Friday News Brief
Written by WBTA STAFF on December 20, 2024
Genesee County Economic Development Center Supports Le Roy and Bergen Projects
At the Genesee County Economic Development Center’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, they advanced both the Appletree Acres project in Bergen and the 9 Lent Avenue LLC project in Le Roy.
Appletree Acres had their initial resolution passed. Appletree Acres is proposing to add a 15,000-square-foot expansion onto a 50,000-square-foot warehouse in the Apple Tree Acres corporate park. The project would create 4 full-time jobs. The next step in the project is a public hearing that will be scheduled in the town of Bergen. 9 Lent Avenue, LLC had its final resolution passed. As part of the proposal, 9 Lent Avenue, LLC will receive a sales tax exemption estimated at $13,200 and a property tax abatement estimated at $86,016 for their 8,000-square-foot light manufacturing and storage facility in Le Roy.
Both projects will only add to the long list of new and expanding businesses in Genesee County that the Genesee County Economic Development Center has supported in 2024.
Bergen Business Honored as a New York State Historic Business
Howard Owens with the Batavian reports, that Viking Valhalla in Bergen has been officially honored as one of New York State’s historic busnisses.
Originally called the “Rose Garden Restaurant”, Viking Valhalla has been in business for 100 years and for the last 70 years has been owned by the Sardou family. The company has been a longtime staple of Bergen with its bowling alley being a popular spot for people looking for a night out. On Wednesday, Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Bergen Mayor Joseph Chimino presented owners Chris and Tom Sardou with their certificate that commemorates their addition to the New York Historic Business Preservation Registry.
Owner Chris Sardou said, “We just celebrated our 70th anniversary, and now to be inducted into the state’s historic registry, it means a lot.”
National Fuel Announces First Delivery Rate Increase in Over 5 Years
On Thursday, National Fuel received approval for its first base delivery rate increase since 2017 for New York customers.
Not only is this the first increase in National Fuel’s base delivery rates since 2017, but it is just the second increase in 16 years. The increase comes as part of an agreement with the New York Department of Public Service that allows for an annual revenue increase of $86 million over 3 years. National Fuel says it will use the money to improve its pipeline infrastructure and workforce and advance more affordable decarbonization initiatives.
