Schenectady, N.Y., — Schenectady County officials joined with Metroplex to announce today that Send Word Now, a fast growing emergency notification company headquartered in New York City, has selected downtown Schenectady as a hub for the company’s network operations and customer service center. Send Word Now will establish operations in Schenectady later this summer and is projected to ramp up to over 100 new jobs over the next several years. The company will lease space at the former Imperial Building owned by Capital OTB on State Street. Send Word Now will also contribute to downtown safety by donating access to its emergency notification services to the City of Schenectady.
Susan E. Savage, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature said, “The County Legislature’s top priority is the creation of new jobs. Today, as we welcome another new company to our community, Schenectady is reclaiming its rightful place as a leader of innovation and economic development in Tech Valley. Schenectady County is winning again because we are all working together to attract jobs and investment to our community. Our pro-active economic development effort is creating a sense of momentum that will spur additional investment and growth.”
Schenectady Mayor Brian U. Stratton said, “Send Word Now is a leader in the global high-speed notification market. Together with the County Legislature and Metroplex, we welcome this company to downtown Schenectady, a safe and exciting place to live, work and be entertained. Today’s tech companies want a vibrant urban setting and we are demonstrating that Schenectady has what it takes to compete for and win new jobs.”
Sanford Cohen, CEO of Send Word Now said, “We look forward to getting in on the ground floor of an exciting new period of growth in downtown Schenectady. Send Word Now has developed services that allow our customers to simultaneously contact and mobilize thousands of people around the globe while utilizing multiple forms of existing communication devices such as cell phones, home phones, email addresses and others. We are setting up our communications hub in downtown Schenectady instead of Manhattan. In Schenectady, we found tremendous support from government officials and Metroplex and a skilled workforce loaded with Tech Valley talent. We hope that our plan to establish operations downtown sends a strong message that Schenectady is once again playing a key role in the development and implementation of new technologies.”
Send Word Now, a service of SWN Communications, Inc., provides global communication services to Fortune 1000 clients and government agencies including the U.S. Postal Service, the Bank of New York and leading financial, health care, media and retail companies.
The company provides easy, fast and secure notification and response services for time-critical situations. As companies and government agencies develop solutions for dealing with emergencies or providing time sensitive information, Send Word Now continues to experience growth in its customer base.
State Senator Hugh T. Farley said, “The word has been sent — and received! Schenectady’s rapidly emerging reputation as a vibrant location with a well qualified workforce has earned another investment from a growing high-technology firm. I’m thrilled to welcome Send Word Now to Schenectady, and I’m proud of our economic development team for bringing these good jobs to Schenectady.”
Robert T. Farley, Minority Leader of the Schenectady County Legislature said, “For the first time in three decades Schenectady will commence a long overdue redevelopment of the north side of the 400 block of State Street. This building, located directly across from the new DOT office center, will now be host to a 21st century communications company, providing over 100 jobs to the heart of downtown. These jobs, and the fine people they will hire, will provide another pillar to the foundation of our community’s efforts to bring Schenectady back to life. These are great, private sector jobs by a company with a proven track record of success. They can offer yet another catalyst to improve our future.”
Frank J. Maurizio, President of the City Council said, “This is an exciting project because it puts another important building downtown back on the tax rolls and, at the same time, brings quality technology-sector jobs to downtown Schenectady. The momentum continues.”
Capital District Regional Off Track Betting Corporation (OTB) owns and operates the Imperial Racing Center at 325 State Street. The building currently has vacant space on the second and third floors.
Send Word Now will lease almost 6,000 square feet of space on the third floor with an option to lease the second floor, as well as an option to purchase the entire building. The building is currently tax-exempt under Capital OTB ownership. Send Word Now has agreed to enter into a voluntary payment in lieu of tax (PILOT) agreement to the City of Schenectady. If the company purchases the building, a PILOT will be established so that the property goes back on the tax rolls. Send Word Now will start recruiting staff by the end of summer.
The company also has an agreement with Metroplex to lease up to 100 spaces in the Broadway Parking Garage.
“The Imperial Building is one of the signature buildings on the Proctor’s Block. OTB management has been extremely cooperative in helping us fill the empty space in this building with a high-tech tenant who will add to the vibrancy and safety of downtown. This deal marks the seventh downtown building that Metroplex has put on the tax rolls in just the past few months. In addition, we have now leased one-third of the empty spaces in the parking garage in just a few months time,” said Ray Gillen, Chairman of Metroplex.
Michael J. Connery, President of Capital District OTB said, “Capital OTB has always had its corporate offices in the City of Schenectady. We’ve been a mainstay since 1972. In addition to distributing nearly $700,000 to the City in 2003 and more than $23 million in revenues since the inception of the corporation, we are also committed to helping the City grow and prosper through this collaborative venture. I want to thank the City’s representative to OTB, John Della Ratta, for his support and direction which enabled the corporation to offer this space to a new, innovative company, building on the City’s efforts to revive downtown Schenectady.”
Proposed Metroplex funding for the project includes a $200,000 grant to be used toward building alterations, repairs and operations and a loan of $800,000 with interest rates that increase from 1% to 5% over the five year term of the loan.
Send Word Now will also donate the use of its time critical messaging system to the City of Schenectady for use in promoting the fact that downtown offers a safe and secure environment and that in event of any problems, a large first responder network will be in place to offer assistance.
City Police Chief Michael Geraci said, “To promote a safe and secure Schenectady, we need to utilize the latest in technology. Send Word Now’s notification service provides important communication capabilities to help respond quickly in an emergency and mobilize response teams on a 24/7 basis.”
More information on the company may be found at www.sendwordnow.com.