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Empire State Development Announces French Company Compin USA To Produce Rail Passenger Seats In Steuben County

Company Will Lease Space in Gunlocke’s Manufacturing Facility in Steuben County Creating Up to 31 New Jobs

Investment Complements “Southern Tier Soaring” - The Region’s Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced Compin USA will locate a manufacturing plant in Wayland, Steuben County to build seats for transportation industry projects, including Amtrak’s next-generation high-speed trainsets which are being manufactured by Alstom in nearby Hornell. Compin USA is leasing manufacturing space vacated by Gunlocke which recently announced a local workforce reduction in its upholstery division. ESD is supporting this project with up to $80,000 in Excelsior Tax Credits for the creation of up to 31 new jobs. The total project cost has been placed at $270,000. The Steuben County Industrial Development Agency offered technical assistance to help bring the two companies together.

Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, "Compin USA’s arrival in the Southern Tier will further strengthen the transportation manufacturing sector that is helping drive the region’s resurgence. Investing in key industries like this one, across New York State, creates jobs and sets the foundation for long-term, sustainable economic growth." 

Compin USA, a subsidiary of French company Compin/Fainsa, will exclusively manufacture railway passenger seats and interior components at the plant in the Town of Wayland. That project will include the creation of an upholstery business unit in which subcomponents of seats will be produced. Additionally, the company will use its global expertise to create an assembly unit to supply the manufactured seats for the Alstom-built high-speed trainsets. Patrick Bouchet, Group Chief Operating Officer will manage the setup of the Steuben County facility and Nicolas Moiroux will operate and manage the U.S. site operation in Wayland. The company expects to be operational at the site by May 2021.

Marc JAMMOT, President & CEO of COMPIN group said, “The implementation of the COMPIN Inc plant is a key milestone in the COMPIN FAINSA Corp organic growth. Whereas COMPIN FAINSA features a well – developed industrial footprint in Europe (5 industrial sites) the launch of the COMPIN US plant will enable our Group to meet our long-term strategy in developing its Seats and Interior Systems railways business for the North American continent. We want indeed to take advantage of the skilled American workforce as well as the presence of the assembly plant of main US car builders in the NY state to tighten our links with local partners. We are very proud to settle in Wayland and to develop our partnership with the company Gunlocke. Over the next months we will transfer to our US plant our Seat know-how to offer to the US railways passengers the high-end quality and comfort of European seats.”

In November of 2016, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced $30 million in Upstate Revitalization Initiative funding to support the expansion of Alstom which added nearly 200 new jobs in Hornell, Steuben County. The project was motivated by Alstom's successful bid to provide 28 next-generation high-speed trainsets for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.

Jérôme Wallut, President, Alstom Americas said, “We are pleased to welcome yet another company to the growing list of transportation suppliers who have chosen to locate in the Southern Tier, bringing additional high-tech jobs and economic benefits to the region. We thank Empire State Development for their continued efforts to attract these businesses to the region and to New York State as a whole, and for facilitating investments in their growth and development.”

For Additional information about Compin USA, visit: http://www.compinfainsa.com/?lang=en

Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chair Judy McKinney Cherry, Executive Director, Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development (SCOPED) and Broome Community College President Kevin Drumm said, "The Compin USA and Alstom projects represent a win-win for the Southern Tier and all of New York State. Under the Governor’s, leadership we are making transformative investments in leading industries and improving our transportation network for the 21st century ensuring that the region with continue to soar for years to come. This investment further enhances our global partnerships.”

Senator Tom O'Mara said, "The partnership between Compin USA and Gunlocke to revitalize a manufacturing plant in Steuben County is outstanding and exciting news for the future of transportation manufacturing across the Southern Tier.  It brings critical new manufacturing jobs to Steuben County and will continue to strengthen one of this region's most important foundations for economic growth and job creation."

State Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes said, “It is so good to see new jobs coming to the Wayland area.  We have a wonderful transportation development hub in Northern Steuben County already.  This is a welcome addition with opportunities for growth.”

Steuben County IDA Executive Director Jamie Johnson said, “We are thrilled that Compin and Gunlocke were able to work together to make use of manufacturing equipment and expertise that was already in Steuben County.  This relationship will make both companies stronger over the long-term and provide additional job opportunities to Steuben County residents.”

Wayland Town Supervisor Carol E Mykel said, "We are very pleased to welcome Compin to Wayland. Gunlocke has been a long-time employer for us and their recent, necessary downsizing was a cause for concern for our residents. We look forward to the increased employment opportunities that this move makes immediately available for our area and look forward to more as the company grows their local operation."

Accelerating Southern Tier Soaring 

Today's announcement complements “Southern Tier Soaring,” the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The State has already invested more than $7.4 billion in the region since 2012 to lay for groundwork for the plan – attracting a talented workforce, growing business and driving innovation. Now, the region is accelerating Southern Tier Soaring with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, announced by Governor Cuomo in December 2015. The State’s $500 million investment will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion – and the region’s plan, as submitted, projects up to 10,200 new jobs. More information is available here.

Contact:

Shari Voorhees-Vincent | [email protected] | (585)399-7055

ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313