International Agribusiness Park

in the Thousand Islands, NY.

 What, Why, How, Where, Who
North Country Agricultural Park
Ron Robbins and Doug
Shelmidine proposed 2000
2002
Ag Park + vertical
integration
International Agribusiness Park
Mike Lundy - 2016
Ag Industrial Park plus food
and workforce development
center .
 North Country Agricultural Park
2000 - 2002
Proposed for Baggs Corners, crnr of Rte 3 and
Rte 180/66.
Diversify industry from raw commodity
production to vertical integration.
Concept to provide total package from
research and development to distribution,
marketing, branding.
Tourism and other economic development
initiatives.
 North Country Agricultural Business
Park 2000 - 2002
Modified industrial park concentrated on ag
processing and food production.
Included a partnership between public
agencies, private investors, and not for profit
colleges and universities.
North Country Ag Park
 Feasibility Study Bridge Associates
Concluded the North Country Agricultural
Business Park Initiative was feasible.
Concluded the project would create jobs
directly and stimulate economic growth in
northern New York.
Because of the proposed location, cost of
infrastructure was prohibitive.
Meat Processing Plant
 The San Diego Union-Tribune
Air freshener maker sniffs at slaughterhouse neighbor plan

Associated Press
August 19, 2015
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (AP) The company that invented the iconic pine tree-shaped
automotive air fresheners is turning up its nose at a proposal to open a
slaughterhouse near the firm's northern New York factory.
The Watertown Daily Times reports (http://bit.ly/1USRhuW ) a group of local
investors wants to build a meat-processing plant in Watertown's Jefferson County
Corporate Park, home to the Car-Freshner Corp., whose products have been
dangling from rear-view mirrors for more than 60 years.
An official from the company told planning board members Tuesday that Car-
Freshner would close its local operations if the plan for the 42,000-square-foot
meat-processing plant is approved. The official says such a neighbor would
interfere with fragrance testing in Car-Freshner's state-of-The the-art labs.
The slaughterhouse developers say they're looking into special air purifier systems
that would cut down on odors from their plant.
Copyright 2017, The San Diego Union-Tribune
The Search
 Strength
Proximity to major U.S. Strong support for
markets. agriculture and
Proximity to Canada agribusiness in
RELATIVE low cost of community
doing business in Developer who wants to
Watertown compared to invest
N.Y.S. Interstate connection
Major dairy production Strong support system for
area of U.S. agriculture and
Interest from BOCES and agribusiness, including
JCC for ag. economic development
 Weakness
N.Y.S. cost of business diamond to market
Albany
North of Syracuse
Winter weather/climate
Lack of infrastructure
Lack of investors
Fear of Change
Distance to market
 Threats
Bias towards attracting Cant do
businesses, including Financial capital to
agribusiness, along make things happen
thruway corridor Workforce
Inside the box
thinking
Lack of understanding
of agriculture and
agribusiness
 Tremendous Ag
Industry, esp. dairy
production
Investor/developer
Location, location,
location
JCC and BOCES
Agribusinesses
interested
Educational / Workforce Development
Jefferson Ag Workforce Development Center
Jefferson Community College
Is exploring the opportunity to
partner with BOCES in the Ag
Workforce Development
Center
Jefferson Lewis BOCES
Stephen Todd, Superintendent
of Jefferson Lewis BOCES,
indicates BOCES is excited
about the possibility of
partnering with any new
businesses locating in the Ag
Park and providing the
necessary workforce training
they might need. They are
also very interested in
considering any opportunity to
lease space in the Center in
the park that might allow
them to expand their program
offerings.