A specialty paper producer in Pulaski recently more than doubled its production and workforce. Felix Schoeller, which makes inkjet papers and specialty products, added more than 170 employees in the past year -- boosting its total to nearly 300 people.
Michael Szidat, president of Felix Schoeller North America, says New York state’s economic development agency, Empire State Development, helped the company by giving it tax credits.
"The total package is up to $650,000, spread over ten years. And the county of Oswego also helped, which was very good. They helped us with some training grants and low-interest loans."
Szidat says the site used the money to help pay for machinery and other project costs. The facility now has the capacity and the manpower to operate around the clock and continue increasing output. He says sales this year should surpass $100 million.
The company’s expansion began about a year ago and they immediately began hiring. Szidat says he believes the company is an example that it’s possible to bring manufacturing back to central New York and help the struggling economy.
“It's a tremendously positive impact on the community. Most of the workforce that work on our manufacturing lines come from probably a 20-mile radius around this region. We have some positions, like in sales and marketing and engineering, where people come from as far Syracuse and Watertown."
