Expected to create 300 new jobs
Read more: Local, Business
SYRACUSE -- Nearly 300 jobs are expected to come Central New York. BITZER, Scroll, Inc., a German manufacturer of compressors air conditioning refrigeration systems, has announced it will construct a new plant in Salina. So why would a German manufacturer want to open up shop here? According to the company's chief technology officer it's the quality of the local workforce who have expertise in compressor design. And it probably doesn't hurt he grew up in Fayetteville.
"We still have a lot of work to do to bring jobs here. This is just the start we have to put the machine tools in, sell the product," says Richard Kobor, Chief Technology Officer for BITZER Scroll.
The deal was a year in the making - Governor Spitzer said at the announcement. The Empire State Development Corp. Will give Bitzer a $1.4 million dollar grant. In return Bitzer officials promise to invest $30 million into the new facility over the next few years.
Most importantly 289 jobs are expected to be created, engineering positions as well as machining and assembly jobs.
"Any day new jobs come to Salina is a great day in the town. We're one of the older towns in the county so we don't get a lot of new development but we do get some re-development, the GM plant is a shinning star in that," says Salina Town Supervisor Mark Nicotra.
Right now 16 Bitzer employees are working out of these offices in East Syracuse. Hiring is expected to start in may.
