A rendering of what the future Athenex facility in Dunkirk will look like once completed.

DUNKIRK – The Post-Journal is reporting that the groundbreaking for a major pharmaceutical plant in Dunkirk won’t be happening until next year.

Dunkirk Town Supervisor Richard Purol tells the Post-Journal that the Athenex groundbreaking has been delayed until the first of the year unless something changes.

While the groundbreaking for the Lakeshore Drive property is in a holding pattern, crews are continuing to work to clear the 33 acre site where the plant will be built in Dunkirk.

Officials are also awaiting the results of an asbestos survey of the three buildings that are on the property.

In February 2016, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that Athenex would be building a facility in Dunkirk that would result in hundreds of jobs once the facility is finally opened. However, after more than a year-and-a-half wait, officials and residents in the north county still await the official groundbreaking of the facility.

A rendering of what the future Athenex facility in Dunkirk will look like once completed.

JAMESTOWN – A major economic development project in northern Chautauqua County has taken a step forward with the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency board of directors signing off on two different tax abatement programs.

The $200 million Athenex project in Dunkirk, announced in the spring of 2016 by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, received both sales and property tax exemptions from the IDA during its meeting Tuesday morning.

According to the Post-Journal, Incentives include a sales tax exemption, with an estimated value of $9.1 million, and a 20-year payment in lieu of tax agreement for the construction and outfitting of the $208 million facility.  Both exemptions were placed within the Athenex deal that was originally negotiated and finalized by the state earlier this year.

Once complete, officials say Athenex will have a multi-million dollar, 320,000-square-foot facility located Lake Shore Drive East and will employ 450 people within the first five years of operation.

A rendering of what the future Athenex facility in Dunkirk will look like once completed.

DUNKIRK – An international company that develops cancer care drugs is reportedly looking at alternative locations for its multi-million dollar pharmaceutical plant.

In February Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other state officials were in Dunkirk to announce that Athenex would build a new plant in Dunkirk, providing a much-needed economic boost to the community by providing as many as 900 new jobs.

However, a report released Wednesday by the Buffalo news said that Athenex officials are growing frustrated with the delays involved in moving forward with development. Those delays are largely tied to state funding that was promised for the Dunkirk plant, in addition to an expansion project in Buffalo.

While Athenex has not said that it is abandoning the Dunkirk sight, it did say that it has already started to look at other alternative locations – one of which is in the U.K. – should the delays continue to the point that it adversely affects their operations.

Athenex has already spent $242,400 to purchase 33.6 acres of land in Dunkirk, although the state had initially said it would cover the cost of the property. The state will likely reimburse Athenex the money it used to buy the property, but the fact that the money was not made immediately available to the company is what has created concerns, in addition to other red tape that needs to be cleared before construction can begin.

The project was being overseen by SUNY Polytechnic Institute. However, following the news that Athenex may be considering other locations, the Governor’s office announced that Empire State Development – the state’s economic development agency – will take over oversight of the project.

State Senator Cathy Young (R-Olean) released a statement Wednesday night, saying it was good news that Empire State Development will now oversee the project.

“It is wonderful news that Empire State Development will take the helm to guide the Athenex project forward. Their mission everyday is to create jobs and achieve economic growth by working closely with companies. I have confidence the delays will be resolved and work will begin soon. I commend the Governor for finding a solution, and Empire State Development officials for giving their expertise. I also sincerely thank Athenex for their investment in Western New York. This project and the 900 new jobs it will bring are essential to our future. Everyone is working together to achieve progress and success,” Young said.

A total of $200 million in economic development incentives was promised to Athenex in order for it to commit to the Dunkirk location.

Athenex officials have reportedly said construction will take 18 to 24 months to be completed, after breaking ground on the Dunkirk plant.

Above, community members of the Chautauqua County Education Coalition gather to understand job descriptions and the workforce development needs of Athenex.

DUNKIRK – County officials are started the effort to prepare for the arrival of a multi-million dollar economic development project in Dunkirk.

