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March 3, 2010

Marketing Chazy facility a Pfizer priority

Indications expected in 30-60 days, officials say

By DAN HEATH

PLATTSBURGH — Efforts continue to market Pfizer's Chazy research facility.

During the third meeting of the Pfizer Transition Coordinating Council, Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said there are some interested parties, but it is too early to identify them.

"They are just possibilities right now."

Douglas said it should become more apparent in the next 30 to 60 days whether anything is starting to gel.

ALL-OUT EFFORT
Empire State Development Corp. Chairman and CEO Dennis Mullen has made finding a buyer a personal mission, Douglas said, and U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Rep. Bill Owens are also involved.

David Champagne, managing director of the Pfizer manufacturing plant in Rouses Point, said that marketing the Chazy facility remains the company's priority. He said Pfizer is looking for buyers for the Plattsburgh and chemical-development buildings, as well.

"Pfizer has a very strong team that is aggressively engaged in marketing these facilities," Champagne said.

LAID-OFF WORKERS
Keri Mack of OneWorkSource provided the Employee and Family Assistance Work Group update. She said the U.S. Department of Labor has accepted an amendment to the Wyeth/Pfizer Trade Adjustment Assistance petition to include all workers from the Rouses Point, Chazy and Plattsburgh facilities.

Four meetings have been held with affected employees and also about 50 meetings with individuals on benefits under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act. Those include job-search allowances, relocation allowances and more.

GRANT SOUGHT
The group worked with the chamber to submit a pre-application to the U.S. Department of Commerce for a Community Trade Act Assistance grant. That funding can be used for a wide range of technical, planning and infrastructure projects to help communities diversify and deal with trade impacts.

The funding would go to Clinton County for use in the communities, not to the affected employees.

The final application is due by April 21.

NEW CAREERS
Kent Eldridge, director of human resources at the Pfizer plant in Rouses Point, said the company has contracted with Right Management to provide career counseling for those affected by layoffs.

Tim Matott, job developer at Right Management's Pfizer Career Center, said center staff will conduct workshops on career-path searches, resume development and networking. They also provide one-on-one counseling.

The center has about 20 work stations with high-speed Internet service and other business tools.

The Pfizer Career Center is located in Suite 201 of the Powertex building, 1 Lincoln Blvd., Rouses Point. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Eldridge said the North Country Small-Business Development Center has held two seminars to help people who want to start their own business, both of which were well attended.

The center has also submitted an application for a $58,000 portability grant, which would be used for outreach and to establish a marketing Web site aimed at the Canadian market.

APRIL MEETING
The next meeting of the Pfizer Transition Coordinating Council is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 7, at the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce.

E-mail Dan Heath at: dheath@pressrepublican.com

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