New York- (RealEstateRama) — New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) today announced a popular candy maker will be able to expand its facilities, hire additional employees and grow its business in its home town of North Tonawanda with the assistance of a $100,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Small Business Program award.
HCR Commissioner James S. Rubin said: “Governor Cuomo often says communities grow when businesses thrive and by creating private sector opportunities, we can achieve both. Platter’s Chocolates is well-known in Western New York, and this award can help it expand its market reach, its bottom line and ability to add more local residents to its work force.”
The City of North Tonawanda requested the $100,000 award to enable Platter’s Chocolates purchase candy manufacturing machinery and equipment to add a second production line to keep pace with the growing demand, as it relocates to a section of the historic Wurlitzer Building – where the eponymous organs were manufactured – on Niagara Falls Boulevard. The projected cost of the company’s relocation and expansion is $660,000. As a result, Platter’s expects to create 12 new full time and six part time jobs available to low- and moderate-income persons.
North Tonawanda Mayor Arthur Pappas said: “Growing up here in North Tonawanda, Platter’s Chocolates has been a part of my childhood for as long as I can remember. I believe I speak for many when I say they have been a North Tonawanda tradition for so many great years. A tremendous thank you goes out to the Homes and Community Renewal organization for their work in re-establishing Platter’s Chocolates where they belong, in their home city. Best wishes to Platter’s for so many more great years.”
Platter’s Chocolates was established in 1938 and the late Roger Urban bought the company in 1972, expanding the company and product line beyond its signature Orange Chocolate and sponge candy to include peanut butter sponge centers, and Chocolate Buffalo Chicken Wings.
John DiGuiseppe, Vice President for Business Development of Platter’s Chocolates said: “Thanks to the efforts of Governor Cuomo’s dedicated team at HCR, more people around the country will taste the quality that has made Platter’s famous. North Tonawanda has been Platter’s home for almost 80 years, and this expansion will help us grow and create jobs for years to come.”
To learn more about HCR’s funding opportunities, visit http://www.nyshcr.org/Funding/.
About New York State Homes and Community Renewal
New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) is responsible for carrying out Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s $10 billion HOUSE NY 2020 plan to finance 100,000 affordable housing units over five years and leading the Governor’s $10 billion Homelessness Action Plan to create 20,000 new supportive housing units over the next 15 years. HCR agencies and programs Build NY, creating new affordable housing; Preserve NY: extending affordability of existing units statewide; Welcome Home NY: increasing access to affordable homeownership for all New Yorkers, including special programs for veterans; provide Opportunity NY: promoting and protecting tenant rights and expanding housing opportunities to ensure State investments benefit all New Yorkers; and Revitalize NY: investing in downtowns and communities across the State. For more information on HCR programs and agencies, please visit http://www.nyshcr.org/
