| October 30, 2006: Reynolds Announces BernzOmatic To Stay in Medina, Will Not Move Work to China |
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Congressman says decision reversal will save hundreds of local jobs and proves economic competitiveness of Western New York Today, Congressman Thomas M. Reynolds (R-Clarence) announced that Irwin Industrial Tool Company, parent company to hand-held torch manufacturer BernzOmatic, has reversed its decision to end operations in Medina and move the work to China. Instead, the BernzOmatic Medina plant will stay open, a decision that will save 213 existing local jobs and lead to the creation of 32 new jobs over the next three years. In addition, Irwin Industrial Tool Company will invest more than $1 million on building renovations and machinery purchases and will be eligible for several grants for its Medina operations, including two $25,000 federal grants to train workers in Orleans County. "This reversal is a testament to the workforce and competitive potential of Western New York," Reynolds said. "When we promote and market Western New York, the region-and in particular its workforce-can compete against any region, any where, even one on the other side of the world. The BernzOmatic plant is staying open for business, and jobs are staying in Medina, because its parent company realized the strength and talent of our local workers and sees future growth for BernzOmatic in our region." In May 2006, Irwin Industrial Tool Company announced plans to move 200 jobs from its BernzOmatic Medina plant to Shanghai, China and eventually close the plant by the end of 2007. The Orleans County facility is the only BernzOmatic manufacturing operation, and also ranks among the top 10 private-sector employers in Orleans County. A worldwide marketer and manufacturer of hand-held torches and accessories, BernzOmatic was founded in Newark, N.J. in 1876, relocated to Rochester in the 1940s, and purchased its current Medina plant in 1969. The company is a division of Irwin Industrial Tools, a Newell Rubbermaid company based in North Carolina that specializes in professional hand-grade and power tools, which it manufactures and distributes worldwide. After its decision to stay in Western New York, BernzOmatic is eligible to apply for several grants, including a grant from Empire State Development for a Capital Grant of up to $400,000 to offset a portion of the company's renovation and machinery costs and a grant of $175,000 from the Governor's Office for Small Cities. In addition, BernzOmatic is eligible for two $25,000 federal grants through the WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) Initiative, a U.S. Department of Labor program that aims to assist regions in developing and implementing worker training programs to make them competitive in the 21st Century economy. Earlier this year, Reynolds announced that the Department of Labor awarded the Upstate New York region, including Orleans County, $15 million through the WIRED Initiative. "Now that BernzOmatic has made a commitment to Western New York and keep hundreds of local jobs, New York is committed to ensuring and spurring its growth in Medina," Reynolds said. "Our region recently received millions of dollars through the WIRED Initiative to make the area more competitive. This award is now paying off by improving our workforce, attracting employers and creating jobs for Western New Yorkers." Reynolds added, "Rapid changes and improvements in technology and the way the world shares information has ushered in a new economy, a global economy. BernzOmatic's original decision to move to China made us all well aware of the world economy in which today's companies operate. But I believe Western New York can and must compete in this economy, and BernzOmatic's decision to stay in Medina shows that our region indeed can compete successfully. Ultimately we can choose as a region to be a part of our 21st Century economy and be a player in the global marketplace, or we can pretend that the world hasn't changed, that our economy exists in a 20th Century vacuum, and close our doors to growth and future investment. Today's decision displays that if we choose to be a part of the modern economy and believe in Western New York workers, we will succeed and jobs will come home." |