Schenectady, N.Y., February 16, 2011 — The Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority today released information about all 40 payment in lieu of tax (Pilot) agreements administered by Metroplex, the City of Schenectady Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and the Schenectady County Industrial Development Agency (IDA).  Together, the Pilot agreements generated over $4.45 million in payments to local governments, school districts and County government with that number expected to grow as Pilots include regularly scheduled increases. An additional $1 million resulted from sales tax revenues from projects covered by Pilots.  Metroplex administers both the City and County IDA and started managing the Rotterdam IDA last year as part of Schenectady County’s unified economic development team.

Susan E. Savage, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature said, “Creating and maintaining jobs throughout Schenectady County remains our top priority,” said Susan Savage, Chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature.  “These agreements have allowed many of our local businesses to grow while attracting new investments and jobs that are benefiting our local taxpayers.”

Gary McCarthy, President of the Schenectady City Council said, “The Pilots that have been put in place under Schenectady’s unified economic development team have eliminated blight, created value and jobs and an increasing revenue stream for local government.”

Ray Gillen, Chair of the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority and Commissioner of Economic Development and Planning for Schenectady County said, “Almost 90% of the Pilot agreements cover projects built on land that was previously tax-exempt, buildings that were vacant or vacant land. We are taking property that paid little or no taxes and putting it back to use while we create new jobs and new revenues for local governments.”

Metroplex currently administers 40 pilot agreements:

— 10 agreements are Pilots that resulted in new buildings being built on land that was previously vacant and paying just nominal taxes.  Having built buildings where there was vacant land, these ten agreements are generating new tax revenues of $1,056,079 each year with that figure growing as Pilot payments increase.

–14 agreements are Pilots that resulted in new buildings being built on land that was previously owned by the government or was tax-exempt.  These 14 agreements are generating new tax revenues of $1,567,742 each year on property that generated no taxes before with that figure growing as Pilot payments increase.

–11 agreements are Pilots that resulted in new tax base and new jobs in formerly vacant buildings. These 11 agreements are generating new tax revenues of $887,678 each year where nominal taxes were paid before on vacant buildings with that figure growing as Pilot payments increase.

–5 agreements cover building expansions.  These are Pilots that helped a company expand resulting in new tax base for the community. These Pilots generate $934,060 each year with that figure growing as Pilot payments increase.

In addition, a number of the projects listed created substantial new sales tax revenue estimated at more than $1 million per year.

Projects Built on Vacant Land Were Paying $49,500 in Taxes Now Paying $1,056,079 in Pilot Payments

• Railex at the Rotterdam Corporate Park paying $291,434.  The company built a new 220,000 square foot warehouse.  Pilot increasing.
• 376 Broadway in downtown Schenectady. New 24,000 square office building paying $58,262.  Pilot increasing.
• Marcellas at 564 Broadway in downtown Schenectady.  New 16,750 square foot facility paying $24,508. Pilot increasing. Project also creates sales tax revenue.
• Unilux at Niskayuna Tech Park paying $130,434. The company built a 67,000 square foot manufacturing plant.  Pilot increasing.
• Belvedere Hotel at 1930 Curry Road in Rotterdam.  28,725 square foot building paying $54,516. Pilot increasing. Project also creates sales tax revenue.
• Opus Business Park (now Burdeck Street Business Park) Three buildings — 15,600 square feet paying $15,865 with Pilot increasing.  35,100 square foot building paying $48,498 with Pilot increasing and 25,000 square foot building paying $48,720 with Pilot increasing.
• Time Warner Cable at 1021 Highbridge Road in Rotterdam.  80,000 square foot office building paying $217,857 with Pilot increasing.
• Dimension Fabricators at 2000 Seventh Avenue.  Assumed pilot on 152,000 square foot building paying $165,985 with pilot increasing.

 Government or Tax–exempt Land/Buildings Were Paying $0 in Taxes Now Paying $1,567,742 in Pilot Payments

• MVP at 625 State Street in downtown Schenectady. 175,000 square foot office building paying $256,569 with Pilot increasing to $700,000.
• Hampton Inn at 450 State Street in downtown Schenectady.  62,000 square foot hotel paying $104,038 with Pilot increasing to $200,000.  Project also creates sales tax revenues.
• 400 State Street.  60,200 square foot building paying $20,892 increasing to $92,000.
• Fortitech at 2105 Technology Drive.  130,000 square foot facility paying $164,399 with Pilot increasing.
• Broadway Center 140,000 square foot office building paying $294,282 with Pilot increasing.
• Cyclics 22,000 square feet on Technology Drive paying $50,938 with Pilot increasing.
• Utech at 135 Broadway paying $12,339 with Pilot increasing.
•  M&P Labs 18,000 square foot facility on Technology Drive paying $77,605 with Pilot increasing.
• Northeast Analytical 15,520 square foot facility on Technology Drive paying $57,161 with Pilot increasing.
• Astria Solutions 27,000 square foot building on Technology Drive paying $41,962 with Pilot increasing.
• 426 State Street 34,000 square feet paying $75,000 with Pilot increasing.  Project also creates sales tax revenues.
• Former Scotia Navy Depot paying $261,084 with Pilot increasing.
• Columbia McClellan Group 45,550 square feet built on formerly tax-exempt property $68,791 with Pilot increasing.
• Fortitech at the Schenectady County Airport paying $82,682 with Pilot increasing.

11 Formerly Vacant Buildings Now Paying $888,038

• BN Partners at 1510 Maxon Road in downtown Schenectady.  New 240,000 square foot office paying $140,150 increasing to $800,000.  This was vacant Big N Plaza.
• Center City in downtown Schenectady. $150,000 with Pilot increasing.  This was vacant Center City building.
• Villa Italia $21,150 with Pilot increasing.  This was vacant garage. Project also creates sales tax revenue.
• JMR Development $135,357 with Pilot increasing. This was vacant Two Guys store.
• 411 State St. Acquisition $25,000 with Pilot increasing to $40,000.   This was vacant dollar store.
• 401 State $63,250 with Pilot increasing.  This was vacant Woolworth’s store.
• 409 State $33,000 with Pilot increasing.  This was vacant dollar store.
• Contec $63,897 with Pilot increasing. This was empty building.
• World Star $173,842 with Pilot increasing. This was vacant Maqua building.
• SROA Realty $73,985 with Pilot increasing.  This was vacant Two Guys Automotive.
• Bombers $8,407 with Pilot increasing.  This was vacant boxing gym. Project also creates sales tax revenue.

5 Expansions Paying $934,060

• Three Pilots at GE Global Research for chemical engineering expansion, new Pilot manufacturing facility and expansion of Energy Learning Center.  Paying $357,460 with Pilot increasing.
• Environment One expansion $77,376 with Pilot increasing.
• SI Group Niskayuna expansion $499,224 with Pilot increasing.

In addition to the Pilot payments generated by the 40 projects, each project also pays so–called ad valorem taxes which cover special district taxes that are not covered by Pilots. This provides additional payments to local governments in terms of fire district taxes, special district assessments and other special fees and charges.