Schenectady, N.Y., July 30, 2008 — Griffin Greenhouse & Nursery Supplies today joined with Metroplex, Schenectady County and City officials and Highbridge Development to announce a $3 million investment that will bring a new 27,000 square foot building to the Broadway Commerce Park just off of I-890 in downtown Schenectady.
Susan. E. Savage, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature said, “This project continues our efforts to bring new jobs and investment to Schenectady County. In the past four years, we have added over 140,000 square feet of new and renovated space for fast growing companies on Broadway, a major gateway to Schenectady County.”
Mayor Brian U. Stratton said, “We welcome this outstanding company to the revitalized Broadway corridor. This is another step forward for our efforts to bring new companies right into the heart of the City helping Schenectady to grow and flourish.”
Griffin Greenhouse & Nursery Supplies is headquartered in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. The company operates 12 distribution centers in nine states including Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, New York and New Jersey.
Craig Hyslip, Chief Operating Officer of Griffin Greenhouse & Nursery Supplies, said, “Griffin Greenhouse & Nursery Supplies is excited to continue their presence in the capital district area. In deciding on this site we needed to give careful consideration to the effect it would have on our employees and customers therefore we chose Highbridge Development along with Schenectady to provide us the best outcome. We are looking forward to moving in this December.”
The company currently leases space in Latham, but needed to expand and the company wanted to construct and own its own facility in Eastern New York. Schenectady County was selected over a number of competing locations for the project. The company will relocate 16 jobs from Latham to Schenectady once the project is complete. The new distribution center represents an investment of $2 million by the company and another $1 million by the developer in the Broadway Commerce Park.
Highbridge Development will build the new facility for Griffin. Highbridge Development is the developer of the Broadway Commerce Park, an urban business park that is home to a number of professional office buildings and distribution facilities along the Broadway entrance to the City right off of I-890.
John Roth, President of Highbridge Development said, “Griffin Greenhouse and Nursery Supplies is the perfect project to kick off this next section of the Broadway Commerce Park. This project opens up a number of very attractive sites for lease or purchase along Broadway.”
Griffin Greenhouse and Nursery Supplies was founded in 1947. The company is the leading supplier of quality greenhouse and nursery products to wholesalers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region.
Metroplex will provide to HighBridge Development a $125,000 façade grant. Metroplex will receive a $150,000 payment from HighBridge for the purchase of land needed for the project.
Metroplex Chair Ray Gillen said, “We are very pleased to attract to Schenectady County a company like Griffin Greenhouse with a sixty year track record of providing quality products.”
The City Planning Commission has already approved the building and site plan. Construction is scheduled to begin in late August.
For more information, see www.griffins.com