County executive Vince Horrigan and the Chautauqua County Education Coalition recently hosted a roundtable discussion with representatives from Athenex at the Fredonia Technology Incubator in Dunkirk.  The Education Coalition is hoping to help guide the process of bringing together the various stakeholder organizations to ensure the workforce development needs for the company will be met.

Earlier this year Athenex announced a partnership with SUNY Polytechnic Institute and New York State that would result in 900 new jobs coming o the Dunkirk Area.  An exact timeline for when the facility will be built and open for business has not yet been released.

Athenex is global company with multiple offices and manufacturing facilities located in both the U.S. and China. It was founded at the University of Buffalo and expanded in 2003 with a ten-year funding stream committed by more than one hundred local business and medical leaders in upstate New York.

The State Capitol, Albany NY.

ALBANY – New York State lawmakers have been able to reach an agreement on another on-time state budget.

On Thursday, Governor Andrew Cuomo joined Senate leader John Flanagan and Assembly leader Carl Heastie in announcing the agreement on the $154 billion spending plan, which covers the states’ fiscal year beginning today and continuing to March 31, 2017.

MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE

The budget includes a number of initiatives that the governor had pushed for and which he said would strengthen opportunity for working and middle class families. They including raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour in every region of the state, although at different time intervals.

While New York City would see the minimum raise increase to $15 by Dec. 31, 2018, it will take a longer time to be phased in in upstate, including Chautauqua County. There, the wage would increase to $9.70 at the end of 2016, then another .70 each year after until reaching $12.50 on Dec. 31, 2020. After that date, the minimum wage for Upstate New York will continue to increase to $15 on an indexed schedule to be set by the Director of the Division of Budget in consultation with the Department of Labor.

PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND OTHER INITIATIVES

The budget agreement also includes the longest and most comprehensive paid family leave program in the nation. When fully phased- in, employees will be eligible for 12 weeks of paid family leave when caring for an infant, a family member with a serious health condition or to relieve family pressures when someone is called to active military service. Benefits will be phased-in beginning in 2018 at 50 percent of an employee’s average weekly wage, capped to 50 percent of the statewide average weekly wage, and fully implemented in 2021 at 67 percent of their average weekly wage, capped to 67 percent of the statewide average weekly wage.

The budget also includes a record $24.8 billion in education aid, and also grows the economy with a $4.2 billion middle class tax cut over a five year period. And the spending plan includes critical statewide infrastructure investments – including a new $55 billion State Transportation Plan that commits $27.14 billion for Department of Transportation and Thruway programs and $27.98 billion for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

BIG WINS FOR DUNKIRK

A rendering of what the future Athenex facility in Dunkirk will look like once completed.

State Senator Cathy Young (R,C,I- 57th District), who represents Chautauqua County, says she’s ecstatic that the state has delivered on a promise to move the Athenex project forward.  The project, announced in February, will deliver $200 million in state funding for the proposed north county pharmaceutical manufacturing center, which will create 900 jobs in Chautauqua County.

Young said that the project wasn’t a done deal, with the some member of the Assembly trying to remove it from its  one-house budget resolution. However, Young said that both she and Assemblyman Andy Goodell (R-Chautauqua) fought to ensure the $200 million would be passed.

Senator Young joined Governor Cuomo and other officials in February to announce that an agreement had been reached between SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Athenex to build and staff a $1.5 billion, 300,000 square foot pharmacy oncology manufacturing facility in Dunkirk area.

Senator Young also announced that she successfully has led the charge to secure a $30 million power plant mitigation fund in the state budget to offset property tax losses in communities across the state, including Dunkirk.

NRG Power Plant in Dunkirk

She said the Senate ensured that the final budget language was changed so that mothballed plants such as NRG would qualify, and the county would be added as a recipient of funds.

The state power plant mitigation fund will cover 80 percent of the lost revenues from mothballing. In January, NRG notified the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency that its total PILOT payment of $8,197,474 would be reduced by 85 percent to $1,229,621.

As a result, the city, school and county would see nearly a $7 million loss of revenues this year.

A rendering of what the future Athenex facility in Dunkirk will look like once completed.

DUNKIRK, NY – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Thursday announced a major expansion of Athenex that will create 1,400 jobs throughout Western New York, including 900 in Dunkirk.

