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Empire State Development Announces Official Grand Opening for New Wayfair Sales & Service Center in Chemung County

Leading E-commerce Retailer Commits to Creating 450 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 that Wayfair, a leading e-commerce retailer, has officially opened its state-of-the-art sales and service center in Big Flats, Chemung County. The company plans to create up to 450 new, full-time jobs in the Southern Tier region over the next three years across a variety of management, sales and service roles. So far, the company has hired 250 employees who are already working on site. The company renovated a vacant building at Corporate Park in the town of Big Flats. Investing in successful companies supports the strategy of the Southern Tier Soaring initiative which is working to revitalize communities by supporting the regional economy.

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, "Wayfair's commitment to invest millions of dollars and create hundreds of jobs in the Southern Tier reflects the success of our strategic investments in the region, aimed at attracting new businesses and strengthening the economy for the long term.”

Founded in 2002 by Cornell University graduates Steve Conine and Niraj Shah, Wayfair is one of the world’s largest online retailers of home furnishings, décor and home improvement products. The company is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and employs more than 9,700 people with operations throughout North America and Europe. The Wayfair family of sites includes Wayfair, Joss & Main, AllModern, Birch Lane and Perigold.

“We are excited to join the Chemung County community and contribute to the ongoing economic development in the region,” said Niraj Shah, CEO, co-founder and co-chairman, Wayfair. “Wayfair’s success is built on our commitment to provide customers with an exceptional shopping experience. The Big Flats team will ensure we continue to deliver on that promise to customers by making shopping for home fast, easy and fun. We look forward to sharing Wayfair’s great workplace culture and company values with new team members and the greater community.”

To encourage this project to move forward in the Southern Tier, ESD has offered performance-based incentives totaling up to $4.5 million, which includes a $3 million grant and $1.5 million in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits. The incentives are tied to Wayfair’s job creation and investment commitments, including employing at least 450 people at the facility. The total cost of the project is approximately $8.1 million.

Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs Tom Tranter, President & CEO of Corning Enterprises and Harvey Stenger, President of Binghamton University said, “The regional council is committed to supporting the growth of successful businesses like Wayfair which was founded by two entrepreneurs who spent their collegiate years in the Southern Tier. The regionally designed Southern Tier Soaring economic development plan is truly making a difference, spurring economic development and creating good jobs for the region.”

Senator Tom O’Mara said, "We are grateful to welcome Wayfair to Big Flats and the Southern Tier. Needless to say, we are excited about this significant investment in the economic future of the Southern Tier region and potentially hundreds of meaningful new jobs for area workers."

Chemung County Executive Tom Santulli said, “The opening of the new Wayfair Sales and Service Center is fantastic news for the residents of Chemung County and the Southern Tier. Wayfair’s entry into our region’s workforce will created 450 new full-time jobs that will have a major positive impact on our economy. I want to personally thank Governor Cuomo and Empire State Development for their continued support and financial investment in the Southern Tier.”

Big Flats Town Supervisor Ed Fairbrother said, “Big Flats is proud to officially welcome Wayfair to the community. We are thrilled that this well-respected company saw the benefits of opening their new state-of-the-art sales and service center here. I am grateful to the Governor and to Empire State Development for helping to ensure that this incredibly successful company will no doubt become a key player in our local economy.”

For more information about Wayfair, click here.

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 $4.6 billion in the region since 2012 to lay for groundwork for the plan – attracting a talented workforce, growing business and driving innovation. Today, unemployment is down to the lowest levels since before the Great Recession; personal and corporate income taxes are down; and businesses are choosing places like Binghamton, Johnson City and Corning as a destination in which to grow and invest.

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