The end of a long, cold winter--when it comes--will signal the start of renovations at the former Guilford Mills plant in Cobleskill.
"Construction will begin in the spring," said Barbara Acuff, CEO of Green Recycling Solutions International, which bought the plant from Schoharie County in December.
There's been almost no activity at the plant, according to Ms. Acuff, because GRSI's engineers have been drawing up plans to rehab the old factory.
Work will include roofing, getting the power system running and exterior repairs, among other projects, Ms. Acuff said.
"Our engineer and contractor will use as much local labor as possible," Ms. Acuff said last week.
"Our goal is to create jobs for the people of Schoharie County."
She also said GRSI will be adding another company to the five that are planned to be in the plant.
Without naming the new company, Ms. Acuff described it as "a highly successful international group that will bring their knowledge of building green space. . ."
The five original companies range from making lingerie to software development and agricultural research.
Also last week, the Schoharie County Industrial Development Agency approved GRSI's payment in lieu of taxes agreement, or PILOT.
The approval is contingent on the four taxing entities--Town and Village of Cobleskill, Schoharie County and the Cobleskill-Richmondville School District--formally approving the PILOT.
Those four gave preliminary approval in December, so the formal follow-up is expected, according to IDA CEO Ron Filmer.
The PILOT is a tax break for GRSI, allowing the new owners to pay $60,000 per year in taxes on the plant.
But the lower payment is tied to job creation. In order to keep the PILOT, GRSI must create 200 jobs in two years and 300 jobs in three years.