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Manufacturing facility reaches construction milestone at former Bethlehem Steel site

Ryan Zunner
/
WBFO News

The last iron beam was added to TMP Technologies' new facility at the former Bethlehem Steel site. TMP becomes the first tenant to the 150-acre commerce park owned by the Erie County-backed Industrial Land Development Corporation.

TMP President Robert Laughlin said his company is proud to be part of the rebirth of what was once a mighty sign of Western New York industry.

“This expansion will allow us to continue our growth. It’s going to allow us to consolidate our operations, our manufacturing, and our complete storage needs all under one roof,” Laughlin said. “We’re going to be adding three additional production lines and we’ll still have ample room for future expansion.”

TMP Technologies is a locally based company that produces rubber, foam and cleaning products, including Proctor and Gamble’s Magic Eraser. Once finished, TMP will occupy 290,000 square feet and be home to over 120 full-time employees.

Deputy County Executive Maria Whyte said the company is a welcomed addition to what is an ongoing project to revitalize the long since vacant Bethlehem Steel site.

“TMP’s project will have supported more than 100 construction jobs, and they will have invested $22 million in the local economy,” said Whyte. “They will have employed 126 new and retained workers with an annual payroll of $5.4 million, and they will have completed this safely in the middle of a global pandemic.” 

To make the site more attractive to possible tenants, Erie County has made several improvements to the areas accessibility. This included adding new sanitary sewers, street lights, storm sewers, fire hydrants, and sidewalks. They also extended a public roadway into the commerce park by way of Dona Street off Ridge Road.

The next step in the near future of the former steel site is adding on to the Shoreline Trail bike path, which currently stretches from Niawanda Park to Dona Street. The addition would take the trail farther south to Woodlawn Beach State Park and will be discussed in the Aug. 13 public meeting of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency.

Ryan Zunner joined WBFO in the summer of 2018 as an intern, before working his way up to reporter the following summer.
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