$250 million paper mill announce in Castleton

$250 million Castleton plant expected to bring 70-80 jobs

By Kenneth C. Crowe II

Updated 10:25 pm, Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Troy

A new $250 million paper mill in Castleton highlighted Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen Jimino's State of the County address to the County Legislature on Tuesday night.

Jimino announced that Castleton Paperboard LLC, an affiliate of MiniMill Technologies, had agreed to buy the former Fort Orange Paper Co.site from the county for $600,000.

"It is CP's intention to clean up the contamination on this former Superfund site and build a $250 million state-of-the-art paperboard mill that will employ between 70 and 80 people when fully operational and will manufacture lightweight paperboard that has the same strength as the recycled heavyweight paperboard it is made from," Jimino said.

The county has been working to return the mill site to productive use for about 12 years.

"It is very important to Castleton and the immediate vicinity," said County Legislature Chairman Martin Reid, R-Sand Lake.

Majority Leader Kenneth Herrington, R-Brunswick, recalled the efforts by the late County Legislator Edward R. Swartz, R-Schodack, to turn around the site.

The county executive's address spoke pointedly to the county undertaking more economic development projects to bolster the county tax rolls and job opportunities.

The county Legislature voted unanimously following Jimino's speech to approve the sale of the mill site.

The legislators also voted unanimously to buy property in Hoosick Falls adjacent to the WCW manufacturing property in the village that the county took for $1.2 million in back taxes. The county will spend $90,000 to buy from 4 J's One Mechanic Street a site that contains the parking lots, loading docks and loading areas for the factory. If the county can't purchase the property, the County Legislature authorized taking it through eminent domain.

Reid said firms are interested in buying the property for industrial use.

Jimino said the county's economic development agencies are working to attract new businesses and maintain those that are presently located in the county. The county executive also reviewed the development of the Community Care Physicians Medical offices, renovations at the RPI Tech Park and the expansion of the Regeneron facility.

Minority Leader Peter Grimm, D-Troy, said Jimino provided no detailed plans.

"Where's the plan to create revenues?" Grimm asked.

kcrowe@timesunion.com • 518-454-5084 • @KennethCrowe