Port is still wooing Kolmar

No deal for anyone yet as efforts stall in the tight money climate, By Anya Tikka and David Hulse PORT JERVIS, N.Y. — Kolmar Laboratories has reportedly taken El Paso, Texas off their relocation list. The El Paso Times reported last week that Kolmar may be continuing to negotiate with Louisiana officials. A source familiar with Kolmar’s position said the Louisiania deal was scheduled to expire in mid-September, but added, “They need to go somewhere or they’ll go out of business.” A spokesperson at the Louisiana Economic Development Agency last week told the Courier that she did not know of the company or the situation. Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther said on Sept. 17 that she just heard that the deal is off with El Paso, and that negotiations are still going on with Kolmar to keep it in New York State. Kolmar employs 500-700 persons in Port Jervis and is probably the largest employer in the city. Gunther spoke with Dennis Mullen of Empire State Development, and a group of other unspecified persons, and she said that they are doing all they can “to keep those jobs in Port Jervis.” “The deal offered in July was $6.125 million and it’s still on the table,” said Gunther, adding it consists of a three-part package, including $300,000 per year in energy bill help, and other incentives she didn’t specify. But the Courier has learned that state incentives have strings. “They’re tied to private spending. Kolmar would get $6.125 million only if they’re willing to spend more than $11 million in private development money first. If they had $11 million, they wouldn’t be moving,” our source said. A big problem for the cosmetics maker is financing a move. With recession driven, tight commercial financing, the company has not found a lender. Kolmar officials recently were at a New York City trade show, attended by dozens of its customers. “There was no announcement of a move there, and those people would have been the first to be told, if a move was coming soon,” our source said. Port Jervis Mayor Gary Lapriore was not aware of any new developments regarding Kolmar relocation, adding, “But I don’t think they would let us know.” He said he has raised the Kolmar situation from time to time in his routine dealings with the State, and to his knowledge there had not been a response to the incentives package. “I have no problem calling Kolmar directly if I have a query from a constituent,” he said. Kolmar President and CEO Robert Theroux has not responded to a request for comment.