This announcement, made possible by a partnership with the SUNY Polytechnic Institute, includes a major expansion of Athenex’s North American headquarters at the Conventus Building in Buffalo, as well as the creation of a state-of-the-art, 300,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Dunkirk. The combined projects are expected to yield a $1.62 billion investment over ten years from Athenex, along with $225 million from New York State.

“Western New York’s economic transformation has captured the attention of companies and investors around the globe,” said Governor Cuomo. “The business development environment in and around Buffalo has made it clear to cutting-edge companies that this is the right place to put down roots and thrive. Whether it’s pharma-based development, medical research, clean technology or advanced manufacturing, this region is defined by incredible opportunities and potential for growth. I am proud to congratulate Athenex – which could have gone anywhere – on beginning this exciting new chapter, creating good-paying jobs and further strengthening the region’s and state’s economy.”

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Athenex was founded at the University of Buffalo and expanded in 2003 with a ten-year funding stream committed by more than one hundred local business and medical leaders in upstate New York.

Dr. Johnson Lau, Athenex CEO and Chairman said: “We have been incredibly impressed by Governor Cuomo’s leadership to attract significant new jobs within New York State. His commitment to economic development has successfully permeated an impressive ‘Open for Business’ culture we have not seen anywhere else. We also want to thank Dr. Alain Kaloyeros at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. This collective leadership in New York is accelerating the transformation of the State’s economy into a global leader of next generation manufacturing across many industries. With this partnership, millions of cancer patients around the world will benefit from the oncology drugs made in New York.”

Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros, founding president and CEO of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, said: “This one-two punch for Buffalo and Western New York by an established and respected home-grown company like Athenex is another clear sign that Governor Andrew Cuomo’s innovation-driven economic development strategy is powering job creation and revitalization across Upstate New York. For a company that already operates around the world to make the business decision to grow in New York speaks volumes about what Governor Cuomo has built. The workforce, attitude, and momentum in Buffalo and across Upstate has New York competing – and winning – on a global scale.”

Howard Zemsky, President, CEO and Commissioner, Empire State Development said: “This significant expansion by Athenex, through a combined state and private investment, not only reinforces the dynamic business climate that has taken hold in Buffalo and Western New York, but it validates Governor Cuomo’s vision for the creation and development of a local economy that attracts outside business interests and, in the case of Athenex, keeps a homegrown company in the community that fostered its initial development. This is a perfect example of the Governor’s determination to support business development in our region through unique public/private partnerships that will provide cutting-edge, good-paying jobs that are sustainable.”

Athenex will invest a minimum of $1.62 billion in Western New York over the next ten years in labor, materials and supplies. 1,400 new direct and indirect jobs (500 jobs in Buffalo and 900 in Dunkirk) will be created in areas such as: high-tech manufacturing, product formulation, regulatory, pharmacovigilance, headquarter staff and suppliers and providers of service to the company. New York State, through the SUNY Polytechnic Institute, will invest a total of $225 million in the Buffalo and Dunkirk locations. Specifically:

• Dunkirk: The state will invest $200 million to create the High Pharmacy Oncology Manufacturing Facility, which Athenex will use to manufacture sterile high potency oncology drugs in a specialized, controlled environment for shipment around the world. These drugs are some of the most important oncology drugs globally for patients suffering from cancer. The plant will also specialize in manufacturing oncology pharmaceutical products, which often show up on the FDA’s drug shortage list. A specialized plant such as this has not been built in North America in over 15 years. The facility will be located off Lake Shore Drive East (Rte. 5), just northeast of the Dunkirk city line.Athenex will invest a minimum of $1.52 billion in the High Pharmacy Oncology Manufacturing Facility and it will create 900 jobs in the Dunkirk area. The state will own the facility and tools purchased for it. A renderings of the facility can be viewed here.
• Buffalo: The state will invest $25 million to expand and improve the sixth floor of the Conventus Building on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Athenex will occupy 51,000 square feet under a long term lease for its North American Headquarters, a formulation product development center and a pilot plant, where oncology products are perfected and refined before the technology is transferred for large scale production in Dunkirk. Athenex will invest a minimum of $100 million and is expected to create a total of 500 jobs in Buffalo. The state will lease the 6th floor space and sublet it to Athenex for a ten-year term with an option by Athenex to add on an additional ten years. Construction in the office space started August 2015; lab work will begin soon and is expected to be completed this fall.

