L. Michael Treadwell
ooc@oswegocounty.org
Richard S. Shineman Foundation, Wiltsie Construction Company, ConnextCare, Rebekah Alford, and Mayor William Barlow receive achievement awards from Operation Oswego County.
Ellen Holst, president of the Operation Oswego County (OOC) board of directors, welcomed approximately 50 representatives of businesses, government, education, labor and other ally organizations to the 69th annual meeting, which was held online July 14.
L. Michael Treadwell, executive director of OOC, reported that in 2020, projects assisted by OOC and the County of Oswego IDA (COIDA) resulted in the creation or retention of 304 jobs with over $76 million in capital investment associated with 82 new, expanded or retained facilities.
Treadwell also outlined select future initiatives in progress, including 17 projects slated to be developed through the Fulton Downtown Revitalization Initiative; potential funding opportunities in Round 11 CFA funding with the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council (REDC); the 2021 Next Great Idea Business Plan Competition, which will award three prizes to the winners this fall; the development of the COIDA Manufacturing Start-up Facility at the former Nestle site in the city of Fulton; and the acquisition of approximately 200 acres to expand the Oswego County Industrial Park in the Town of Schroeppel.
Three business organizations, a successful entrepreneur and a long-standing economic development advocate were also honored for significant contributions to economic development and job creation in Oswego County.
• The Ally Award for 2021 was presented to the Richard S. Shineman Foundation in recognition and appreciation of the vision, commitment and leadership demonstrated to support countless nonprofit initiatives to improve quality of life and economic vitality across Oswego County; for providing 291 grants totaling over $9.4 million to 180 organizations and programs, such as the Next Great Idea Oswego County Business Plan Competition, the Oswego Renaissance Association, Fulton Block Builders, and the ACT Work Ready Community Workforce Development Initiative, since inception; for providing professional training programs and other resources to make Oswego County organizations more sustainable; and for being a vital and essential partner in economic development in Oswego County.
• The Business Excellence Award for 2021 was presented to Wiltsie Construction Company in recognition and appreciation for demonstrating outstanding leadership, adaptation and commitment in operating and expanding Wiltsie Construction in Oswego for over 50 years; for servicing the nuclear energy sector and other industries in the Oswego County region; for employing 30 highly skilled persons and hiring local tradespersons as needed; for contributing to many community events and charities, including Oswego Harborfest, the United Way of Oswego County, the Oswego County Humane Society and the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce.
• The 2021 Jobs Award was presented to ConnextCare in recognition and appreciation of the significant contribution and impact of ConnextCare’s over 250 jobs and over $14.4 million in payroll on the Oswego County economy; for providing over 50 years of critical healthcare services across rural Oswego County; for operating 13 locations across Oswego County and continuing to expand services to communities of need; and for being an integral part of Oswego County’s and Central New York’s healthcare industry.
• Rebekah Alford received OOC’s 2021 Dee Heckethorn Entrepreneur Award in recognition and appreciation of exceptional entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, and dedication to improving the quality of life in the Pulaski area; for the acquisition and expansion of the Rainbow Shores restaurant on Lake Ontario in 2010; for the development of the Mill House Market Deli and Bakery in Pulaski in 2017; for over 10 years working to the improve the growing tourism industry in the Lake Ontario and Salmon River regions of Oswego County.
• Mayor William Barlow was honored with the 2021 Martin Rose Economic Developer Merit Award in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding leadership and collaboration in economic development, thus improving the business climate and quality of life in Oswego and Oswego County; for his innovative service as mayor of the city of Oswego; for his commitment to downtown revitalization, neighborhood restoration and brownfield site rehabilitation; for the expansion of tourism and recreation through the restoration of Wright’s Landing and the Cahill Pier, development of the Harbor Trail, and regeneration of city parks; for fostering business attraction, expansion and retention in the City of Oswego; and, for securing over $40 million in economic development and infrastructure grants for the betterment of the Oswego community.
The OOC board of directors re-elected board members Brian Anderson, National Grid; Ed Gilson, Blake Equipment; Ellen Holst, retired, Oswego County Opportunities; Vincent Lobdell, HealthWay Home Products; John Sharkey, IV, Universal Metal Works; Joseph Solazzo, Laborers Local 633; Ronald G. Tascarella, Pathfinder Bank; and David Turner, Oswego County Department of Development, Tourism and Planning.
The OOC board of directors also elected Abby Weaver, the Alberts Group, for a one-year term to fill a vacancy.
A partial slate of officers was also elected including Tricia Peter-Clark, ConnextCare, as treasurer; and Peter Cullinan, Exelon, as secretary.
L. Michael Treadwell, CEcD, is executive director of Operation Oswego County based in Oswego. To contact him call 315-343-1545 or visit www.oswegocounty.org.
