Dal-Tile building remains unsold

ELLICOTTVILLE It has been 18 months since Dal-Tile closed its ceramic tile plant in Olean, putting nearly 200 people out of work.

While there has been some interest shown by companies that have looked at the plant on East State Street near the city line, it remains unsold.

Corey Wiktor, executive director of the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency (IDA), told the IDA Board of Directors on Tuesday he has asked the Empire State Development Corp. to help pay for a consultant to help determine what type of manufacturing might best suit the plant which has rail access.

A real estate consultant would define the building and what it could offer other businesses, Mr. Wiktor explained. They would identify the businesses that need that type of structure. This would make it easier to market.

The taxes are paid (by Dal-Tile) and its kept up to (building) code, Mr. Wiktor said of the plant.

The contract with the real estate firm hired by Dal-Tile to market the plant has expired.

Mr. Wiktor said there are no guarantees Empire State Development Corp. will pay for the study, but it is a similar situation as the closing of two ConAgra plants in Chautauqua County at a cost of nearly 400 jobs. Empire State Development has agreed to fund a study of the best use of those vegetable processing and canning plants.

The IDA board also heard a presentation from John Bay, president and CEO of ENTECCO LLC of Rochester, which offers a mix of energy options to help companies get off the electrical grid and generate their own electricity. It can be done with no capital outlay by participating companies, he said.

The firm is looking to partner with the IDA to find prospective companies that could benefit from stable energy costs. A company would have the provide its electric bills for the past year for analysis to see if it would benefit.

Mr. Wiktor said one possibility might be to provide power to a corporate park near Dresser- Rand in Olean. There are also several Homer Street companies in Olean that might benefit from an independent power provider.

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Dal-Tile building remains unsold