The partnership with New York State secures the Athenex’s presence and growth in the state and provides for significant high paying new jobs in multiple locations in Western New York. This partnership also accelerates the goal of converting investments made in medical research into long term sustainable manufacturing jobs in high tech pharmaceutical products.

Today, Athenex is global with multiple offices and manufacturing facilities located in: Buffalo and Clarence, NY; Cranford, NJ; Taipei, Taiwan; Hong Kong; and Chongqing, China. Athenex’s large investors include some of the most successful technology entrepreneurs in the world such as Ma Huateng, named in 2014 by Time Magazine as one of the most influential people in the world and one of China’s most successful investors. The Athenex Board of Directors reflects its global presence and includes such participants as Kim Campbell, the 19th Prime Minister of Canada and Song-Yi Zhang, former Vice Chairman, Managing Director and Department Joint Head of Morgan Stanley Asia.

Congressman Tom Reed said: “We care about the working families that hope to make Chautauqua County and the rest of Western New York a place to call home for generations to come. For too long, these families have borne the brunt of a struggling economy and thankfully that is about to change. It’s only right that we work together across party lines and all levels of government to make New York State, and Chautauqua County, more competitive. Today, we can celebrate these efforts and be glad that we will bring over 900 quality, family sustaining jobs back from out of state, and around the world. We couldn’t be more pleased by the news and want to thank Governor Andrew Cuomo, State Senator Cathy Young and State Assemblyman Andy Goodell for standing with Chautauqua County and making this investment in Western New York.”

Senator Catharine Young said: This announcement – hundreds of jobs being created and more than a billion dollars being invested right here in Dunkirk – is proof that things are moving forward in Western New York. Our region is stronger, more prosperous, and more competitive today because of Governor Cuomo, and I am thrilled that we are continuing to build on that progress not just today – but in a way that will have a positive impact for years and years to come.

Assemblyman Andy Goodell said: This is easily one of the most exciting announcements for Dunkirk and Chautauqua County that I’ve seen as a state legislator, and I’m sure the same is true for many of you who have lived in the region for years like me. Athenex’s expansion will create hundreds of good-paying jobs and bring more than a billion dollars of private sector investment right here to Dunkirk. I’m proud to stand with Governor Cuomo today for this exciting announcement that will continue to bring future growth and prosperity to Chautauqua County.

Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan said: I am thrilled to see Athenex staking their future successes right here in Chautauqua County. This announcement will mean benefits to our community years into the future, and it puts us on the map for other private sector businesses to see in a way that is truly unparalleled. Governor Cuomo’s support in making this happen has been tremendous, and I look forward to working with him again in the future to continue growing the economy in Chautuaqua County.

Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas said: “This is a tremendous day for Dunkirk and our part of Chautauqua County. I’m excited to see Athenex move in, bringing with them more than a billion dollars in investment and nearly a thousand new jobs. This shows that the state and Governor Cuomo truly are committed to helping our region succeed, and I can’t wait to see the economy continue to grow for future generations.”

NY Governor Andrew Cuomo

DUNKIRK – Governor Andrew Cuomo will be in Dunkirk Thursday morning for a major announcement regarding economic development.

While there hasn’t been too many details released regarding his announcement, it’s believed it will be connected to a line-item in his recent executive budget, involving plans to spend $200 million to build a high-tech drug manufacturing center in Dunkirk for a Buffalo biotech company.

According to the Buffalo News, Cuomo will reveal details about the project, which will see the state construct a facility in the Town of Dunkirk for Athenex, a specialty cancer drug startup headquartered on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

The company is expected to create at least 500 jobs after moving into the facility. As news of the announcement came out Tuesday, local officials praised the state for its investment in an area that has suffered some serious economic setbacks in recent years.

Cuomo will be at Dunkirk High School to make the announcement at 10:30 a.m.