Preservation, NYS Dept. of Agriculture & Markets, and the US Army Corp. of Engineers.

For more information on National Grid’s Shovel Ready Incentive programs and other eligibility requirements, please visit www.shovelready.com.

For more information on New York State’s Shovel Ready program, visit www.esd.ny.gov/BusinessPrograms/Data/BuildNow.

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency (www.esd.ny.gov). The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I Love NY,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.nyworks.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.

About Purcell Construction

Purcell Construction Corp. is a Construction Management and General Contracting firm with corporate offices in Watertown, NY. The company has a reputation of being a fair and honest construction and development partner. The owner of the company, Mark Purcell, has undertaken many development projects throughout New York State over the years. Projects include new business and commerce parks, several leased manufacturing and commercial buildings, multifamily residential buildings, and historical rehab projects. Purcell is financially strong and is well positioned to provide development phase assistance, construction services and assistance with financing, as needed.