Buffalo, NY – Governor George Pataki announced Friday that Russer Foods, a division of Tyson Foods, is expanding its facility and creating 200 new jobs in Buffalo's Empire Zone. Russer Foods closed one of its facilities in Bangor, Maine and is moving jobs to the Perry Street facility.
"Russer's decision to expand their manufacturing facility is terrific news for Erie County - providing a major boost to the local economy and creating 200 new job opportunities for area residents," Governor Pataki said. "This announcement reaffirms the fact that our smart economic policies - including the $100 billion in tax cuts we've enacted - have made New York State a far more attractive and competitive place to do business than it was seven years ago."
The company has experienced rapid growth over the past five years, increasing employment in Western New York to more than 600. During the same period, the company has invested more than $35 million in capital improvements, requiring a higher skilled workforce.
"We are pleased to be recipients of the New York State training grant," said Toby Kinerk, president of Russer Foods. "It is exciting to see the private and public sectors working together to drive the change needed to develop a skilled workforce allowing manufacturing companies to stay competitive and grow in Western New York."
Russer's growth has created a need for the company to upgrade the skills of its employees. The company has applied for and has been given a New York State Strategic Training Alliance Program grant of up to $127,000, which will allow Russer to train all of its newer staff members in several areas. The company is also eligible for enhanced tax credits under the Empire Zone Program.
Russer Foods is now owned by Tyson Foods following its acquisition of IBP last year. Its major brands include Russer, Russer Light, Jordan's, Wunderbar and Deutschmacher, and can be found in the deli cases of local area supermarkets.