A former brownfield site in Niagara Falls has been transformed into a manufacturing hub for a company that makes health and wellness-based products. Sandstone Springs, LLC on Tuesday opened its new 90,000 square foot facility at the former Union Carbide site at 3625 Highland Avenue.
The distressed property underwent a $1.5 million rehabilitation, using state funding and environmental redevelopment grants. The site's two buildings have new utilities, air and water purification systems, clean rooms and landscaping. The company then invested around $5 million to build out the facility.
"Sandstone Springs is very proud to be a part of the City of Niagara Falls business community. I want to thank Empire State Development, Governor Cuomo and all our State and local leaders for providing an opportunity to create jobs and contribute to the success and future growth of the City’s economy,” said Sandstone Springs CEO John Bordynuik, in a statement.
The campus includes R&D and organic chemistry labs and product manufacturing lines for vegan foods. The company makes wellness-based products, ranging from gummy candies to tinctures, through products that it says will be both kosher- and halal-certified.
“The job creation and innovation taking place at Sandstone Springs is not only indicative of the need for a cleaner, greener manufacturing industry, but serves as evidence that our region is at the forefront of these cutting-edge developments because of leaders like Governor Cuomo and our partners at Empire State Development,” said Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, in a statement. “The investments made here will surely have an impact on our region for many years to come, and we are proud to play host to this leader in the industry.”
The company says the facility has the capability to incubate new products and processes from concept to high-volume manufacturing.
Empire State Development offered up to $500,000 to the city for the project through a Regional Council Consolidated Funding Application, which is designed to help generate job growth, build the tax base and revitalize the area.
The project is part of the city's Highland Avenue Brownfield Opportunity Area. National Grid provided a $300,000 brownfield redevelopment grant for the facility and the Environmental Protection Agency provided a $200,000 grant.
Fifty-five new jobs are being created.
