Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 15, 2012

SCHUMER URGES FEDS TO AWARD DISASTER FUNDING TO DELAWARE COUNTY FOR AMPHENOL’S NEW SITE IN SIDNEY — FOLLOWING FLOOD DISASTER, INVESTMENT WILL HELP KEEP 950 JOBS IN SOUTHERN TIER

Schumer, Who Led the Effort to Secure $200 Million for EDA Disaster Fund, Urges Federal Economic Development Administration to Approve Delaware County IDA’s Application for $3.8 Million In Disaster Funding – Amphenol, The Largest Employer in Region, Needs New Site In Order to Stay

Tropical Storm Lee Caused Serious Damage to Amphenol’s Facility — For Second Time in 5 Years; Schumer Pushes EDA to Make Amphenol Award A Top Priority

Schumer: EDA Disaster Funding Is The Last Piece of the Puzzle to Keep 950 Jobs In Southern Tier

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to award $3.8 million in federal disaster funding to the Delaware County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) to assist with the preparation and construction of a new site for Amphenol, the largest private employer in Delaware County. Amphenol's current facility in Sidney, was severely flooded last year during Tropical Storm Lee – for the second time in five years.

“The bottom line is Amphenol needs a new flood-proof site in Sidney in order to stay in the Southern Tier and preserve its workforce, and these federal dollars will help allow that to happen; that’s why I am urging the EDA to approve this application post-haste,” said Schumer.

Schumer played an integral role in securing $200 million for economic disaster relief to flood areas, and is now urging the EDA to award $3.8 million of that funding to the Delaware County IDA, which submitted their application to the EDA this week. This investment would represent 80% of the costs to purchase a new shovel-ready site to build Amphenol’s new manufacturing facility in a nearby flood-proof area. Work on the new site would include new storm water and filtration systems, sewer and water extensions, and an upgrade to the electrical system. Schumer highlighted that Delaware County needs this federal support to round out local and state efforts to build a new facility for Amphenol and preserve its presence in the Southern Tier for years to come.

“Amphenol employs hundreds of people in the Southern Tier, and we cannot let those good-paying jobs be washed away due to repeated flooding,” said Schumer. After storms wreak havoc on our communities, it is the federal government’s job to step in and do everything possible to help localities recover. Amphenol’s application for $3.8 million in economic disaster relief is a critical one to the region, and I’m optimistic that the EDA will make this a top priority. Amphenol should be allowed to build on their Southern Tier success and remain a pillar around which the region can rebuild and recover from the storm.”

The State of New York has announced a ten-year incentives package that totals approximately $28 million. This package includes a $26 million in Excelsior tax credits for ten years, a $1 million grant to engineer the new facility and $1 million grant for flood mitigation at existing facility, where Amphenol will maintain a small operation.

“I made the point to the federal EDA that the relocation can’t move forward without Delaware County’s receipt of the $3.8 million in EDA funding to prepare the new site for the Amphenol,” added Schumer. The IDA will acquire a site and develop the 23 acre parcel to be shovel ready for Amphenol to build a new manufacturing facility safe from future floods. Amphenol will enter a 20 year lease with the company to remain in Sidney.

A full copy of Senator Schumer’s letter appears below:

Matthew Erskine

Acting Assistant Secretary for Economic Development

United States Economic Development Administration

Dear Acting Assistant Secretary Erskine:

In 2006 and 2011, the Southern Tier of New York State was devastated by severe and unprecedented flooding events that wreaked havoc in many communities. In the wake of these events, homes were destroyed, bridges and roadways were left in need of repair, and businesses sustained extensive damage to their facilities, equipment and inventories. One of the hardest hit communities was the Village of Sidney in New York’s Delaware County.

The Village of Sidney has been home to Amphenol Corporation and its predecessors since 1927. Over the course of time it has grown and thrived in this community and today is one of its top employers, who before this most recent flood event, employed over 1200 people. Like many of the businesses and residences in Sidney, the Amphenol Corporation sustained significant flood damage during both events, costing the company millions of dollars in repairs and lost revenue.

In 2006, I visited the facility and met with its management and workers. I heard the stories and saw firsthand the extent of damage, and how through the perseverance of the workforce, the dedication of management and the commitment of the leaders to their community, Amphenol opened its doors again for businesses. In 2011, after a second devastating event that again brought widespread destruction to this facility, it become evident that Amphenol Corporation must be relocated to a safer, more protected site to avoid future flooding. Without such action, the facility will continue to remain vulnerable to future floods and relocation of these hundreds of jobs to an out of state site probable.

The good news is that Amphenol intends to remain in this community, with the assistance of local, state and federal governments. The Delaware County Industrial Development Agency will acquire a site and develop the 23 acre parcel to be shovel ready, to accommodate a new manufacturing facility safe from future floods. The IDA has secured a consortium of funding partners, which includes contributions from its own coffers and a mixture of incentives and grants from New York State, many of which are contingent upon the availability of a shovel ready site. To that end, the IDA is making application to the EDA for $3.8 million to supplement already pledged funds and bring this project to fruition.

The award of this application will ensure that the IDA is able to fully complete the project, that all 950 jobs presently at Amphenol are retained, and the company will continue to thrive and grow in its new location. The loss of these jobs would be catastrophic to the Village of Sidney and the entire Southern Tier region, both of which have already lost so much in the face of such devastating floods. I thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Senator Charles E. Schumer

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