The sale of the county-owned Guilford Mills is moving forward as the centerpiece of SUNY Cobleskill's START-UP NEW YORK program, but other properties are part of the program as well.
Although Guilford is the property furthest along in the process, others are in the mix, too: the former Maranatha building and the former Warnerville Garage, both in the Town of Richmondville, and the SUNY Cobleskill ski lodge.
START-UP NEW YORK allows companies and their employees income-tax-free status for 10 years. That benefit makes Guilford's potential sale to Green Recycling Solutions International extremely attractive.
SUNY Cobleskill has submitted its plan for state approval, which is expected after a public comment period ends in early July.
Assuming the state approves the plan, the county expects to begin negotiations for a price for Guilford this summer, according to Treasurer Bill Cherry, who's handling the deal for the county.
GRSI is an umbrella company that includes five or more firms that bring jobs to Guilford. A GRSI spokesperson said last month that the company hopes to begin work on Guilford in August.
Under START-UP NEW YORK, each SUNY campus has 200,000 square feet it can include in the program. SUNY Cobleskill has dedicated 125,000 square feet of its allotment to Guilford.
The plan also allocates 62,000 square feet of the Maranatha building; 9,585 for the ski lodge; and 3,600 for the Warnerville Garage.
Jason Evans, who's handling START-UP for the college, noted that interest in those three properties is varied.
One essential for potential businesses is that they must offer opportunities for college students; GRSI, which has several environmentally-friendly businesses involved, would do so.
Gregory Wilhelm is planning to put his Royal Meadery, a business to produce mead, in the former garage, according to Richmondville officials. Mr. Wilhelm's business, too, would fit SUNY criteria.
Maranatha, the gym that closed last fall, is up for sale. There's no word on who a potential buyer might be.
However, if a business isn't in line with SUNY Cobleskill's curriculum and programs, it may not qualify for tax-free status, Mr. Evans said.
"If it's not a good fit for us, we can deny the petition," Mr. Evans said.
A business could still buy the building but not get the tax-free benefit, he added.
The ski lodge is the only on-campus property involved, and as such, the college is reserving the right to restrict what businesses might rent the property.
A private company hosting community events, or a firm involved in education or ecological research would be suitable, Mr. Evans said.
SUNY Cobleskill's plan is available to the public at the Village of Cobleskill office, the county Planning and Development Agency and the county Industrial Development Agency.